Effect of bedrock permeability on subsurface stormflow and the water balance of a trenched hillslope at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed,Georgia, USA

The effect of bedrock permeability on subsurface stormflow initiation and the hillslope water balance is poorly understood. Previous hillslope hydrological studies at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW), Georgia, USA, have assumed that the bedrock underlying the trenched hillslope is effectively impermeable. This paper presents a series of sprinkling experiments where we test the bedrock impermeability hypothesis at the PMRW. Specifically, we quantify the bedrock permeability effects on hillslope subsurface stormflow generation and the hillslope water balance at the PMRW. Five sprinkling experiments were performed by applying 882–1676 mm of rainfall over a ～5·5 m × 12 m area on the lower hillslope during ～8 days. In addition to water input and output captured at the trench, we measured transpiration in 14 trees on the slope to close the water balance. Of the 193 mm day^?1 applied during the later part of the sprinkling experiments when soil moisture changes were small, <14 mm day^?1 was collected at the trench and <4 mm day^?1 was transpired by the trees, with residual bedrock leakage of >175 mm day^?1 (91%). Bedrock moisture was measured at three locations downslope of the water collection system in the trench. Bedrock moisture responded quickly to precipitation in early spring. Peak tracer breakthrough in response to natural precipitation in the bedrock downslope from the trench was delayed only 2 days relative to peak tracer arrival in subsurface stormflow at the trench. Leakage to bedrock influences subsurface stormflow at the storm time‐scale and also the water balance of the hillslope. This has important implications for the age and geochemistry of the water and thus how one models this hillslope and watershed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal controls on DOC dynamics in nested upland catchments in NE Scotland

Spatial and temporal variability of hydrological responses affecting surface water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations are important for determining upscaling patterns of DOC export within larger catchments. Annual and intra‐annual variations in DOC concentrations and fluxes were assessed over 2 years at 12 sites (3·40–1837 km²) within the River Dee basin in NE Scotland. Mean annual DOC fluxes, primarily correlated with catchment soil coverage, ranged from 3·41 to 9·48 g m^?2 yr^?1. Periods of seasonal (summer–autumn and winter–spring) DOC concentrations (production) were delineated and related to discharge. Although antecedent temperature mainly determined the timing of switchover between periods of high DOC in the summer‐autumn and low DOC in winter‐spring, inter‐annual variability of export within the same season was largely dependent on its associated water flux. DOC fluxes ranged from 1·39 to 4·80 g m^?2 season^?1 during summer–autumn and 1·43 to 4·15 g m^?2 season^?1 in winter–spring.Relationships between DOC areal fluxes and catchment scale indicated that mainstem fluxes reflect the averaging of highly heterogeneous inputs from contrasting headwater catchments, leading to convergent DOC fluxes at catchment sizes of ca 100 km². However, during summer–autumn periods, in contrast to winter–spring, longitudinal mainstem DOC fluxes continue to decrease, most likely because of increasing biological processes. This highlights the importance of considering seasonal as well as annual changes in DOC fluxes with catchment scale. This study increases our understanding of the temporal variability of DOC upscaling patterns reflecting cumulative changes across different catchment scales and aids modelling of carbon budgets at different stages of riverine systems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dissolved organic carbon export from a cutover and restored peatland

High demand for horticultural peat has increased peatland drainage and peat extraction in Canada. The hydrology and carbon cycling of these cutover peatlands is greatly altered, necessitating active restoration efforts to permit the regeneration of Sphagnum mosses and the re‐establishment of natural peatland function. The effect of peatland extraction and restoration on the export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was examined for three successive seasons (May to October, 1999 to 2001) at two different sites (cutover and restored) in eastern Québec. A shift towards higher DOC concentrations was observed following peatland extraction (maximum: 182·6 mg L^?1) and concentrations remained high post‐restoration (maximum: 191·0 mg L^?1). The cutover site exported more DOC than the restored site in all three study seasons. The highest exports occurred during the wettest year (1999), with cutover and restored site export of 10·3 and 4·8 g m^?2, respectively. In 2000, 8·5 g C m^?2 was released from the cutover site, while the restored site released less than half that amount (3·4 g C m^?2). In 2001, the restored site released about the same amount of DOC as in the previous year (3·5 g C m^?2), while the cutover site load dropped to 6·2 g C m^?2. Both sites were net exporters of DOC in all years. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluvial transport of suspended sediment and organic carbon during flood events in a large agricultural catchment in southwest France

