Flow Pathways on Steep Forested Hillslopes: the Tracer, Tensiometer and Trough Approach

McDonnell, Jeffrey J.; Brammer, D.; Kendall, Carol; Hjerdt, Niclas; Rowe, L. K.; Stewart, M. K.; Woods, Ross

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-5324-9_50

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The δ 18 O data collected for this event showed only minor isotopic separation between old and new water. Notwithstanding, McDonnell et al [1998], McGlynn et al [2002], McGlynn et al (submitted manuscript, 2002), McGlynn and McDonnell (submitted manuscript, 2002), all found little (<10%) new water in hillslope runoff. Therefore it is unlikely that dilution of soil water by rainfall could account for the observed pattern in DOC concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Role of discrete landscape units in controlling catchment dissolved organic carbon dynamics

McGlynn

McDonnell

2003

Water Resources Research

254

267

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[1] The spatial sources and delivery mechanisms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to streams are poorly understood. We examined the relationship between storm DOC dynamics, catchment landscape units, and catchment scale to elucidate controls on DOC export dynamics at the Maimai watersheds, a group of highly responsive, steep, wet catchments located on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Specifically, we address the controls on the characteristic hysteresis in DOC export dynamics (i.e., DOC concentrations higher on the rising than falling limb of the discharge hydrograph) previously ascribed to a flushing mechanism. We found that during the storm event, the proportion of riparian runoff was larger on the rising than falling limb of the hydrograph, while the proportion of hillslope runoff was smaller on the rising than falling limb of the hydrograph. The delayed response of hillslope runoff resulted in a disconnection between hillslope and riparian areas early in the event and higher DOC concentrations on the rising limb than the falling limb of the event hydrograph. Later in the event, hillslope and riparian areas became connected once the hillslope soil moisture deficits were satisfied. We suggest that the relative timing of riparian and hillslope source contributions and the connections and disconnections of dominant runoff contributing areas are the first-order catchment controls on stream DOC concentrations and mass export.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Our gauged hillslope was selected based on previous research [ Woods and Rowe , 1996; Woods and Sivapalan , 1997; McDonnell et al , 1998; McGlynn et al , 2002]. We instrumented this hillslope and used it as a surrogate for hillslope units in the M15 (2.6 ha) and K (16.9 ha) catchments.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of discrete landscape units in controlling catchment dissolved organic carbon dynamics

McGlynn

McDonnell

2003

Water Resources Research

254

267

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“…Recently, many detailed hydrometric and geochemical investigations have been conducted for relatively planar hillslopes (e.g., Brammer and McDonnell, 1996;McDonnell et al, 1998) as well as for geomorphic hollows (e.g., Buttle and Peters, 1997;Anderson et al, 1997). These studies have advanced our conceptual understanding of speci®c pathways of subsurface¯ow as well as their relative contributions to runo from the speci®c topographic unit (i.e., a hillslope segment or a hollow) during natural and arti®cial storms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A zero-order basin?its contribution to catchment hydrology and internal hydrological processes

et al. 2000

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Abstract:This study aims to evaluate the relative contribution of a zero-order basin to runo generation in a headwater catchment as well as to elucidate internal factors aecting hydrological response. Runo, piezometric heads, and soil temperatures were measured for a 0 . 25 ha zero-order basin (ZB) together with discharges from an adjacent 0 . 84 ha 1st-order basin (FA) and a larger 2 . 48 ha 1st-order basin (FB) which includes both ZB and FA. Data collected over a year showed ZB contributed to runo generation in FB at three dierent levels. While continuous runo was recorded from both FB and FA, no substantial runo was measured for ZB during dry conditions when discharge from FB 5 0 . 5 mm d À1 (level 0: no contribution). For wetter conditions above this threshold, the ZB augmented storm¯ow and the discharge ratios of ZB to FB (on a unit area basis) increased rapidly from zero up to unity with increasing wetness (level 1: non-linear contribution). During the wettest periods when discharge from FB 4 5 mm d À1 , all three basins generated runo of the same order per unit area (level 2: linear contribution). Piezometers installed above the soil-bedrock interface (0 . 5 to 1 . 2 m depth) along the longitudinal axis of ZB responded only in the lower locations when runo from ZB ( discharge from FB. Conversely, the major runo contribution from ZB to the discharge from FB generally coincided with a large piezometric rise near the head hollow. Soil temperatures in the head hollow¯uctuated even during some rainstorms, indicating that such a large piezometric rise was caused by a convergent subsurface¯ow from the further upslope. Thus, shallow groundwater, which developed above the trough of ZB, would not always extend from the base to the upslope but may appear simultaneously in the head hollow. This additional contribution due to upslope topography may create additional variability and non-linearity in runo response from ZB relative to planar hillslopes.

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“…Hydrological processes in mountain catchments are often highly variable over time and in space. Tracer-based hydrograph separation has resulted in major advances in the comprehension of runoff generation mechanisms at the catchment scale (Klaus and McDonnell, 2013), especially when coupled with hydrometric measurements (Bonell and Fritsch, 1997;McDonnell et al, 1998;Laudon et al, 2004). The integrated use of detailed hydrometric measurements, natural and synthetic tracers, and high-resolution digital elevation models have, for example, helped to dissect the role of topography, soil depth, geology, and land use on runoff generation (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in runoff generation in a small forested mountain catchment

Penna

Meerveld

Oliviero

et al. 2014

Hydrological Processes

116

112

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This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variability of runoff generation processes, the sources of stream water and the controls on the contribution of event water to streamflow for a small forested catchment in the Italian pre-Alps. Hydrometric, isotopic and electrical conductivity data collected between August 2012 and August 2013 revealed a marked seasonal variability in runoff responses. Noticeable differences in runoff coefficients and hydrological dynamics between summer and fall/spring rainfall events were related to antecedent moisture conditions and event size. Two-and three-component hydrograph separation and end-member mixing analysis showed an increase in event water contributions to streamflow with event size and average rainfall intensity. Event water fractions were larger during dry conditions in summer, suggesting that stormflow generation in summer consisted predominantly of direct channel precipitation and some saturated overland flow from the riparian zone. On the contrary, groundwater and hillslope soil water contributions dominated the streamflow response during wet conditions in fall. Seasonal differences were also noted between event water fractions computed based on isotopic and electrical conductivity data, likely due to the dilution effect during the wetter months.

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Flow Pathways on Steep Forested Hillslopes: the Tracer, Tensiometer and Trough Approach

Cited by 26 publications

References 15 publications

Role of discrete landscape units in controlling catchment dissolved organic carbon dynamics

Role of discrete landscape units in controlling catchment dissolved organic carbon dynamics

A zero-order basin?its contribution to catchment hydrology and internal hydrological processes

Seasonal changes in runoff generation in a small forested mountain catchment

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