Water Balance Dynamics during Ten Years of Ecological Development at Chicken Creek Catchment

Abstract

Core Ideas Water balance was calculated for the constructed catchment Chicken Creek. Influence of abiotic and biotic factors feedback mechanisms on the hydrology was determined. Different phases were derived during the development of the ecohydrological system. Difficulties in quantitatively closing the water balance of catchments arise when upscaling point measurements and from insufficient knowledge of the physical boundaries, inner structure, and storage volumes of natural catchments. In addition, there is a strong need for generalizing the relationship between catchment characteristics and hydrological response. Therefore, experimental catchments with well‐known boundaries and conditions could contribute valuable data to hydrological and critical zone research. One of the most well‐established and largest constructed catchments is the Chicken Creek catchment (6 ha including a pond, Brandenburg, Germany) representing an initial ecosystem undergoing highly dynamic ecological development starting from clearly defined starting conditions. Directly after completion of the construction, extensive monitoring equipment was installed to track the ecosystem development and to capture the spatiotemporal variability of meteorological, hydrological, ecological, and soil conditions and vegetation succession. In this study, we focused on the water balance dynamics of the Chicken Creek catchment for the period 2005 to 2015 as influenced by ecological development. Water storage in the catchment was calculated from a three‐dimensional model of groundwater volumes, soil moisture measurements, and water level recordings of the pond. The catchment water balance equation was resolved for evapotranspiration, the only part that was not measured directly. Time series of meteorological, hydrological, and ecological data for 10 yr enabled us to characterize the transient development of the catchment and to evaluate the effect of different feedback mechanisms on catchment hydrology.

Long‐Term Changes in Runoff Generation Mechanisms for Two Proglacial Areas in the Swiss Alps II: Subsurface Flow

“…Most studies have shown that lateral subsurface flow occurs either because of temporary saturation above an impeding layer or because the water table rises into a more permeable layer near the surface (Weiler et al., 2005). Soil development leads to an increase in fine particles due to physical weathering (He & Tang, 2008; Mavris et al., 2010; Righi et al., 1999) and chemical weathering (i.e., clay formation; Crocker & Dickson, 1957; Román‐Sánchez et al., 2021; Schaaf et al., 2017; Young et al., 2004). Illuviation of this fine‐textured material leads to a lower permeability layer that promotes ponding and lateral SSF (e.g., Dahlke et al., 2012; Lohse & Dietrich, 2005).…”

Increasing ecological multifunctionality during early plant succession

“…This low influence of abiotic habitat conditions implies that functionality during plant succession was driven by other filter processes, possibly soil humidity. After the emergence of the first woody plants in 2007 increasing habitat differentiation accentuated the roles of microclimate and shade as additional strong filter agents (Schaaf et al 2017).…”

Machine learning to estimate soil moisture from geophysical measurements of electrical conductivity

“…The catchment has been equipped with wide variety of sensors to monitor the spatiotemporal variability of meteorological, hydrological, ecological and soil attributes (Schaaf et al . ). Figure demonstrates an aerial photo of the test site along with the transect.…”

“…On ecosystem development, Chicken Creek was constructed in the Lusatian lignite district of the Brandenburg, Germany from 2004 to 2005. The catchment has been equipped with wide variety of sensors to monitor the spatiotemporal variability of meteorological, hydrological, ecological and soil attributes (Schaaf et al 2017). Figure 1 demonstrates an aerial photo of the test site along with the transect.…”