Water draining from a large agricultural catchment of 1 110 km² in southwest France was sampled over an 18‐month period to determine the temporal variability in suspended sediment (SS) and dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) transport during flood events, with quantification of fluxes and controlling factors, and to analyze the relationships between discharge and SS, DOC and POC. A total of 15 flood events were analyzed, providing extensive data on SS, POC and DOC during floods. There was high variability in SS, POC and DOC transport during different seasonal floods, with SS varying by event from 513 to 41 750 t; POC from 12 to 748 t and DOC from 9 to 218 t. Overall, 76 and 62% of total fluxes of POC and DOC occurred within 22% of the study period. POC and DOC export from the Save catchment amounted to 3090 t and 1240 t, equivalent to 1·8 t km^?2 y^?1 and 0·7 t km^?2 y^?1, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that total precipitation, flood discharge and total water yield were the major factors controlling SS, POC and DOC transport from the catchment. The relationships between SS, POC and DOC and discharge over temporal flood events resulted in different hysteresis patterns, which were used to deduce dissolved and particulate origins. In both clockwise and anticlockwise hysteresis, POC mainly followed the same patterns as discharge and SS. The DOC‐discharge relationship was mainly characterized by alternating clockwise and anticlockwise hysteresis due to dilution effects of water originating from different sources in the whole catchment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identifying and linking source areas of flow and P transport in dairy‐grazed headwater catchments,North Island,New Zealand

We examined the applicability of the critical‐source area (CSA) concept to the dairy‐grazed 192‐ha Upper Toenepi catchment and its 8·7‐ha Kiwitahi sub‐catchment, New Zealand. We evaluated if phosphorus (P) transport from land into stream is dominated by saturation‐excess (SE) and infiltration‐excess (IE) runoff during stormflow and by sub‐surface (<1·5 m depth) flows during baseflow. We measured stream flow and shallow groundwater levels, collected monthly stream, tile drain (TDA) and groundwater samples, and flow‐proportional stream samples from the Kiwitahi sub‐catchment, and determined their dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. In the Kiwitahi sub‐catchment, during storm events, IE contributions were significant. Contributions from SE appeared significant in the Upper Toenepi catchment. However, in both catchments, sub‐surface contributions dominated stormflow and baseflow periods. Absence of water table at the surface and the water table gradient towards the stream indicated that P transport during events was not limited to surface runoff. The dynamics of the groundwater table and the occurrence of SE areas were influenced by proximity to the stream and hillslope positions. Baseflow accounted for 42% of the annual flow in the Kiwitahi sub‐catchment, and contributed 37 and 52% to the DRP and TP loads, respectively. The P transport during baseflow appeared equally important as P losses from CSAs during stormflow. The close resemblance in P levels between groundwater and stream samples during baseflow demonstrates the importance of shallow groundwater for stream flow. In the Upper Toenepi catchment, contributions from effluent ponds (EFFs) dominated P loads. Management strategies should focus on controlling P release from EFFs, and on decreasing Olsen P concentrations in soil to minimize leaching of P via sub‐surface flow to streams. Research is needed to quantify the role of sub‐surface flow as well as to expand management strategies to minimize P transfers during stormflow and baseflow conditions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of antecedent moisture conditions on sediment and phosphorus loss during overland flow: Mahantango Creek catchment,Pennsylvania, USA

