Analysis of soil and vegetation patterns in semi-arid Mediterranean landscapes by way of a conceptual water balance model

Portoghese, Ivan; Iacobellis, Vito; Sivapalan, Murugesu

doi:10.5194/hess-12-899-2008

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In drought conditions, the evaporation from bare soil may increase, limited by water availability, while canopy transpiration generally decreases. Therefore, the space–time distribution of vegetation is a key factor for a correct evaluation of evapotranspiration (Liu et al 2009; Gigante et al 2009) and also for understanding climate–soil–vegetation interactions (Portoghese et al 2008). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space–time LAI variability in Northern Puglia (Italy) from SPOT VGT data

Balacco

Figorito

Tarantino

et al. 2015

Environ Monit Assess

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The vegetation space–time variability during 1999–2010 in the North of the Apulian region (Southern Italy) was analysed using SPOT VEGETATION (VGT) sensor data. Three bands of VEGETATION (RED, NIR and SWIR) were used to implement the vegetation index named reduced simple ratio (RSR) to derive leaf area index (LAI). The monthly average LAI is an indicator of biomass and canopy cover, while the difference between the annual maximum and minimum LAI is an indicator of annual leaf turnover. The space–time distribution of LAI at the catchment scale was analysed over the examined period to detect the consistency of vegetation dynamics in the study area. A diffuse increase of LAI was observed in the examined years that cannot be directly explained only in terms of increasing water availability. Thus, in order to explain such a general behaviour in terms of climatic factors, the analysis was performed upon stratification of land cover classes, focusing on the most widespread species: forest and wheat. An interesting ascending–descending behaviour was observed in the relationship between inter-annual increments of maximum LAI and rainfall, and in particular, a strong negative correlation was found when the rainfall amount in January and February exceeded a critical threshold of about 100 mm.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space–time LAI variability in Northern Puglia (Italy) from SPOT VGT data

Balacco

Figorito

Tarantino

et al. 2015

Environ Monit Assess

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“…ERYHM‐II was used extensively in a variety of climates to model evapotranspiration (ET), simulate soil water dynamics and estimate yield of rangeland vegetation (Cooley and Robertson, ; Wight and Hanson, ; Wight and Hanson, ; Conner, ; Weltz and Blackburn, ). It is an example of a capacity parameter‐based model (Addiscott, ; Portoghese et al ., ) that uses relatively low variability parameters and tends to be best suited for relatively large‐scale modelling. It was modified by Seyfried () to include exponential drainage with time and other modifications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of long‐term soil water dynamics at Reynolds Creek, Idaho: implications for rangeland productivity

Finzel¹,

Seyfried

Weltz³

et al. 2015

Ecohydrology

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Plant productivity, forage availability and soil carbon dynamics are all strongly controlled by soil water in semi-arid rangelands. Sagebrush steppe ecosystems are among the most extensive in the western USA. We used the soil ecohydrology model (SEM) to simulate soil water dynamics and estimate plant growth at three different sagebrush steppe sites. SEM is a capacitance parameter model that uses a water balance approach to simulate daily changes in soil water and a modification of the de Wit equation to estimate plant yield. Model-simulated soil water results were evaluated using long-term (27-34 years) measured data. We found that SEM accurately simulated soil water dynamics and total soil water storage at all three sites, with R 2 values greater than 0.8, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies near 0.8 and mean absolute errors of about 1.5 cm. Model-estimated yield indices indicated a high degree of interannual variability, with values ranging more than fivefold and no long-term trend in plant production due to water availability. We also found that seasonal yield could be estimated with reasonable accuracy at the outset of the growing season (March 1) for about half of the years simulated due to either relatively high or low pre-growing season precipitation. Published 2015.

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“…Average evapotranspiration for the October/November 2005 period was calculated at 7.3 mm/d based on daily temporal resolution using the FAO PenmanMonteith equation, an approach successfully used by Jacobs et al (2002) and Portoghese et al (2008) to assess evapotranspiration of natural vegetation. This value was calculated using the standard settings together with a condition coefficient of 0.8, based on the vegetation conditions in the depression.…”

Section: Evapotranspiration Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flooding and drying mechanisms of the seasonal Sudd flood plains along the Bahr el Jebel in southern Sudan

Petersen¹,

Fohrer

2010

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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The flooding and drying mechanisms of the seasonal flood plains of the Sudd swamps in southern Sudan are, while dependent on the river levels, influenced by a complex interaction between soil, vegetation, topography and seasonal trends in rainfall and evapotranspiration. Based on field measurements, these components have been assessed in detail and evaluated regarding their function in the seasonal cycle of flooding and drying. A detailed analysis of soil and evapotranspiration conditions, as well as the interaction with vegetation and meteorological conditions, has been conducted using field and laboratory experiments. Sources, processes, flow directions and the fate of the floodwaters on both the river-fed seasonal flood plains and the rain-fed grasslands have been established. The results show that river spill is responsible for flooding these areas while no return flow occurs, and drying is caused by evapotranspiration. Rainfall can only cause temporary flooding in extreme events.

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Analysis of soil and vegetation patterns in semi-arid Mediterranean landscapes by way of a conceptual water balance model

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Space–time LAI variability in Northern Puglia (Italy) from SPOT VGT data

Space–time LAI variability in Northern Puglia (Italy) from SPOT VGT data

Simulation of long‐term soil water dynamics at Reynolds Creek, Idaho: implications for rangeland productivity

Flooding and drying mechanisms of the seasonal Sudd flood plains along the Bahr el Jebel in southern Sudan

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