Critical Zone Storage Controls on the Water Ages of Ecohydrological Outputs

Kuppel, Sylvain; Tetzlaff, Doerthe; Maneta, Marco P.; Soulsby, Chris

doi:10.1029/2020gl088897

Cited by 41 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…months to years implies that moisture carried over from previous seasons was sufficient to satisfy transpiration demand (c.f. Allen et al, 2019;Brinkmann et al, 2018;Kuppel et al, 2020). Slightly older median transpiration ages in the old open forest scenario likely reflected increased uptake from the lower soil layers (Fig.…”

Section: Storage-flux Dynamics Of Regenerating Forests As Revealed Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Six years of looped data were used to spin-up the model for calibration whilst 30 years were used for post-calibration runs to stabilise water ages (c.f. Kuppel et al, 2020). Calibration followed a Morris sensitivity analysis (Morris, 1991;Sohier et al, 2014) to identify sensitive parameters (Table S2).…”

Section: Baseline Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7e; Brown et al, 2005;Calder, 1993). In the BB, these subsidies are crucial for recharging GW stores in drift deposits that sustain baseflow conditions, particularly in winter when GW recharge is usually highest (Table 3; Blumstock et al, 2016;Kuppel et al, 2020). This finding is significant as it reinforces the need to consider the wider hydrological consequences of regeneration occurring in specific areas such that the "right tree [is planted] in the right place" (Forestry Commission Scotland, 2010).…”

Section: The Effect Of Natural Forest Regeneration On "Blue" and "Grementioning

confidence: 99%

“…evapotranspiration [ET]) fluxes is affected in space and time, as this has implications for water availability to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and downstream water users (Falkenmark and Rockström, 2006;. In addition, consideration of water ages and the spatio-temporal dynamics of hydrological connectivity can reveal how storageflux dynamics and hydrological source areas are affected by regeneration (Bergstrom et al, 2016;Kuppel et al, 2020;Tetzlaff et al, 2014;Sprenger et al, 2019). This has implications for ecosystem resilience to climatic extremes (Fennell et al, 2020;Kleine et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2020), generation of low/high flows Nippgen et al, 2015), and redistribution of water and solutes (Bergstrom et al, 2016;Turnbull and Wainwright, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EcH2O-iso has successfully been applied to a range of environments to elucidate links between land cover and water partitioning/ages (e.g. Douinot et al, 2018;Gillefalk et al, 2021;Knighton et al, 2020;Kuppel et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2019;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural changes to forests during regeneration affect water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity: Insights from tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling

Neill¹,

Birkel²,

Maneta³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. Increasing rates of biodiversity loss are adding momentum to efforts seeking to restore or rewild degraded landscapes. Here, we investigated the effects of natural forest regeneration on water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity, using the tracer-aided ecohydrological model EcH2O-iso. The model was calibrated using ~3.5 years of diverse ecohydrological and isotope datasets available for a catchment in the Scottish Highlands, an area where the impetus for regeneration of native pinewoods is growing. We then simulated two land cover change scenarios that incorporated forests at early (thicket) and late (old-open forest) stages of regeneration, respectively, and compared these to a present-day baseline simulation. Changes to forest structure (proportional vegetation cover, vegetation heights and leaf area index of pine trees) were modelled for each stage. Establishment of thicket forest had the greatest effect on water partitioning/ages and connectivity, with increased losses to interception evaporation driving reductions in below-canopy fluxes (soil evaporation, groundwater recharge and streamflow) and generally slower rates of water turnover. Effects on streamflow were most evident for low and moderate summer flows rather than winter high flows. Whilst full forest regeneration was limited to hillslopes, resultant changes to the spatial dynamics of flux partitioning could also cause drying out of the valley bottom. The more open nature of the older forest generally resulted in water fluxes, ages and connectivity characteristics returning towards baseline conditions. Our work implies that the ecohydrological consequences of natural forest regeneration on degraded land depend on the structural characteristics of the forest at different stages of development. Consequently, future land cover change investigations need to move beyond consideration of simple forest vs. non-forest scenarios to inform management that effectively balances landscape restoration with demand for ecosystem services. Tracer-aided ecohydrological models were also shown to be useful tools for land cover change simulations and further potential of such models was highlighted.