The loss of P in overland flow from most cultivated soils is controlled by erosion, and in‐turn soil moisture. We evaluated the effect of soil moisture on erosion and P transport in overland flow by applying rainfall (7 cm h^?1) to packed soil boxes (1 m long and 0·15 m wide) and field plots (1 and 10 m long by 1 m wide) of silt loams in a central Pennsylvania (USA) catchment. Flow from packed soil boxes took longer to initiate as antecedent soil moisture decreased from field capacity (2 min) to air dried (8 to 9 min). Even in the more complex field plots (i.e. soil heterogeneity and topography), the wetter site (1 by 10 m plot; 70% field capacity) produced flow more quickly (3 min) and in greater volume (439 L) than the drier site (1 by 10 m plot; 40% field capacity, 15 min, and 214 L, respectively). However, less suspended sediment was transported from wetter soil boxes (1·6 to 2·5 g L^?1) and field plots (0·9 g L^?1) than drier boxes (2·9 to 4·2 g L^?1) and plots (1·2 g L^?1). Differences are attributed to their potential for soil aggregate breakdown, slaking and dispersion, which contribute to surface soil sealing and crusting, as dry soils are subject to rapid wetting (by rainfall). During flow, selective erosion and antecedent moisture conditions affected P transport. At field capacity, DRP and PP transport varied little during overland flow. Whereas P transport from previously dry soil decreased rapidly after the initiation of flow (6 to 1·5 mg TP L^?1), owing to the greater slaking and dispersion of P‐rich particles into flow at the beginning than end of the flow event. These results indicate that soil moisture fluctuations greatly effect erosion and P transport potential and that management to decrease the potential for loss should consider practices such as conservation tillage and cover crops, particularly on areas where high soil P and erosion coincide. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamics of phosphorus compounds in a lowland river system: Importance of retention and non-point sources

Intensive measurements of the fluxes of phosphorus (P) and of P retention were carried out in a Danish lowland watershed (Gjern Å) during two hydrological years (June 1987 to May 1989). Seasonal and short-term variations of P concentrations were measured by intensive automatic sampling covering P fluxes from the entire Gjern Å watershed and two subcatchments: the Gelbæk and Lake Søbygård. Moreover, infrequent sampling was performed in all major tributaries of the river system. Transport of P compounds (dissolved and particulate P) exposed a seasonal pattern which was highly affected by flow conditions, instream processes, as well as point and non-point sources. Stormflow P transport during the two study years (1987-8 and 1988-9) constituted 56 and 61% in the Gelbæk, respectively, compared with 25 and 23% in the Gjern Å, respectively. Particulate P transport in the Gelbæk constituted 56 and 75% of annual total P transport during the two years compared with 77 and 75% in the Gjern Å. The magnitude of monthly baseflow and stormflow total P loads was significantly correlated with the mean monthly discharge during baseflow and stormflow in the Gelbæk, whereas only stormflow loads were correlated to discharge in the Gjern Å. In situ measurements of retention showed that the maximum amount of P stored in the Gelbæk during summer (June to August) was 22gPm^?2 (1988) compared with 27gPm^?2 (1987) in the Gjern Å. Lake Søbygård was a P source during summer but a P sink during winter and on an annual basis the net P released was 810 and 1420 kg, which corresponded to 7 and 20% of the annual P export from the watershed, respectively. Retention constituted about 30% of gross P transport in the Gelbæk during summer compared with 20% in the Gjern Å. Resuspension of retained P during stormflows in September 1987 constituted 94% of the stormflow P transport and 54% of the total P transport. Monthly total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) mass balances for the main channel of the Gjern Å revealed a significant DRP retention over 17 months (p < 0.05) caused by P adsorption on sediments and biological uptake. On an annual basis the main channel was a sink of DRP (1220 and 1660 kg P) but a source of total P (3440 and 1000 kg P). implying that the channel is an important source of particulate P. Bank erosion proved to be a significant P source in the main channel of Gjern Å, whereas P delivery from soil erosion was possibly of minor importance. The annual non-point P export from two intensively sampled catchments was significantly higher (0.89 and 0.45 kg Pha^?1 yr^?1) than from the five extensively sampled subbasins (0.43 and 0.17 kg Pha^?1 yr^?1). No significant relationship could be established between non-point P export and the proportion of arable land and soil type. Only for the wet year of 1987-8 was a significant relationship established between non-point P export and the P load from scattered dwellings outside sewage areas in five subbasins.     

Bioturbation on a south‐east Australian hillslope: estimating contributions to soil flux

