An overview of the hydrology of non‐perennial rivers and streams

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(2)

Published: Feb. 5, 2021

Abstract Non‐perennial rivers and streams are ubiquitous on our planet. Although several metrics have been used to statistically group or compare streamflow characteristics, there is currently no widely definition of how many days over what reach length surface flow must cease in order classify a river as non‐perennial. At the same time, breadth climate geographic settings for non‐perennial leads diversity their regimes, such often quickly they go dry. These rich expanding body literature addressing ecologic geomorphic features, but said be ignored by hydrologists. Yet much we do know about hydrology terms generation processes, water losses, variability flow. We also that while prevalent arid regions, occur across all types experience diverse set natural anthropogenic controls streamflow. Furthermore, measuring modeling these presents distinct challenges, research directions, which still require further attention. Therefore, present an overview current understanding, methodologic knowledge gaps, directions hydrologic understanding rivers; critical topics light both growing global scarcity ever‐changing laws policies dictate whether environmental protection receive. This article categorized under: Science Water >

Language: Английский

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Catchment chemostasis revisited: Water quality responds differently to variations in weather and climate

Hydrological Processes, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 33(24), P. 3056 - 3069

Published: July 26, 2019

Abstract Solute concentrations in streamflow typically vary systematically with stream discharge, and the resulting concentration–discharge relationships are important signatures of catchment biogeochemical processes. Solutes derived from mineral weathering often exhibit decreasing increasing flows, suggesting dilution a kinetically limited flux by variable water. However, previous work showed that weathering‐derived solutes 59 headwater catchments were much weaker than this simple model would predict. Instead, behaved as chemostats, rates solute production and/or mobilization nearly proportional to water fluxes, on both event interannual timescales. Here, we re‐examine these findings using data for wider range 2,186 catchments, ranging ~10 >1,000,000 km 2 drainage area spanning wide lithologic climatic settings. Concentration–discharge among larger set broadly consistent previously described chemostatic behaviour, at least timescales solutes. Among same however, site‐to‐site variations mean strong negative correlations long‐term average precipitation reflecting control leaching critical zone. We use multiple regression site characteristics including discharge identify potential controls find land cover significant predictors many analytes. The picture emerges is one which, timescales, chemostatically buffered groundwater storage fast chemical reactions, but each catchment's “set point” reflects differences climatically driven evolution In contrast products, some nutrients particulates near‐chemostatic across all their correlate more strongly characteristics.

Language: Английский

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Spatial Patterns and Drivers of Nonperennial Flow Regimes in the Contiguous United States

Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 48(2)

Published: Jan. 26, 2021

Abstract Over half of global rivers and streams lack perennial flow, understanding the distribution drivers their flow regimes is critical for hydrologic, biogeochemical, ecological functions. We analyzed nonperennial using 540 U.S. Geological Survey watersheds across contiguous United States from 1979 to 2018. Multivariate analyses revealed regional differences in no‐flow fraction, date first no duration dry‐down period, with further divergence between natural human‐altered watersheds. Aridity was a primary driver metrics at continental scale, while unique combinations climatic, physiographic anthropogenic emerged scales. Dry‐down showed stronger associations nonclimate compared fraction timing. Although sparse gages limits our such streams, examined here suggest important role aridity land cover change modulating future stream drying.

Language: Английский

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Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams: Perspectives for critical zone science and research on socio‐ecosystems

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(4)

Published: May 4, 2021

Abstract Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are now recognized to support specific freshwater biodiversity ecosystem services represent approximately half of the global river network, a fraction that is likely increase in context changes. Despite large research efforts on IRES during past few decades, there need for developing systemic approach considers their hydrological, hydrogeological, hydraulic, ecological, biogeochemical properties processes, as well interactions with human societies. Thus, we assert interdisciplinary promoted by critical zone sciences socio‐ecology relevant. These approaches rely infrastructure—Critical Zone Observatories (CZO) Long‐Term Socio‐Ecological Research (LTSER) platforms—that representative diversity (e.g., among climates or types geology. We illustrate this within French CZO LTSER, including socio‐ecosystems, detail IRES. networks also specialized long‐term observations required detect measure responses climate forcings despite delay buffering effects ecosystems. The LTSER platforms development innovative techniques data analysis methods can improve characterization IRES, particular monitoring flow regimes, groundwater‐surface water flow, biogeochemistry rewetting. provide scientific methodological perspectives which its associated infrastructure would relevant original insights help fill knowledge gaps about This article categorized under: Water Life > Stresses Pressures Ecosystems Science Hydrological Processes Conservation, Management, Awareness

Language: Английский

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Riverscape approaches in practice: perspectives and applications

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 481 - 504

Published: Nov. 10, 2021

ABSTRACT Landscape perspectives in riverine ecology have been undertaken increasingly the last 30 years, leading aquatic ecologists to develop a diverse set of approaches for conceptualizing, mapping and understanding ‘riverscapes’. Spatiotemporally explicit rivers their biota nested within socio‐ecological landscape now provide guiding principles inland fisheries watershed management. During two decades, scientific literature on riverscapes has increased rapidly, indicating that term associated are serving an important purpose freshwater science We trace origins theoretical foundations riverscape examine trends published assess state demonstrate how they being applied address recent challenges management ecosystems. focus studying visualizing streams with remote sensing, modelling sampling designs enable pattern detection as seen from above (e.g. river channel, floodplain, riparian areas) but also into water itself organisms aqueous environment). Key concepts central heterogeneity, scale (resolution, extent scope) connectivity (structural functional), which underpin spatial temporal aspects study design, data collection analysis. Mapping physical biological characteristics floodplains high‐resolution, spatially intensive techniques improves causes ecological consequences patterns at multiple scales. This information is crucial managing ecosystems, especially successful implementation conservation, restoration monitoring programs. Recent advances field‐sampling geospatial technology making it feasible collect high‐resolution over larger scales space time. highlight opportunities discuss future avenues research emerging tools can potentially help overcome obstacles collecting, analysing displaying these data. synthesis intended researchers resource managers understand apply real‐world problems

