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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Changes in Water Age During Dry‐Down of a Non‐Perennial Stream

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Non‐perennial streams, which lack year‐round flow, are widespread globally. Identifying the sources of water that sustain flow in non‐perennial streams is necessary to understand their potential impacts on downstream resources, and guide policy management. Here, we used isotopes (δ 18 O δ 2 H) two different modeling approaches investigate spatiotemporal dynamics young fractions ( F yw ) a stream network at Konza Prairie (KS, USA) during 2021 summer dry‐down season, as well over several years with varying hydrometeorological conditions. Using Bayesian model, found substantial amount : 39.1–62.6%) sustained flows headwaters catchment outlet year, while 2015–2022 contributions estimated using sinusoidal models indicated smaller amounts (15.3% ± 5.7). Both indicate releases highly sensitive hydrological conditions, shifting older dries. The shift age suggests away from rapid fracture toward slower matrix creates but localized surface presence late reflected annual outlet. proportion highlights vulnerability short‐term hydroclimatic change, reveals sensitivity longer‐term changes groundwater dynamics. Combined, this local may propagate through networks influence availability quality.

Language: Английский

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Local Topography and Streambed Hydraulic Conductivity Influence Riparian Groundwater Age and Groundwater‐Surface Water Connection

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 59(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Abstract The western U.S. is experiencing increasing rain to snow ratios due climate change, and scientists are uncertain how changing recharge patterns will affect future groundwater‐surface water connection. We examined watershed topography streambed hydraulic conductivity impact groundwater age stream discharge at eight sites along a headwater within the Manitou Experimental Forest, CO USA. To do so, we measured: (a) continuous discharge/level specific from April November 2021; (b) biweekly chemistry; (c) chlorofluorocarbons tritium in spring fall; (d) conductivity; (e) local slope. used chemistry data calculate fluorite saturation states that were inform end‐member mixing analysis of streamflow source. then combined chlorofluorocarbon estimate composition riparian groundwater. Our suggest drying more probable where slope steep high. In these areas, source shifted seasonally, as indicated by increases, observed high fraction streamflow, primarily interflow adjacent hillslopes. contrast, flat low, likely persist was seasonally constant buffered storage alluvial sediments. Groundwater paired with characterization subsurface characteristics enabled identification controls on patterns.

Language: Английский

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Bedrock depth influences spatial patterns of summer baseflow, temperature and flow disconnection for mountainous headwater streams

Hydrology and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(15), P. 3989 - 4011

Published: Aug. 4, 2022

Abstract. In mountain headwater streams, the quality and resilience of summer cold-water habitat is generally regulated by stream discharge, longitudinal channel connectivity groundwater exchange. These critical hydrologic processes are thought to be influenced corridor bedrock contact depth (sediment thickness), a parameter often inferred from sparse hillslope borehole information, piezometer refusal remotely sensed data. To investigate how local might control temperature disconnection (dewatering) patterns, we measured collecting interpreting 191 passive seismic datasets along eight streams in Shenandoah National Park (Virginia, USA). addition, used multi-year streamflow records calculate several baseflow-related metrics among study streams. Finally, comprehensive visual surveys dewatering were conducted 2016, 2019 2021 during low flow conditions (124 total km length). We found that depths not well-characterized soils maps or an existing global-scale geologic dataset where latter overpredicted 12.2 m (mean) approximately four times average 2.9 m. Half corridors had less than 2 Of Staunton River deepest (3.4 m), coldest profiles substantially higher baseflow indices compared other steams. also exhibited paired air water annual signals suggesting deeper influence, did dewater lower sections any survey. contrast, Paine Run Piney show pronounced, patchy dewatering, with having dozens discrete dry ranging 1 greater 300 length. Stream patterns apparently combination deep (20+ m) features more subtle sediment thickness variation (1–4 depending on valley hydrogeology. combination, these unique first large-scale empirical support for conceptual models based spatially variable underflow capacity shallow supply.