The contribution of bioturbation to downslope soil transport is significant in many situations, particularly in the context of soil formation, erosion and creep. This study explored the direct flux of soil caused by Aphaenogaster ant mounding, vertebrate scraping and tree‐throw on a wildfire‐affected hillslope in south‐east Australia. This included the development of methods previously applied to Californian gopher bioturbation, and an evaluation of methods for estimating the volume of soil displaced by tree‐throw events. All three bioturbation types resulted in a net downslope flux, but any influence of hillslope angle on flux rates appeared to be overshadowed by environmental controls over the spatial extent of bioturbation. As a result, the highest flux rates occurred on the footslope and lower slope. The overall contribution of vertebrate scraping (57.0 ± 89.4 g m^?1 yr^?1) exceeded that of ant mounding (36.4 ± 66.0 g m^?1 yr^?1), although mean rates were subject to considerable uncertainty. Tree‐throw events, which individually cause major disturbance, were limited in their importance by their scarcity relative to faunalturbation. However, tree‐throw might be the dominant mechanism of biotic soil flux on the mid‐slope provided that it occurs at a frequency of at least 2–3 events ha^?1 yr^?1. Although direct biotic soil flux appears to be geomorphologically significant on this hillslope, such transport processes are probably subordinate to other impacts of bioturbation at this site such as the enhancement of infiltration following wildfire. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of preferential flow on hillslope hydrology in a semi‐arid watershed (in the Spanish Dehesas)

Preferential flow is known to influence hillslope hydrology in many areas around the world. Most research on preferential flow has been performed in temperate regions. Preferential infiltration has also been found in semi‐arid regions, but its impact on the hydrology of these regions is poorly known. The aim of this study is to describe and quantify the influence of preferential flow on the hillslope hydrology from small scale (infiltration) to large scale (subsurface stormflow) in a semi‐arid Dehesa landscape. Precipitation, soil moisture content, piezometric water level and discharge data were used to analyse the hydrological functioning of a catchment in Spain. Variability of soil moisture content during the transition from dry to wet season (September to November) within horizontal soil layers leads to the conclusion that there is preferential infiltration into the soils. When the rainfall intensity is high, a water level rapidly builds up in the piezometer pipes in the area, sometimes even reaching soil surface. This water level also drops back to bedrock within a few hours (under dry catchment conditions) to days (under wet catchment conditions). As the soil matrix is not necessarily wet while this water layer is built up, it is thought to be a transient water table in large connected pores which drain partly to the matrix, partly fill up bedrock irregularities and partly drain through subsurface flow to the channels. When the soil matrix becomes wetter the loss of water from macropores to the matrix and bedrock decreases and subsurface stormflow increases. It may be concluded that the hillslope hydrological system consists of a fine matrix domain and a macropore domain, which have their own flow characteristics but which also interact, depending on the soil matrix and macropore moisture contents. The macropore flow can result in subsurface flow, ranging from 13% contribution to total discharge for a large event of high intensity rainfall or high discharge to 80% of total discharge for a small event with low intensity rainfall or low discharge. During large events the fraction of subsurface stormflow in the discharge is suppressed by the large amount of surface runoff. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating mechanisms of stormflow generation by natural tracers and hydrometric data: a small catchment study in the Black Forest,Germany

The importance and interaction of various hydrological pathways and identification of runoff source areas involved in solute transport are still under considerable debate in catchment hydrology. To reveal stormflow generating areas and flow paths, hydrometric behaviour of throughfall, soil water from various depths, runoff, and respective concentrations of the environmental tracers ¹⁸O, Si, K, SO₄ and dissolved organic carbon were monitored for a 14‐week period in a steep headwater catchment in the Black Forest Mountains, Germany. Two stormflow hydrographs were selected and, based on ¹⁸O and Si, chemically separated into three flow components. Their sources were defined using mixing diagrams. Additional information about stormflow generating mechanisms was derived from recession analyses of the basin's complete 5‐year hydrograph record. By providing insight into storage properties and residence times of outflowing reservoirs of the basin, recession analysis proved to be a valuable tool in runoff model conceptualization. Its results agreed well with hydrometric and hydrochemical data. Supported by evaluation of 30 hillslope soil profiles a coherent concept of stormflow generation could be derived: whereas in many steeply sloped basins in the temperate region soil water from hillslopes appears to have an immediate effect on the shape of the stormflow hydrograph, its role at this basin is basically restricted to the recharge of the groundwater reservoir in the near‐channel area. Storm hydrograph peaks appear to be derived from a small direct runoff component supplemented by a fast delivery of baseflow from the groundwater reservoir in the valley bottom. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coevolution of hydrology and topography on a basalt landscape in the Oregon Cascade Range,USA

