Contributing sources to baseflow in pre‐alpine headwaters using spatial snapshot sampling

Fischer, Benjamin; Rinderer, Michael; Schneider, Philipp; Ewen, Tracy; Seibert, Jan

doi:10.1002/hyp.10529

Cited by 55 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(85 reference statements)

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“…The PCA is an explorative analysis which enables to reduce number of predictors and to classify them among principal components which capture the much of the variance of the original dataset (Fischer et al, 2015;López-Moreno and Latron, 2008;Revuelto et al, 2016). A set of mutually correlated variables are transformed into a set of uncorrelated variables (principal components, PC) which are ordered by reducing variability.…”

Section: Bivariate and Multivariate Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canopy structure and topography effects on snow distribution at a catchment scale: Application of multivariate approaches

Jeníček

Pevná

Matějka

2017

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Abstract:The knowledge of snowpack distribution at a catchment scale is important to predict the snowmelt runoff. The objective of this study is to select and quantify the most important factors governing the snowpack distribution, with special interest in the role of different canopy structure. We applied a simple distributed sampling design with measurement of snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) at a catchment scale. We selected eleven predictors related to character of specific localities (such as elevation, slope orientation and leaf area index) and to winter meteorological conditions (such as irradiance, sum of positive air temperature and sum of new snow depth). The forest canopy structure was described using parameters calculated from hemispherical photographs. A degree-day approach was used to calculate melt factors. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis and Spearman rank correlation were applied to reduce the number of predictors and to analyze measured data. The SWE in forest sites was by 40% lower than in open areas, but this value depended on the canopy structure. The snow ablation in large openings was on average almost two times faster compared to forest sites. The snow ablation in the forest was by 18% faster after forest defoliation (due to the bark beetle). The results from multivariate analyses showed that the leaf area index was a better predictor to explain the SWE distribution during accumulation period, while irradiance was better predictor during snowmelt period. Despite some uncertainty, parameters derived from hemispherical photographs may replace measured incoming solar radiation if this meteorological variable is not available.

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Section: Bivariate and Multivariate Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canopy structure and topography effects on snow distribution at a catchment scale: Application of multivariate approaches

Jeníček

Pevná

Matějka

2017

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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“…However, the within catchment variability in stream chemistry during the three baseflow snapshot sampling campaigns was large (Fischer et al, 2015). DOC concentrations were much higher in the wetlands than in areas with other land uses.…”

Section: Streamflow Chemistry During Baseflow Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Together with the stable isotope data (representing the water itself), the DOC and calcium data helped to identify the different end-members: an upper spring zone (above 1400 m a.s.l. ), shallow groundwater, and wetlands (Fischer et al, 2015). Stream samples had a distinctly different isotopic and hydrochemical composition than the groundwater in the wetlands and suggested that despite these areas being water-logged, they did not contribute significantly to baseflow (Fischer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Streamflow Chemistry During Baseflow Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…1b for the location of the study catchments and Fig. 1c Fischer et al (2015) P A P E R A C C E P T E D . P R E -P R I N T V E R S I O N Van Meerveld et al…”

Section: Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Streamwater, springs and groundwater were sampled at more than 80 sampling locations throughout the Zwäckentobel sub-catchments during baseflow conditions in 2010 and 2011 (Fischer et al, 2015). The samples were analysed for their isotopic composition, alkalinity, pH, and calcium, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulphate, magnesium and silica concentrations.…”

Section: Main Field Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Runoff generation in a pre-alpine catchment: A discussion between a tracer and a shallow groundwater hydrologist

Meerveld

Fischer

Rinderer

et al. 2018

CIG

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Runoff generation mechanisms vary between catchments and despite decades of research in many catchments, these mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this paper, runoff generation mechanisms in the steep pre-alpine catchments in the Alptal, Switzerland, are discussed. These fast responding catchments are characterized by low permeability soils on top of flysch bedrock. In combination with the high and frequent precipitation, this results in predominantly wet conditions. In many areas, the water table is close to the surface. We review the main results of recent (2009-2016) studies in these catchments that used isotope, stream chemistry and hydrometric data. These field studies focused on the spatial and temporal patterns in groundwater levels, spatial patterns in the isotopic composition and chemistry of streamflow during baseflow conditions, as well as the responses of streamflow and its isotopic composition during rainfall events. The combined results of these studies highlight the establishment of connectivity of areas with a different topographic position and areas with a different land use during rainfall events. They also show the importance of flow in higher conductivity near surface soil layers for runoff generation, as well as the frequent occurrence of surface runoff. Spatial differences in groundwater dynamics are related to topography. Streamflow responses are mainly affected by the rainfall characteristics; differences in streamflow and hydrochemistry between catchments with different portions of forest, meadows and wetlands, were relatively small. However, variations in the chemistry of baseflow along stream reaches within a catchment were considerable. Above all, these studies highlight the value of combining data on spatial patterns of groundwater levels and stream chemistry with long term data on streamflow to derive a more complete picture of the dominant runoff generation mechanisms.

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Analysis of groundwater flow in mountainous, headwater catchments with permafrost

Evans

Liang

2015

Water Resources Research

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Headwater catchments have a direct impact on the water resources of downstream lowland regions as they supply freshwater in the form of surface runoff and discharging groundwater. Often, these mountainous catchments contain expansive permafrost that may alter the natural topographically controlled groundwater flow system. As permafrost could degrade with climate change, it is imperative to understand the effect of permafrost on groundwater flow in headwater catchments. This study characterizes groundwater flow in mountainous headwater catchments and evaluates the effect of permafrost in the context of climate change on groundwater movement using a three-dimensional, finite element, hydrogeologic model. The model is applied to a representative headwater catchment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Results from the model simulations indicate that groundwater contributes significantly to streams in the form of baseflow and the majority of groundwater flow is from the shallow aquifer above the permafrost, disrupting the typical topographically controlled flow pattern observed in most permafrost-free headwater catchments. Under a warming scenario where mean annual surface temperature is increased by 28C, reducing the areal extent of permafrost in the catchment, groundwater contribution to streamflow may increase three-fold. These findings suggest that, in headwater catchments, permafrost has a large influence on groundwater flow and stream discharge. Increased annual air temperatures may increase groundwater discharge to streams, which has implications for ecosystem health and the long-term availability of water resources to downstream regions.

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Contributing sources to baseflow in pre‐alpine headwaters using spatial snapshot sampling

Cited by 55 publications

References 40 publications

Canopy structure and topography effects on snow distribution at a catchment scale: Application of multivariate approaches

Canopy structure and topography effects on snow distribution at a catchment scale: Application of multivariate approaches

Runoff generation in a pre-alpine catchment: A discussion between a tracer and a shallow groundwater hydrologist

Analysis of groundwater flow in mountainous, headwater catchments with permafrost

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