Hillslope Hydrology in Global Change Research and Earth System Modeling

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 55(2), P. 1737 - 1772

Published: Feb. 1, 2019

Abstract Earth System Models (ESMs) are essential tools for understanding and predicting global change, but they cannot explicitly resolve hillslope‐scale terrain structures that fundamentally organize water, energy, biogeochemical stores fluxes at subgrid scales. Here we bring together hydrologists, Critical Zone scientists, ESM developers, to explore how hillslope may modulate grid‐level fluxes. In contrast the one‐dimensional (1‐D), 2‐ 3‐m deep, free‐draining soil hydrology in most land models, hypothesize 3‐D, lateral ridge‐to‐valley flow through shallow deep paths insolation contrasts between sunny shady slopes top two globally quantifiable organizers of water energy (and vegetation) within an grid cell. We these processes likely impact predictions where when) and/or limiting. further that, if implemented will increase simulated continental storage residence time, buffering terrestrial ecosystems against seasonal interannual droughts. efficient ways capture mechanisms ESMs identify critical knowledge gaps preventing us from scaling up processes. One such gap is our extremely limited subsurface, stored (supporting released stream baseflow aquatic ecosystems). conclude with a set organizing hypotheses call syntheses activities model experiments assess on change predictions.

Language: Английский

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Direct observations of rock moisture, a hidden component of the hydrologic cycle

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 115(11), P. 2664 - 2669

Published: Feb. 28, 2018

Significance Soil moisture has long been recognized as a key component of the hydrologic cycle. Here, we quantify significant exchangeable water held in weathered bedrock, beneath soil, that regulates plant-available and streamflow. We refer to this rock moisture—a term parallel soil moisture, but applied different material. Deep bedrock capable storing is common, yet reservoir moisture—distinct from groundwater—is essentially unquantified. At our study site, volume exceeds critical stable source plants drought years. Our observations indicate now needs be incorporated into climate models.

Language: Английский

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Hydrological partitioning in the critical zone: Recent advances and opportunities for developing transferable understanding of water cycle dynamics

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 51(9), P. 6973 - 6987

Published: Aug. 7, 2015

Hydrology is an integrative discipline linking the broad array of water-related research with physical, ecological, and social sciences. The increasing breadth hydrological research, often where subdisciplines hydrology partner related sciences, reflects central importance water to environmental science, while highlighting fractured nature itself. This lack coordination among hydrologic has hindered development theory integrated models capable predicting partitioning across time space. recent concept critical zone (CZ), open system extending from top canopy base groundwater, brings together multiple physical ecological Observations obtained by CZ researchers provide a diverse range complementary process structural data evaluate both conceptual numerical models. Consequently, cross-site focus on “critical hydrology” potential advance facilitate transition observatories into network immediate societal relevance. Here we review work in catchment hydrochemistry, hydrogeology, ecohydrology that highlights common knowledge gap how precipitation partitioned zone: “how amount, routing, residence subsurface biogeophysical structure CZ?” Addressing this question will require interfacing catalyze rapid progress understanding current climate land cover changes affect partitioning.

Language: Английский

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Toward catchment hydro‐biogeochemical theories

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: Dec. 3, 2020

Abstract Headwater catchments are the fundamental units that connect land to ocean. Hydrological flow and biogeochemical processes intricately coupled, yet their respective sciences have progressed without much integration. Reaction kinetic theories prescribe rate dependence on environmental variables (e.g., temperature water content) advanced substantially, mostly in well‐mixed reactors, columns, warming experiments considering characteristics of hydrological at catchment scale. These shown significant divergence from observations natural systems. On other hand, theories, including transit time theory, substantially not been incorporated into understanding reactions Here we advocate for development integrated hydro‐biogeochemical across gradients climate, vegetation, geology conditions. The lack such presents barriers mechanisms forecasting future Critical Zone under human‐ climate‐induced perturbations. Although integration has started co‐located measurements well way, tremendous challenges remain. In particular, even this era “big data,” still limited by data will need (1) intensify beyond river channels characterize vertical connectivity broadly shallow deep subsurface; (2) expand older dating scales reflected stable isotopes; (3) combine use reactive solutes, nonreactive tracers, (4) augment environments undergoing rapid changes. To develop it is essential engage models all stages model‐informed collection strategies maximize usage; adopt a “simple but simplistic,” or fit‐for‐purpose approach include process‐based models; blend data‐driven framework “theory‐guided science.” Within hypothesis testing, model‐data fusion can advance mechanistically link catchments' internal structures external drivers functioning. It only field hydro‐biogeochemistry, also enable hind‐ fore‐casting serve society large. Broadly, education cultivate thinkers intersections traditional disciplines with hollistic approaches interacting complex earth This article categorized under: Engineering Water > Methods

Language: Английский

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State shifts in the deep Critical Zone drive landscape evolution in volcanic terrains

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(3)

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Volcanic provinces are among the most active but least well understood landscapes on Earth. Here, we show that central Cascade arc, USA, exhibits systematic spatial covariation of topography and hydrology linked to aging volcanic bedrock, suggesting controls landscape evolution. At crest, a locus Quaternary volcanism, water circulates deeply through upper [Formula: see text]1 km crust transitions shallow dominantly horizontal flow as rocks age away from arc front. We argue this pattern reflects temporal state shift in deep Critical Zone. Chemical weathering at depth, surface particulate deposition, tectonic forcing drive an initial with minimal topographic dissection, large vertical hydraulic conductivity, abundant lakes, muted hydrographs toward fluvial small few flashy hydrographs. This has major implications for regional resources. Drill hole temperature profiles imply text] km[Formula: groundwater currently stored Range discharge variability strong function bedrock age. Deeply circulating also impacts Holocene High Cascades eruptions reflect explosive magma-water interactions increase hazard potential. propose Zone drives evolution wet climates represents framework understanding interconnected solid earth dynamics climate these terrains.