Young basalt terrains offer an exceptional opportunity to study landscape and hydrologic evolution through time, since the age of the landscape itself can be determined by dating lava flows. These constructional terrains are also highly permeable, allowing one to examine timescales and process of geomorphic evolution as they relate to the partitioning of hydrologic flowpaths between surface and sub‐surface flow. The western slopes of the Cascade Range in Oregon, USA are composed of a thick sequence of lava flows ranging from Holocene to Oligocene in age, and the landscape receives abundant precipitation of between 2000 and 3500 mm per year. On Holocene and late Pleistocene lava landscapes, groundwater systems transmit most of the recharge to large springs (≥0·85 m³ s^?1) with very steady hydrographs. In watersheds >1 million years old, springs are absent, and well‐developed drainage networks fed by shallow subsurface stormflow produce flashy hydrographs. Drainage density slowly increases with time in this basalt landscape, requiring a million years to double in density. Progressive hillslope steepening and fluvial incision also occur on this timescale. Springs and groundwater‐fed streams transport little sediment and hence are largely ineffective in incising river valleys, so fluvial landscape dissection appears to occur only after springs are replaced by shallow subsurface stormflow as the dominant streamflow generation mechanism. It is proposed that landscape evolution in basalt terrains is constrained by the time required for permeability to be reduced sufficiently for surface flow to replace groundwater flow. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water and nitrogen movement through a semiarid dryland agricultural catchment: Seasonal and decadal trends

Water and nutrient budgets in dryland agroecosystems are difficult to manage for efficiency and water quality. This is particularly true where complex terrain and soilscapes interact with pronounced hydrologic seasonality. The purpose of this research was to understand water and hydrologic nitrogen (N) export from a hillslope dryland agroecosystem in a semiarid region where most precipitation occurs outside the growing season. We studied 13 years (2001–2013) of records of water and N inputs and outputs from a 12 ha no‐till artificially drained catchment in the semiarid Palouse Basin of eastern Washington State, USA. Fall‐ and winter‐dominated annual precipitation averaged 462 mm. About 350 mm went to evapotranspiration; crops used ~160 mm from stored soil water during the summer dry‐down season. Soil water replenishment after crop senescence, during the fall wet‐up season, delayed the threshold onset of the high‐discharge season until December. Winter‐dominated drainage fluxes averaged 111 mm or 24% of annual precipitation. Nitrate export in drainage averaged 15 kg·N·ha^?1·year^?1, which was about 10 times the average rate of dissolved organic N export and 15% of the average rate of N application in chemical fertilizer. Fertilizer applications to the catchment were reduced, due to cropping changes, by 1/3 during the last 5 years of the study; however, no corresponding reduction was observed in the nitrate export flux. This lack of change could not be attributed to mineralization of the soil‐organic N legacy of fertilization nor to hydrologic lag of the catchment. Likeliest explanations are (a) despite the reduction, N application continued to exceed crop uptake and accumulation in organic matter; (b) seasonal and interannual variability of catchment connectivity resulted in year‐to‐year field‐scale nitrate storage and carryover. Water and N use efficiencies observed here may be near maximum obtainable for existing crops in this climate. Substantial improvements that would also address multiple environmental issues associated with the N cascade may involve shifts to perennial systems and/or rotations in which N is fixed biologically.     

Gypsies in the palace: experimentalist's view on the use of 3‐D physics‐based simulation of hillslope hydrological response

As a fundamental unit of the landscape, hillslopes are studied for their retention and release of water and nutrients across a wide range of ecosystems. The understanding of these near‐surface processes is relevant to issues of runoff generation, groundwater–surface water interactions, catchment export of nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, contaminants (e.g. mercury) and ultimately surface water health. We develop a 3‐D physics‐based representation of the Panola Mountain Research Watershed experimental hillslope using the TOUGH2 sub‐surface flow and transport simulator. A recent investigation of sub‐surface flow within this experimental hillslope has generated important knowledge of threshold rainfall‐runoff response and its relation to patterns of transient water table development. This work has identified components of the 3‐D sub‐surface, such as bedrock topography, that contribute to changing connectivity in saturated zones and the generation of sub‐surface stormflow. Here, we test the ability of a 3‐D hillslope model (both calibrated and uncalibrated) to simulate forested hillslope rainfall‐runoff response and internal transient sub‐surface stormflow dynamics. We also provide a transparent illustration of physics‐based model development, issues of parameterization, examples of model rejection and usefulness of data types (e.g. runoff, mean soil moisture and transient water table depth) to the model enterprise. Our simulations show the inability of an uncalibrated model based on laboratory and field characterization of soil properties and topography to successfully simulate the integrated hydrological response or the distributed water table within the soil profile. Although not an uncommon result, the failure of the field‐based characterized model to represent system behaviour is an important challenge that continues to vex scientists at many scales. We focus our attention particularly on examining the influence of bedrock permeability, soil anisotropy and drainable porosity on the development of patterns of transient groundwater and sub‐surface flow. Internal dynamics of transient water table development prove to be essential in determining appropriate model parameterization. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organic carbon transport in the Songhua River,NE China: Influence of land use