Language: Английский

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Catchment Coevolution and the Geomorphic Origins of Variable Source Area Hydrology

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract Features of landscape morphology—including slope, curvature, and drainage dissection—are important controls on runoff generation in upland landscapes. Over long timescales, plays an essential role shaping these same features through surface erosion. This feedback between erosion suggests that modeling long‐term evolution together with dynamic could provide insight into hydrological function. Here we examine the emergence variable source area a new coupled hydro‐geomorphic model accounts for water balance partitioning flow, subsurface evapotranspiration as landscapes evolve over millions years. We derive minimal set dimensionless numbers how hydrologic geomorphic parameters affect Across parameter space investigated, results collapsed to single inverse relationship relief ratio catchment quickflow discharge. Furthermore, found Hillslope number, which describes topographic relative aquifer thickness, proportion was variably saturated. While generally produces fluvial topography visually similar simpler models, certain combinations produce wide valley bottom wetlands non‐dendritic, trellis‐like networks, may reflect real conditions some where gradients become decoupled from topography. With results, demonstrate power models generating insights processes, also suggest hydrology be integral aspects evolution.

Language: Английский

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Biogeochemical and community ecology responses to the wetting of non-perennial streams

Nature Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2(9), P. 815 - 826

Published: Sept. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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How Alluvial Storage Controls Spatiotemporal Water Balance Partitioning in Intermittent and Ephemeral Stream Systems

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 61(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract The hydrological dynamics of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) impacts the availability water to riparian ecosystems, height downstream runoff peaks, replenishment groundwater systems. Despite its significance, influence superficial geology on IRES flow processes remains an area limited understanding. Here we first present a comprehensive data set encompassing streamflow levels from stream situated in New South Wales, Australia. We then use targeted geophysical investigations show how configurations control responses. analysis reveals that periods stable stage consistently occur after episodic surges streamflow, followed by recession channel desiccation. duration phases exhibits upstream‐to‐downstream pattern, reaching maximum 44 ± 3 days upstream abruptly declining further downstream. There is remarkable consistency these periods, irrespective size preceding peaks. propose two primary controls this behavior: (a) variability permeability contrasts between alluvium surrounding geological deposits, (b) longitudinal fluctuations volume recent alluvial reservoir. interplay generates “goldilocks zone,” which optimizes potential for recharge landscapes. These may reflect continuum other dryland catchments with widespread implications classification based occurrence duration.

Language: Английский

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STICr: An open-source package and workflow for Stream Temperature, Intermittency, and Conductivity (STIC) data

Environmental Modelling & Software, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 106484 - 106484

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Improving calibration of groundwater flow models using headwater streamflow intermittence

Hydrological Processes, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract Non‐perennial streams play a crucial role in ecological communities and the hydrological cycle. However, key parameters processes involved stream intermittency remain poorly understood. While climatic conditions, geology land use are well identified, assessment modelling of groundwater controls on streamflow intermittence challenge. In this study, we explore new opportunities to calibrate process‐based 3D flow models designed simulate hydrographic network dynamics groundwater‐fed headwaters. Streamflow measurements maps considered together constrain effective hydraulic properties aquifer hydrogeological models. The simulations were then validated using visual observations water presence/absence, provided by national monitoring France (ONDE). We tested methodology two pilot unconfined shallow crystalline catchments, Canut Nançon catchments (Brittany, France). found that both expansion/contraction required simultaneously estimate conductivity porosity with low uncertainties. calibration allowed good prediction intermittency, terms spatial extent. For studied, Nançon, is close reaching 1.5 × 10 −5 m/s 4.5 m/s, respectively. they differ more their storage capacity, estimated at 0.1% 2.2%, Lower capacity leads higher level fluctuations, shorter response times, an increase proportion intermittent reduction perennial flow. This framework for predicting headwater can be deployed improve our understanding different geomorphological, geological contexts. It will benefit from advances remote sensing crowdsourcing approaches generate observational data products high temporal resolution.

Language: Английский

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Estimation of the prevalence of non-perennial rivers and streams in anthropogenically altered river basins by random Forest modeling: A case study for the Yellow river basin

Journal of Hydrology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 132910 - 132910

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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