Hydrograph separation: A comparison of geochemical and isotopic tracers

Wels, Christoph; Cornett, R. J.; LaZerte, Bruce D.

doi:10.1016/0022-1694(91)90181-g

Cited by 198 publications

(166 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Sklash and Farvolden (1979), Wels et al (1991), Buttle (1994) and Uhlenbrook and Hoeg (2003). The mass balance expression for a two-component hydrograph separation model used in this paper is described as follows:…”

Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exact definition of the two or three runoff components depends on the properties of the tracer used (Wels et al, 1991). Two commonly used groups of tracers are: (1) stable isotopes of water, oxygen-18 ( 18 O) and deuterium ( 2 H) (e.g.…”

Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sklash and Farvolden, 1979;Sklash et al, 1986); and (2) weathering products such as Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl − and SiO 2 (e.g. Pinder and Jones, 1969;Wels et al, 1991).…”

Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…isotopes associated with chemical tracers have been undertaken in different basins world-wide (for example, Kennedy et al, 1986;Wels et al, 1991;Ladouche et al, 2001;Uhlenbrook and Hoeg, 2003;Hrachowitz et al, 2011). However, hydrochemical tracers may only be used to separate streamflow into runoff components according to their flow paths (Kennedy et al, 1986).…”

Section: O Munyaneza Et Al: Identification Of Runoff Generation Promentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of runoff generation processes using hydrometric and tracer methods in a meso-scale catchment in Rwanda

Munyaneza

Wenninger

Uhlenbrook

2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Understanding of dominant runoff generation processes in the meso-scale Migina catchment (257.4 km 2 ) in southern Rwanda was improved using analysis of hydrometric data and tracer methods. The paper examines the use of hydrochemical and isotope parameters for separating streamflow into different runoff components by investigating two flood events which occurred during the rainy season "Itumba" (March-May) over a period of 2 yr at two gauging stations. Dissolved silica (SiO 2 ), electrical conductivity (EC), deuterium ( 2 H), oxygen-18 ( 18 O), major anions (Cl − and SO 2− 4 ) and major cations (Na + , K + , Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ) were analyzed during the events. 2 H, 18 O, Cl − and SiO 2 were finally selected to assess the different contributing sources using mass balance equations and end member mixing analysis for two-and three-component hydrograph separation models. The results obtained by applying two-component hydrograph separations using dissolved silica and chloride as tracers are generally in line with the results of three-component separations using dissolved silica and deuterium. Subsurface runoff is dominating the total discharge during flood events. More than 80 % of the discharge was generated by subsurface runoff for both events. This is supported by observations of shallow groundwater responses in the catchment (depth 0.2-2 m), which show fast infiltration of rainfall water during events. Consequently, shallow groundwater contributes to subsurface stormflow and baseflow generation. This dominance of subsurface contributions is also in line with the observed low runoff coefficient values (16.7 and 44.5 %) for both events. Groundwater recharge during the wet seasons leads to a perennial river system. These results are essential for better water resources planning and management in the region, which is characterized by very highly competing demands (domestic vs. agricultural vs. industrial uses).

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Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sklash and Farvolden, 1979;Sklash et al, 1986); and (2) weathering products such as Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl − and SiO 2 (e.g. Pinder and Jones, 1969;Wels et al, 1991).…”

Section: Hydrometric and Tracer Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: O Munyaneza Et Al: Identification Of Runoff Generation Promentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Identification of runoff generation processes using hydrometric and tracer methods in a meso-scale catchment in Rwanda

Munyaneza

Wenninger

Uhlenbrook

2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The assumptions used for the hydrograph separations and the basic concepts are described in detail by e.g. Sklash and Farvolden (1979), Wels et al (1991) and Buttle (1994).…”

Section: Hydrograph Separation On a Seasonal Timescalementioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of stable isotopes to identify residence times and runoff components in two meso-scale catchments in the Abay/Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

Tekleab

Wenninger

Uhlenbrook

2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Measurements of the stable isotopes oxygen-18 ( 18 O) and deuterium ( 2 H) were carried out in two meso-scale catchments, Chemoga (358 km 2 ) and Jedeb (296 km 2 ) south of Lake Tana, Abay/Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. The region is of paramount importance for the water resources in the Nile basin, as more than 70 % of total Nile water flow originates from the Ethiopian highlands. Stable isotope compositions in precipitation, spring water and streamflow were analysed (i) to characterise the spatial and temporal variations of water fluxes; (ii) to estimate the mean residence time of water using a sine wave regression approach; and (iii) to identify runoff components using classical two-component hydrograph separations on a seasonal timescale.The results show that the isotopic composition of precipitation exhibits marked seasonal variations, which suggests different sources of moisture generation for the rainfall in the study area. The Atlantic-Indian Ocean, Congo basin, Upper White Nile and the Sudd swamps are the potential moisture source areas during the main rainy (summer) season, while the Indian-Arabian and Mediterranean Sea moisture source areas during little rain (spring) and dry (winter) seasons. The spatial variation in the isotopic composition is influenced by the amount effect as depicted by moderate coefficients of determination on a monthly timescale (R 2 varies from 0.38 to 0.68) and weak regression coefficients (R 2 varies from 0.18 to 0.58) for the altitude and temperature effects. A mean altitude effect accounting for −0.12 ‰/100 m for 18 O and −0.58 ‰/100 m for 2 H was discernible in precipitation isotope composition.Results from the hydrograph separation on a seasonal timescale indicate the dominance of event water, with an average of 71 and 64 % of the total runoff during the wet season in the Chemoga and Jedeb catchments, respectively.Moreover, the stable isotope compositions of streamflow samples were damped compared to the input function of precipitation for both catchments. This damping was used to estimate mean residence times of stream water of 4.1 and 6.0 months at the Chemoga and Jedeb catchment outlets, respectively. Short mean residence times and high fractions of event water components recommend catchment management measures aiming at reduction of overland flow/soil erosion and increasing of soil water retention and recharge to enable sustainable development in these agriculturally dominated catchments.

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Hydrochemical Deciphering of Streamflow Generation in Semi‐arid East Africa

Sandström

1996

Hydrological Processes

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There is a critical lack of knowledge regarding the dynamics of streamflow generation in the semi-arid tropics, particularly in Africa. In this project runoff mechanisms in forested and non-forested degraded catchments in northern Tanzania were studied using combined hydrometrical and hydrochemical methods. Following the hydrochemical identification of several flowpaths contributing to runoff, hydrograph separation by an end-member model based on K and Ca was undertaken. Results from the forested catchment indicate that stormflow was dominated by event water (about 75%), via overland flow and throughflow. The proportion of pre-event water (groundwater) displaced into the stream by a suggested riparian groundwater ridge mechanism varied, depending on the rainfall characteristics. In the non-forested, degraded catchment, nearly all stormflow was event water, and groundwater discharge was unaffected by rainfall. It is suggested that macropore flow is pivotal to the transmission of rainfall to runoff via throughflow, particularly in semi-arid tropical areas.

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Hydrograph separation: A comparison of geochemical and isotopic tracers

Cited by 198 publications

References 14 publications

Identification of runoff generation processes using hydrometric and tracer methods in a meso-scale catchment in Rwanda

Identification of runoff generation processes using hydrometric and tracer methods in a meso-scale catchment in Rwanda

Characterisation of stable isotopes to identify residence times and runoff components in two meso-scale catchments in the Abay/Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia

Hydrochemical Deciphering of Streamflow Generation in Semi‐arid East Africa

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