Carbon transported by rivers is an important component of the global carbon cycle. Here, we report on organic carbon transport along the third largest river in China, the Songhua River, and its major tributaries. Water samples were collected seasonally or more frequently to determine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations and C/N and stable carbon isotopic ratios. Principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis of these data, in combination with hydrological records for the past 50 years, were used to determine the major factors influencing the riverine carbon fluxes. Results indicate that the organic carbon in the Songhua River basin is derived mainly from terrestrial sources. In the 2008–2009 hydrological year, the mean concentrations of DOC and POC were 5.87 and 2.36 mg/L, and the estimated fluxes of the DOC and POC were 0.30 and 0.14 t·km^?2·year^?1, respectively. The riverine POC and DOC concentrations were higher in subcatchments with more cropland, but the area‐specific fluxes were lower, owing to decreased discharge. We found that hydrological characteristics and land‐use type (whether forest or cropland) were the most important factors influencing carbon transport in this system. Agricultural activity, particularly irrigation, is the principal cause of changes in water discharge and carbon export. Over the last 50 years, the conversion of forest to cropland has reduced riverine carbon exports mainly through an associated decrease in discharge following increased extraction of water for irrigation.     

Hydrochemical behaviour of dissolved nitrogen and carbon in a headwater stream of the Canadian Shield: relevance of antecedent soil moisture conditions

This paper examines the impact of contrasting antecedent soil moisture conditions on the hydrochemical response, here the changes in dissolved nitrogen (NO₃^?, NH₄⁺ and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON)) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, of a first‐order stream during hydrological events. The study was performed in the Hermine, a 5 ha forested watershed of the Canadian Shield. It focused on a series of eight precipitation events (spring, summer and fall) sampled every 2 or 3 h and showing contrasted antecedent moisture conditions. The partition of the eight events between two groups (dry or wet) of antecedent moisture conditions was conducted using a principal component analysis (PCA). The partition was controlled (first axis explained 86% of the variability) by the antecedent streamflow, the streamflow to precipitation ratio Q/P and by the antecedent groundwater depth. The mean H⁺, NO₃^?, NH₄⁺, total dissolved nitrogen and DOC concentrations and electrical conductivity values in the stream were significantly higher following dry antecedent conditions than after wetter conditions had prevailed in the Hermine, although the temporal variability was high (17 to 138%). At the event scale, a significantly higher proportion of the changes in DON, NO₃^?, and DOC concentrations in the stream was explained by temporal variations in discharge compared with the seasonal and annual scales. Two of the key hydrochemical features of the dry events were the synchronous changes in DOC and flow and the frequent negative relationships between discharge and NO₃^?. The DON concentrations were much less responsive than DOC to changes in discharge, whereas NH was not in phase with streamflow. During wet events, the synchronicity between streamflow and DON or NO₃^? was higher than during dry events and discharge and NO₃^? were generally positively linked. Based on these observations, the hydrological behaviour of the Hermine is conceptually compatible with a two‐component model of shallow (DON and DOC rich; variable NO₃^?) and deep (DON and DOC poor; variable NO₃^?) subsurface flow. The high NO₃^? and DOC levels measured at the early stages of dry events reflected the contribution from NO₃^?‐rich groundwaters. The contribution of rapid surface flow on water‐repellent soil materials located close to the stream channel is hypothesized to explain the DOC levels. An understanding of the complex interactions between antecedent soil moisture conditions, the presence of soil nutrients available for leaching and the dynamics of soil water flow paths during storms is essential to explain the fluxes of dissolved nitrogen and carbon in streams of forested watersheds. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stormflow generation and flowpath characteristics in an Amazonian rainforest catchment