Language: Английский

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Aqua temporaria incognita

Hydrological Processes, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 34(26), P. 5704 - 5711

Published: Nov. 18, 2020

It has been 12 years since Bishop et al. (2008) wrote the Invited Commentary "Aqua Incognita: unknown headwaters".They highlighted that "In most regions, overwhelming majority of stream length lies beyond frontiers any systematic documentation and would have to be represented as a blank space on assessment map.This means for streams support aquatic life, understanding is lacking water quality, habitat, biota, specific discharge, or even how many kilometers such are there.This so vast it deserves name help us at least remember there.We propose calling 'Aqua Incognita'" (Bishop al., 2008; p. 1239).We continue agree with this statement need understand headwater better.In commentary, we want draw attention particular type less frequently examined: flow intermittently, i.e., Aqua Temporaria Incognita.Question 3 23 unsolved problems in hydrology (Blöschl 2019) focuses ephemeral dryland streams.We argue focus needs broadening temporary because they ubiquitous all climates.Headwater feed larger perennial particularly sensitive climate change other human influences (Jaeger 2014;Reynolds 2015;Pumo 2016).Their effective management protection, therefore, requires an both natural artificial causes intermittence.Temporary among hydrologically variable systems (Wohl, 2017).They include intermittent seasonally, only response rainfall snowmelt events, episodic contain flowing during

Language: Английский

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Instructive Surprises in the Hydrological Functioning of Landscapes

Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51(1), P. 277 - 299

Published: Jan. 10, 2023

Landscapes receive water from precipitation and then transport, store, mix, release it, both downward to streams upward vegetation. How they do this shapes floods, droughts, biogeochemical cycles, contaminant the health of terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. Because many key processes occur invisibly in subsurface, our conceptualization them has often relied heavily on physical intuition. In recent decades, however, much intuition been overthrown by field observations emerging measurement methods, particularly involving isotopic tracers. Here we summarize surprises that have transformed understanding hydrological at scale hillslopes drainage basins. These forced a shift perspective process conceptualizations are relatively static, homogeneous, linear, stationary ones predominantly dynamic, heterogeneous, nonlinear, nonstationary. ▪Surprising novel measurements transforming functioning landscapes.▪Even during storm peaks, streamflow is composed mostly stored landscape for weeks, months, or years.▪Streamflow tree uptake originate different subsurface storages seasons’ precipitation.▪Stream networks dynamically extend retract as wets dries, stream reaches lose flow into underlying aquifers.

Language: Английский

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Long-term rise in riverine dissolved organic carbon concentration is predicted by electrolyte solubility theory

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(3)

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

The riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux is of similar magnitude to the terrestrial sink for atmospheric CO2, but factors controlling it remain poorly determined and are largely absent from Earth system models (ESMs). Here, we show, a range European headwater catchments, that electrolyte solubility theory explains how declining precipitation ionic strength (IS) has increased dissolution thermally moderated pools soluble soil matter (OM), while hydrological conditions govern proportion this OM entering aquatic system. Solubility will continue rise exponentially with IS until pollutant ion deposition fully flattens out under clean air policies. Future DOC export increasingly depend on rates warming any directional changes intensity seasonality marine deposition. Our findings provide firm foundation incorporating processes dominating change in component global cycle ESMs.

Language: Английский

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Towards (better) fluvial meta-ecosystem ecology: a research perspective

npj Biodiversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Rivers are an important component of the global carbon cycle and contribute to atmospheric exchange disproportionately their total surface area. Largely, this is because rivers efficiently mobilize, transport metabolize terrigenous organic matter (OM). Notably, our knowledge about magnitude globally relevant fluxes strongly contrasts with lack understanding underlying processes that transform OM. Ultimately, OM processing en route oceans results from a diverse assemblage consumers interacting equally pool resources in spatially complex network heterogeneous riverine habitats. To understand interaction between OM, we must therefore account for spatial configuration, connectivity, landscape context at scales ranging local ecosystems entire networks. Building such explicit framework fluvial across may also help us better predict poorly understood anthropogenic impacts on cycling, instance human-induced fragmentation changes flow regimes, including intermittence. Moreover, current unprecedented human-driven loss biodiversity. This least partly due mechanisms operating scales, as interference migration habitat homogenization, comes largely unknown functional consequences. We advocate here comprehensive networks connecting two aware but disparate lines research (i) metacommunities biodiversity, (ii) biogeochemistry contribution cycle. argue agenda focusing regional scale-that is, river network-to enable deeper mechanistic naturally arising biodiversity-ecosystem functioning coupling major driver biogeochemically fluxes.

Language: Английский

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Molecular change of dissolved organic matter and patterns of bacterial activity in a stream along a land-use gradient

Water Research, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 164, P. 114919 - 114919

Published: July 27, 2019

Language: Английский

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