Hidden Features: How Subsurface and Landscape Heterogeneity Govern Hydrologic Connectivity and Stream Chemistry in a Montane Watershed

Hydrological Processes, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 39(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Hydrologic connectivity is defined as the connection among stores of water within a watershed and controls flux solutes from subsurface to stream. difficult quantify because it goverened by heterogeniety in storage permeability responds seasonal changes precipitation inputs moisture conditions. How interannual climate variability impacts hydrologic connectivity, thus stream flow generation chemistry, remains unclear. Using rare, four‐year synoptic chemistry dataset, we evaluated shifts source Coal Creek, montane, headwater tributary Upper Colorado River. We leveraged compositional principal component analysis end‐member mixing evaluate how variation conditions chemistry. Overall, three main findings emerged this work. First, geochemically distinct end members were identified that constrained chemistry: reach inflows, quick slow groundwater contributions. Reach inflows impacted historic base precious metal mine inputs. Bedrock fractures facilitated much transport higher‐storage features (e.g., alluvial fans) groundwater. Second, contributions different changed over summer. In early summer, was composed all members, while late predominantly Finally, observed minimal differences proportional composition across four years, indicating spatial heterogeneity landscape geologic had greater influence than fluctuation on These indicate mechanisms controlling solute path activation) may be resilient (i.e., able rebound after perturbations) predicted increases variability. By establishing framework for assessing variable conditions, our study offers method biogeochemical resilience variations hydrometeorological

Язык: Английский

BioRT‐HBV 1.0: A Biogeochemical Reactive Transport Model at the Watershed Scale

Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(12)

Опубликована: Ноя. 30, 2024

Abstract Reactive Transport Models (RTMs) are essential tools for understanding and predicting intertwined ecohydrological biogeochemical processes on land in rivers. While traditional RTMs have focused primarily subsurface processes, recent watershed‐scale integrated interactions between surface subsurface. These emergent, often spatially explicit require extensive data, computational power, expertise. There is however a pressing need to create parsimonious models that minimal data accessible scientists with limited background. To end, we developed BioRT‐HBV 1.0, watershed‐scale, hydro‐biogeochemical RTM builds upon the widely used, bucket‐type HBV model known its simplicity requirements. uses conceptual structure hydrology output of simulate including advective solute transport reactions depend reaction thermodynamics kinetics. include, example, chemical weathering, soil respiration, nutrient transformation. The time series weather (air temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration) initial conditions water, soils, rocks as input, times rates concentrations waters This paper presents governing equations demonstrates utility examples simulating carbon nitrogen headwater catchment. As shown examples, can be used illuminate dynamics invisible, arduous‐to‐measure subsurface, their influence observed stream or river chemistry export. With easy‐to‐use graphical user interface, useful research tool users without in‐depth training. It additionally serve an educational promotes pollination ideas across disciplines foster diverse, equal, inclusive community.

Язык: Английский