The Amazon basin covers an area of roughly 7 × 10⁶ km² and encompasses diverse soil – landscape types with potentially differing hydrological behaviour. This study was conducted in the Ultisol landscape of the western Amazon basin in Peru. Processes of stormflow generation were investigated on an event basis in a first‐order rainforest catchment to establish a causal link between soil physical and precipitation characteristics, hillslope flowpaths and stormflow hydrograph attributes. A sharp decrease in soil hydraulic conductivity with depth and high rainfall intensity and frequency favour rapid near‐surface flowpaths, mainly in the form of saturation‐excess overland flow and return flow. The latter results in an almost random occurrence of overland flow, with no obvious topographic control. Hillslope flowpaths do not vary much with respect to the hydrograph attributes time of rise, response time, lag time and centroid lag time. They have the same response time as streamflow, but a somewhat lower time of rise and significantly shorter lag times. The recession constant for hillslope hydrographs is about 10 min, in contrast to the streamflow recession constants of 28, 75 and 149 min. Stormflow generation in this Ultisol rainforest catchment differs strongly from that reported for Oxisol rainforest catchments. These two soilscapes may define a spectrum of possible catchment hydrological behaviour in the Amazon basin. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Importance of soil surface characteristics on water erosion in a small grazed Sahelian catchment

This study concerns the problem of water erosion in the Sahel. Surface water and sediment yields (suspended matter and bedload) were monitored for 3 years (1998–2000) at the outlet of a small grazed catchment (1·4 ha) in the northern part of Burkina Faso. The catchment consists of about 64% sandy deposits (DRY soil surface type), which support most of the vegetation, and about 34% of crusted bare soils (ERO soil surface type). The annual solid‐matter export is more than 90% suspended sediment, varying between 4·0 and 8·4 t ha^?1. The bedload represents less than 10% of soil losses. In a single flood event (10 year return period), the sediment yield can reach 4·2 t ha^?1. During the period studied, a small proportion (20 to 32%) of the floods was thus responsible for a large proportion (80%) of the solid transport. Seasonal variation of the suspended‐matter content was also observed: high mean values (9 g l^?1) in June, decreasing in July and stabilizing in August (between 2 and 4 g l^?1). This behaviour may be a consequence of a reorganization of the soil surfaces that have been destroyed by trampling animals during the previous long dry season, vegetation growth (increase in the protecting effect of the herbaceous cover) and, to a lesser extent, particle‐supply limitation (exhaustion of dust deposits during July). The particle‐size distribution in the suspended matter collected at the catchment outlet is 60% made up of clay: fraction ≤2 µ m. The contribution of this clay is maximum when the water rises and its kaolinite/quartz ratio is then close to that of the ERO‐type surfaces. This indicates that these surfaces are the main source of clay within the catchment. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Searching for similarity in topographic controls on carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus export from forested headwater catchments

Topography influences hydrological processes that in turn affect biogeochemical export to surface water on forested landscapes. The differences in long‐term average annual dissolved organic carbon (DOC), organic and inorganic nitrogen [NO₃^?‐N, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON)], and phosphorus (total dissolved phosphorus, TDP) export from catchments in the Algoma Highlands of Ontario, Canada, with similar climate, geology, forest and soil were established. Topographic indicators were designed to represent topographically regulated hydrological processes that influence nutrient export, including (1) hydrological storage potential (i.e. effects of topographic flats/depressions on water storage) and (2) hydrological flushing potential (i.e. effects of topographic slopes on potential for variable source area to expand and tap into previously untapped areas). Variations in NO₃^?‐N export among catchments could be explained by indicators representing both hydrological flushing potential (91%, p < 0.001) and hydrological storage potential (65%, p < 0.001), suggesting the importance of hydrological flushing in regulating NO₃^?‐N export as well as surface saturated areas in intercepting NO₃^?‐N‐loaded runoff. In contrast, hydrological storage potential explained the majority of variations among catchments in DON (69%, p < 0.001), DOC (94%, p < 0.001) and TDP (82%, p < 0.001) export. The lower explanatory power of DON (about 15% less) compared with that of DOC and TDP suggests another mechanism influencing N export, such as controls related to alternative fates of nitrogen (e.g. as gas). This study shows that simple topographic indicators can be used to track nutrient sources, sinks and their transport and export to surface water from catchments on forest landscapes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interrill erosion in the sloping lands of northern Laos subjected to shifting cultivation