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Section: Storage-flux Dynamics Of Regenerating Forests As Revealed Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Baseline Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Effect Of Natural Forest Regeneration On "Blue" and "Grementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Structural changes to forests during regeneration affect water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity: Insights from tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling

Neill¹,

Birkel²,

Maneta³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

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The age of evapotranspiration: continental-scale lower-bound constraints from distributed water fluxes

Hahm

Lapides

Rempe

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Unlike streamflow, which can be sampled in aggregate at the catchment outlet, evapotranspiration (ET) is spatially dispersed, challenging large-scale age estimation. Here, we introduce an approach for constraining the age of ET via mass balance and present the minimum flux-weighted age of ET across the continental US using distributed, publicly available water flux datasets. The lower-bound constraint on ET age can be calculated by assuming that ET is preferentially sourced from the most recent precipitation through a last-in, first-out algorithm. From 2012-2017, ET was at least several months old across large areas of the western continental US, including in Mediterranean and (semi-)arid climate zones and shrub and evergreen needleleaf plant communities. The primary limitation of this approach is that it provides only a minimum flux-weighted average age to satisfy mass balance of outgoing fluxes; true ET fluxes are composed of distributions of ages and may be composed of much older water. The primary advantage of the approach is that flux timeseries of precipitation and ET are sufficient to constrain ET age, and model parameterization is unnecessary. ET ages can be used to validate tracer-aided and modeling approaches and inform studies of biogeochemistry, water-rock interactions, and plant water sourcing under drought.

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Seasonal connections between meteoric water and streamflow generation along a mountain headwater stream

Leuthold

Ewing

Payn

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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In snowmelt-driven mountain watersheds, the hydrologic connectivity between meteoric waters and stream flow generation varies strongly with the season, reflecting variable connection to soil and groundwater storage within the watershed. This variable connectivity regulates how streamflow generation mechanisms transform the seasonal and elevational variation in oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ 18 O and δD) of meteoric precipitation. Thus, water isotopes in stream flow can signal immediate connectivity or more prolonged mixing, especially in high-relief mountainous catchments. We characterized δ 18 O and δD values in stream water along an elevational gradient in a mountain headwater catchment in southwestern Montana. Stream water isotopic compositions related most strongly to elevation between February and March, exhibiting higher δ 18 O and δD values with decreasing elevation. These elevational isotopic lapse rates likely reflect increased connection between stream flow and proximal snow-derived water sources heavily subject to elevational isotopic effects. These patterns disappeared during summer sampling, when consistently lower δ 18 O and δD values of stream water reflected contributions from snowmelt or colder rainfall, despite much higher δ 18 O and δD values expected in warmer seasonal rainfall. The consistently low isotopic values and absence of a trend with elevation during summer suggest lower connectivity between summer precipitation and stream flow generation as a consequence of drier soils and greater transpiration. As further evidence of intermittent seasonal connectivity between the stream and adjacent groundwaters, we observed a late-winter flush of nitrate into the stream at higher elevations, consistent with increased connection to accumulating mineralized nitrogen in riparian wetlands. This pattern was distinct from midsummer patterns of nitrate loading at lower elevations that suggested heightened human recreational activity along the stream corridor. These observations provide insights linking stream flow generation and seasonal water storage in high elevation mountainous watersheds. Greater understanding of the connections between surface water, soil water and groundwater in these environments will help predict how the quality and quantity of mountain runoff will respond to changing climate and allow better informed water management decisions.

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Critical Zone Storage Controls on the Water Ages of Ecohydrological Outputs

Cited by 41 publications

References 63 publications

Structural changes to forests during regeneration affect water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity: Insights from tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling

Structural changes to forests during regeneration affect water flux partitioning, water ages and hydrological connectivity: Insights from tracer-aided ecohydrological modelling

The age of evapotranspiration: continental-scale lower-bound constraints from distributed water fluxes

Seasonal connections between meteoric water and streamflow generation along a mountain headwater stream

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