Characterizing ephemeral streams in a southern Ontario watershed using electrical resistance sensors

Abstract

Ephemeral streams are small headwater streams that only experience streamflow in response to a precipitation event. Due to their highly complex and dynamic spatial and temporal nature, ephemeral streams have been difficult to monitor and are in general poorly understood. This research implemented an extensive network of electrical resistance sensors to monitor three ephemeral streams within the same small headwater catchment in Southern Ontario, Canada. The results suggest that the most common patterns of network expansion and contraction in the studied streams are incomplete coalescence and disintegration, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis of the primary controls on ephemeral streamflow showed only weak Nagelkerke R2 values, suggesting that there are more complex processes at work in these ephemeral streams. A comparison of all three streams suggests that even ephemeral streams within the same subwatershed may experience differences in network expansion and contraction and may be dominated by different spatial and temporal controls. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dynamic, discontinuous stream networks: hydrologically driven variations in active drainage density, flowing channels and stream order

“…Bhamjee and Lindsay, ), temperature loggers and electrical conductivity sensors (e.g. Goulsbra et al ., ; Peirce and Lindsay, ), as well as fibre‐optic distributed temperature sensing systems and thermal cameras mounted on low‐altitude drones. Permafrost‐dominated catchments offer the intriguing possibility of mapping changes in surface and subsurface flow where the subsurface boundary layer conditions are evolving over time.…”

High stream intermittency in an alpine fluvial network: Val Roseg, Switzerland

“…In particular, small, inexpensive electrical resistance (ER) sensors can measure saturated flow conditions from which streamflow timing can be accurately inferred (Blasch et al 2002;Chapin et al 2014). In general, ER sensor data allow examination and evaluation of the variation in timing, duration, and frequency of intermittency among streams at high temporal resolution (e.g., Jaeger and Olden 2012;Goulsbra et al 2014;Peirce and Lindsay 2014). In fact, ER sensors modified from light sensors also have the advantage of simultaneously recording temperature (Adams et al 2006;Chapin et al 2014), thus allowing assessment of the interactions between flow and temperature regimes.…”

Monitoring ephemeral headwater streams: a paired-sensor approach

“…Many of the technical limitations in previous ephemeral stream monitoring studies can be improved by using a paired‐sensor approach. Previous studies have used a single sensor to detect water presence and infer that the water was flowing (Constantz et al ., ; Blasch et al ., ; Adams et al ., ; Goulsbra et al ., ; Bhamjee & Lindsay, ; Goulsbra et al ., ; Peirce & Lindsay, ). However, the assumptions that once water is present in the channel it is immediately flowing, or will flow at all, can be misleading.…”

“…() created an electronic resistance (ER) sensor by removing the thermistor from the temperature sensors. Over time, refinements of the ER sensor design improved the accuracy and interpretation of the data (Blasch et al ., ; Goulsbra et al ., ; Bhamjee & Lindsay, ; Peirce & Lindsay, ). Later, Bhamjee and Lindsay () found that state loggers further simplified the interpretation of ephemeral streamflow monitoring records while reducing data volume and increasing the temporal resolution of observations.…”

“…Later, Bhamjee and Lindsay () found that state loggers further simplified the interpretation of ephemeral streamflow monitoring records while reducing data volume and increasing the temporal resolution of observations. The primary limitation of using bed temperature sensors (Constantz et al ., ) or electrical resistance sensors (Blasch et al ., ; Goulsbra et al ., ; Bhamjee & Lindsay, ; Peirce & Lindsay, ) has been that they monitor the presence or absence of water within the channel and are unable to detect whether that water is flowing. Bhamjee and Lindsay () found that persistent standing water within pools can occur commonly within headwater channels.…”