In this study our main objective was to quantify water interrill erosion in the sloping lands of Southeast Asia, one of the most bio‐geochemically active regions of the world. Investigations were performed on a typical hillslope of Northern Laos subjected to slash and burn agriculture practiced as shifting cultivation. Situations with different periods of the shifting cultivation cycle (secondary forest, upland rice cultivation following a four‐year fallow period and three‐year continuous upland rice cultivation) and soil orders (Ultisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols) were selected. One metre square micro‐plots were installed to quantify the soil material removed by either detachment of entire soil aggregate or aggregate destruction, and the detached material transported by thin sheet flow, the main mechanisms of interrill erosion. In addition, laboratory tests were carried out to quantify the aggregate destruction in the process of water erosion by slaking, dispersion and mechanical breakdown. The average runoff coefficient (R) evaluated throughout the 2002 rainy season was 30·1 per cent and the interrill erosion was 1413 g m^?2 yr^?1 for sediments and 68 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for soil organic carbon, which was relatively high. Among the mechanisms of interrill water erosion, aggregate destruction was low and mostly caused by mechanical breakdown due to raindrops, thus leading to the conclusion that detachment and further transport by the shallow runoff of macro‐aggregates predominates. R ranged from 23·1 to 35·8 per cent. It decreased with the proportion of mosses on the soil surface and soil surface coverage, and increased with increasing proportion of structural crust, thus confirming previous results. Water erosion varied from 621 to 2433 g m^?2 yr^?1 for sediments and from 31 to 146 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for soil organic carbon, and significantly increased with increasing clay content of the surface horizon, probably due to the formation of easily detachable and transportable sand‐size aggregates, and proportion of macro‐aggregates not embedded in the soil matrix and prone to transport. In addition, water erosion decreased with increasing proportion of structural crusts, probably due to their higher hardness, and when cultivation follows a fallow period rather than after a long period of cultivation due to the greater occurrence of algae on the soil surface, which affords physical protection and greater aggregate stability through binding and gluing. This study based on simultaneous field and laboratory investigations allowed successful identification and quantification of the main erosion mechanisms and controlling factors of interrill erosion, which will give arguments to further set up optimal strategies for sustainable use of the sloping lands of Southeast Asia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy metal concentrations during storm events in a rehabilitated industrialized catchment

Water quality data collected on a fortnightly or monthly basis are inadequate for assessment and modelling of many water quality problems as storm event samples are underrepresented or missed. This paper examines the stormflow dynamics of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn) in the Nant‐y‐Fendrod stream, South Wales, which has been affected by 250 years of metal smelting, followed by 35 years of landscape rehabilitation measures. For storm events of contrasting (very dry and very wet) antecedent conditions in May 2000 and February 2001, respectively, temporal changes in streamwater heavy metal concentrations above and below an in‐line flood detention lake are analysed. At the upstream site, peaks in total metal concentration were recorded on the rising limb for Pb (0·150 mg l^?1) and Cu (0·038 mg l^?1) but on the falling limb for Zn (1·660 mg l^?1) and Cd (0·006 mg l^?1) in the summer 2000 storm event, yielding clockwise and anticlockwise hysteretic loops respectively. In contrast, metal concentrations, although high throughout the winter storm event, were diluted somewhat during the storm peak itself. The Pb and Cu appear to be supplied by quickflow processes and transported in close association with fine sediment, whereas Zn and Cd are delivered to the channel and lake by slower subsurface seepage in dissolved form. In the winter 2001 event, antecedent soil moisture and shallow groundwater levels were anomalously high and seepage sources of dissolved metals dominated. Downstream of the lake, Pb and Cu levels and suspended sediment were high in the summer storm, but low in the winter storm, suggesting retention with deposition of fine sediment in the lake during the latter. In the winter storm, Zn and Cd levels were higher downstream than upstream of the lake, perhaps because of additional seepage inputs from the surrounding slopes, which failed to have an impact during summer. An understanding of the complex interplay of antecedent soil moisture and the dynamics of subsurface seepage pathways in relation to the three‐dimensional distribution of sources is important in modelling heavy metal fluxes and levels in contaminated urban catchments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.