Form and function in hillslope hydrology: in situ imaging and characterization of flow-relevant structures

Jackisch, Conrad; Angermann, Lisa; Allroggen, Niklas; Sprenger, Matthias; Blume, Theresa; Tronicke, Jens; Zehe, Erwin

doi:10.5194/hess-21-3749-2017

Cited by 52 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil was found to be highly heterogeneous, exceeding the measuring range of 10 −8 to 10 −3 m s −1 . While depth profiles of hydraulic conductivity measured in the area did not show a specific pattern of conductive layers, measurements at the investigated hillslope indicated higher conductivity at a depth of 0.7 m (Jackisch et al, 2017).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In accordance with the separation of the natural rain event signal and the irrigation signal, the first decrease in structural similarity of more than 0.15 was interpreted as the arrival of the irrigation signal. Single structures and flow paths are not the focus of this article and will be discussed in the companion study by Jackisch et al (2017). Here, we therefore simplified the 2-D patterns to a depth distribution of occurring response velocities.…”

Section: Response Velocity Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The level difference between the uphill and downhill sprinklers was 0.5 m. The 25 m 2 area spanned by the four sprinklers is referred to as the core area, with a homogeneous irrigation intensity of ∼ 30.8 mm h −1 over 4:35 h. Total water input at the core area was 141 mm. These settings aimed at activating all potential flow paths and were chosen on the basis of an a priori simulation of the experiment (see the Appendix of Jackisch et al, 2017). Transferring this amount of water from the irrigated core area (5 m hillslope parallel length) to the entire hillslope uphill of the rain shield (219 m), this intensity compares to a rain event of 3.2 mm precipitation.…”

Section: Irrigation Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transfer to other scales beyond observational scale and generalizations, however, rely on the knowledge of structures (form) and remain speculative. The complementary approach with a methodological focus on form (i.e., structure exploration) is presented and discussed in the companion paper by Jackisch et al (2017). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on these findings, the informative power and conclusiveness of the data will be discussed. To complement the functional perspective on the investigation of subsurface flow, the companion paper by Jackisch et al (2017) concentrates on the spatial characteristics of subsurface flow from the point to hillslope scale, with a specific focus on subsurface structures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Form and function in hillslope hydrology: characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations

Angermann

Jackisch

Allroggen

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The phrase form and function was established in architecture and biology and refers to the idea that form and functionality are closely correlated, influence each other, and co-evolve. We suggest transferring this idea to hydrological systems to separate and analyze their two main characteristics: their form, which is equivalent to the spatial structure and static properties, and their function, equivalent to internal responses and hydrological behavior. While this approach is not particularly new to hydrological field research, we want to employ this concept to explicitly pursue the question of what information is most advantageous to understand a hydrological system. We applied this concept to subsurface flow within a hillslope, with a methodological focus on function: we conducted observations during a natural storm event and followed this with a hillslope-scale irrigation experiment. The results are used to infer hydrological processes of the monitored system. Based on these findings, the explanatory power and conclusiveness of the data are discussed. The measurements included basic hydrological monitoring methods, like piezometers, soil moisture, and discharge measurements. These were accompanied by isotope sampling and a novel application of 2-D time-lapse GPR (ground-penetrating radar). The main finding regarding the processes in the hillslope was that preferential flow paths were established quickly, despite unsaturated conditions. These flow paths also caused a detectable signal in the catchment response following a natural rainfall event, showing that these processes are relevant also at the catchment scale. Thus, we conclude that response observations (dynamics and patterns, i.e., indicators of function) were well suited to describing processes at the observational scale. Especially the use of 2-D time-lapse GPR measurements, providing detailed subsurface response patterns, as well as the combination of stream-centered and hillslope-centered approaches, allowed us to link processes and put them in a larger context. Transfer to other scales beyond observational scale and generalizations, however, rely on the knowledge of structures (form) and remain speculative. The complementary approach with a methodological focus on form (i.e., structure exploration) is presented and discussed in the companion paper by Jackisch et al. (2017).

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Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Response Velocity Calculationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Irrigation Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Form and function in hillslope hydrology: characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations

Angermann

Jackisch

Allroggen

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Using isotopes to incorporate tree water storage and mixing dynamics into a distributed ecohydrologic modelling framework

et al. 2020

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Root water uptake (RWU) by vegetation influences the partitioning of water between transpiration, evaporation, percolation, and surface runoff. Measurements of stable isotopes in water have facilitated estimates of the depth distribution of RWU for various tree species through methodologies based on end member mixing analysis (EMMA). EMMA often assumes that the isotopic composition of tree‐stored xylem water (δXYLEM) is representative of the isotopic composition of RWU (δRWU). We tested this assumption within the framework of EcH2O‐iso, a process‐based distributed tracer‐aided ecohydrologic model, applied to a small temperate catchment with a vegetation cover of coniferous eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and deciduous American beech (Fagus grandifolia). We simulated three scenarios for tree water storage and mixing: (a) zero storage (ZS), (b) storage with a well‐mixed reservoir (WM), and (c) storage with piston flow (PF). Simulating tree storage (WM and PF) improved the fit to δXYLEM observations over ZS in the summer and fall seasons and substantially altered calibrated RWU depths and stomatal conductance. Our results suggest that there are likely to be advantages to considering tree storage and internal mixing when attempting to interpret δXYLEM in the estimation of RWU depths and critical zone water residence times, particularly during periods of low transpiration. Improved representations of tree water dynamics could yield more accurate ecohydrologic and earth system model representations of the critical zone.

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Effects of differential hillslope‐scale water retention characteristics on rainfall–runoff response at the Landscape Evolution Observatory

Heuvel

Troch

Booij

et al. 2018

Hydrological Processes

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Hillslopes turn precipitation into runoff and thus exert important controls on various Earth system processes. It remains difficult to collect reliable data necessary for understanding and modeling these Earth system processes in real catchments. To overcome this problem, controlled experiments are being conducted at the Landscape Evolution Observatory at Biosphere 2, The University of Arizona. Previous experiments have revealed differences in hydrological response between 2 landscapes within Landscape Evolution Observatory, even though both landscapes were designed to be identical. In an attempt to discover where the observed differences stem from, we use a fully 3‐dimensional hydrological model (CATchment HYdrology) to show the effect of soil water retention characteristics and saturated hydraulic conductivity on the hydrological response of these 2 hillslopes. We also show that soil water retention characteristics can be derived at hillslope scale from experimental observations of soil moisture and matric potential. It is found that differences in soil packing between the 2 landscapes may be responsible for the observed differences in hydrological response. This modeling study also suggests that soil water retention characteristics and saturated hydraulic conductivity have a profound effect on rainfall–runoff processes at hillslope scale and that parametrization of a single hillslope may be a promising step in modeling rainfall–runoff response in real catchments.

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Form and function in hillslope hydrology: in situ imaging and characterization of flow-relevant structures

Cited by 52 publications

References 91 publications

Form and function in hillslope hydrology: characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations

Form and function in hillslope hydrology: characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations

Using isotopes to incorporate tree water storage and mixing dynamics into a distributed ecohydrologic modelling framework

Effects of differential hillslope‐scale water retention characteristics on rainfall–runoff response at the Landscape Evolution Observatory

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