Language: Английский

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Subsurface plant‐accessible water in mountain ecosystems with a Mediterranean climate

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 5(3)

Published: Feb. 15, 2018

Enhanced understanding of subsurface water storage will improve prediction future impacts climate change, including drought, forest mortality, wildland fire, and strained security. Previous research has examined the importance plant‐accessible in soil, but upland landscapes within Mediterranean climates, soil often accounts for only a fraction storage. We draw insights from previous case study Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory to define attributes storage; review observed patterns their distribution; highlight nested methods estimating them across scales; showcase fundamental processes controlling formation. observations that how ecosystems subsist on lasting stores during summer dry period multiyear droughts. The data suggest trees these are rooted deeply weathered, highly porous saprolite or saprock, which reaches up 10–20 m beneath surface. This confirms system harbors large volumes shows they vital supporting ecosystem through season extended enhances deep identifies key remaining challenges predicting managing response land use change mountain Nevada other climates worldwide. article is categorized under: Science Water > Hydrological Processes Extremes Life Nature Freshwater Ecosystems

Language: Английский

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Lithologically Controlled Subsurface Critical Zone Thickness and Water Storage Capacity Determine Regional Plant Community Composition

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 55(4), P. 3028 - 3055

Published: March 13, 2019

Abstract Explanations for distinct adjacent ecosystems that extend across hilly landscapes typically point to differences in climate or land use. Here we document—within a similar climate—how contrasting regional plant communities correlate with underlying lithology and reveal how water storage capacity the critical zone (CZ) explain this relationship. We present observations of subsurface CZ structure groundwater dynamics from deep boreholes quantify catchment‐wide dynamic two Franciscan rock types Northern California Coast Ranges. Our field sites have Mediterranean climate, where rains are out phase solar energy, amplifying importance periods peak ecosystem productivity dry season. In deeply weathered (~30 m at ridge) Coastal Belt argillite sandstone, ample, seasonally replenished moisture supports an evergreen forest drainage sustains baseflow throughout summer. Central argillite‐matrix mélange, thin (~3 limits total (100–200 mm) rapidly sheds winter rainfall via shallow storm saturation overland flow, resulting low plant‐available (inferred predawn tree potential) negligible can drain streams This limitation mechanism explains presence oak savanna‐woodland bounded by ephemeral streams, despite >1,800 mm average precipitation. Through hydrologic monitoring characterization, which type result regionally extensive under climate.

Language: Английский

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Designing a network of critical zone observatories to explore the living skin of the terrestrial Earth

Earth Surface Dynamics, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 5(4), P. 841 - 860

Published: Dec. 18, 2017

Abstract. The critical zone (CZ), the dynamic living skin of Earth, extends from top vegetative canopy through soil and down to fresh bedrock bottom groundwater. All humans live in depend on CZ. This has three co-evolving surfaces: canopy, ground surface, a deep subsurface below which Earth's materials are unweathered. network nine CZ observatories supported by US National Science Foundation made advances broad areas research relating surfaces. First, monitoring revealed how natural anthropogenic inputs at vegetation surface cause responses water, regolith structure, minerals, biotic activity considerable depths. response, turn, impacts aboveground biota climate. Second, drilling geophysical imaging now reveal varies across landscapes, turn influences ecosystems. Third, several new mechanistic models provide quantitative predictions spatial structure CZ.Many countries fund (CZOs) measure fluxes solutes, energy, gases, sediments some relate these observations histories those recorded landforms, biota, soils, sediments, rocks. Each observatory succeeded (i) synthesizing disciplines into convergent approaches; (ii) providing long-term measurements compare sites; (iii) testing developing models; (iv) collecting measuring baseline data for comparison catastrophic events; (v) stimulating process-based hypotheses; (vi) catalyzing development techniques instrumentation; (vii) informing public about CZ; (viii) mentoring students teaching emerging multidisciplinary science; (ix) discovering insights Many activities can only be accomplished with observatories. Here we review CZO enterprise United States identify such could operate future as designed generate scientific insights. Specifically, recognize need study network-level questions, expand environments under investigation, accommodate both hypothesis monitoring, involve more stakeholders. We propose driving question science hubs-and-campaigns model address that target one unit. Only integrative efforts will learn steward life-sustaining future.

Language: Английский

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Chemistry and microbiology of the Critical Zone along a steep climate and vegetation gradient in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera

CATENA, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 170, P. 183 - 203

Published: June 19, 2018

Language: Английский

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The frontier beneath our feet

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 53(4), P. 2605 - 2609

Published: April 1, 2017

Abstract Following the simple question as to where water goes when it rains leads one of most exciting frontiers in earth science: critical zone—Earth's dynamic skin. The zone extends from top vegetation canopy through soil and down fresh bedrock bottom groundwater. Only recently recognized a distinct zone, is challenging study because hard observe directly, varies widely across biogeoclimatic regions. Yet new ideas, instruments, observations are revealing surprising sometimes paradoxical insights, underscoring value field campaigns long‐term observatories. These insights bear directly on some pressing societal problems today: maintaining healthy forests, sustaining streamflow during droughts, restoring productive terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. supports all life; nexus carbon cycled, (hence food) grows, develops, landscapes evolve, we live. No other frontier so close home.

Language: Английский

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