Runoff generation in a pre-alpine catchment: A discussion between a tracer and a shallow groundwater hydrologist

H.J. van Meerveld; B.M.C. Fischer; M. Rinderer; M. Stähli; J. Seibert

doi:10.18172/cig.3349

Autores/as

H.J. van Meerveld University of Zurich http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7547-3270
B.M.C. Fischer University of Zurich
M. Rinderer University of Freiburg
M. Stähli Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf
J. Seibert Department of Geography, University of Zurich Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.3349

Palabras clave:

generación de escorrentía, gleisoles, topografía, aguas subterráneas poco profundas, isótopos, cuenca prealpina

Resumen

Los mecanismos de generación de escorrentía varían entre cuencas y a pesar de décadas de investigación en numerosas cuencas, estos mecanismos todavía no se entienden completamente. En este trabajo se discuten los mecanismos de generación de escorrentía en las cuencas prealpinas de Alptal, Suiza, caracterizadas por fuertes pendientes. Estas cuencas, que presentan respuestas rápidas, poseen suelos poco permeables sobre estratos del flysch. Junto con unas precipitaciones abundantes y frecuentes, esto se traduce en la existencia de condiciones predominantemente húmedas. En muchas zonas, la capa freática está cerca de la superficie del suelo. En este trabajo se revisan los principales resultados de los estudios recientes (2009-2016) llevados a cabo en estas cuencas que utilizaron datos sobre isótopos y química del caudal así como datos hidrométricos. Estos estudios de campo se centraron en los patrones espaciales y temporales de los niveles freáticos, en los patrones espaciales de la composición isotópica y química del flujo de base, así como en la respuesta del caudal y su composición isotópica durante eventos pluviométricos. La combinación de todos estos resultados destaca la conectividad que se establece entre áreas con una posición topográfica diferente y con diferentes usos del suelo durante eventos pluviométricos. También muestra la importancia que tienen los flujos de agua en la mayor conductividad que se produce en las capas de suelo más superficiales para la generación de escorrentía, y la ocurrencia frecuente de escorrentía superficial. Las diferencias espaciales en la dinámica de los niveles freáticos están relacionadas con la topografía. La respuesta del caudal está principalmente afectada por las características de la lluvia; las diferencias de caudal y química del agua entre cuencas con diferentes fracciones de cubierta forestal, prados y humedales fueron relativamente pequeñas. Sin embargo, las variaciones en la química del flujo de base en diferentes secciones del cauce en una misma cuenca fueron considerables. Ante todo estos estudios destacan el valor de combinar datos sobre patrones espaciales de niveles freáticos y química del agua con serie largas de datos de caudal para obtener una imagen más completa de los principales mecanismos de generación de escorrentía.

Descargas

Los datos de descargas todavía no están disponibles.

Citas

Ambroise, B. 2004. Variable ‘active’ versus ‘contributing’ areas or periods: a necessary distinction. Hydrological Processes 18, 1149-1155. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5536.

Asano, Y., Uchida, T., Mimasu, Y., Ohte, N. 2009. Spatial patterns of stream solute concentrations in a steep mountainous catchment with a homogeneous landscape. Water Resources Research 45, W10432. http://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007466.

Bachmair, S., Weiler, M., Troch, P.A. 2012. Intercomparing hillslope hydrological dynamics: Spatio-temporal variability and vegetation cover effects. Water Resources Research 48. http://doi.org/10.1029/2011wr011196.

Badoux, A., Turowski, J.M., Mao, L., Mathys, N., Rickenmann, D. 2012. Rainfall intensity–duration thresholds for bedload transport initiation in small Alpine watersheds. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 12, 3091-3108. http://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-12-3091-2012.

Beven, K.J., Kirkby, M.J. 1979. A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology / Un modèle à base physique de zone d'appel variable de l'hydrologie du bassin versant. Hydrological Sciences Bulletin 24, 43-69. http:doi.org/10.1080/02626667909491834.

Bonell, M., Fritsch, J. 1997. Combining hydrometric-hydrochemistry methods: a challenge for advancing runoff generation process research. In: Peters, N.E., Coudrain-Ribstein, A. (Eds.), Hydrochemistry. IAHS Publication 244, 165-184.

Burch, H. 1994. Ein Rückblick auf die hydrologische Forschung der WSL im Alptal. Beiträge zur Hydrologie der Schweiz 35, 18-33.

Burch, H., Forster, F., Schleppi, P. 1996. Zum Einfluss des Waldes auf die Hydrologie der Flysch-Einzugsgebiete des Alptals. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen 147, 925-938.

Carey, S.K., Quinton, W.L. 2005. Evaluating runoff generation during summer using hydrometric, stable isotope and hydrochemical methods in a discontinuous permafrost alpine catchment. Hydrological Processes 19, 95-114. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5764.

Detty, J.M., McGuire, K.J., 2010. Topographic controls on shallow groundwater dynamics: implications of hydrologic connectivity between hillslopes and riparian zones in a till mantled catchment. Hydrological Processes 24, 2222-2236. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7656.

Engler, A. 1919. Untersuchungen uber den Einfluss des Waldes auf den Stand der Gewasser. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Zentralanstalt fur das forstliche Versuchswesen 12, 1–626.

Feyen, H.M.J. 1998. Identification of runoff processes in catchments with a small scale topography. ETH Zurich, Nr. 12868, Zurich, 162 pp.

Fischer, B.M.C. 2016. Spatial and temporal runoff generation processes in a Swiss pre-alpine headwater catchment. Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, 134 pp.

Fischer, B.M.C., Rinderer, M., Schneider, P., Ewen, T., Seibert, J. 2015. Contributing sources to baseflow in pre-alpine headwaters using spatial snapshot sampling. Hydrological Processes 29, 5321-5336. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10529.

Fischer, B.M.C., Stähli, M., Seibert, J., 2017b. Pre-event water contributions to runoff events of different magnitude in pre-alpine headwaters. Hydrology Research 48, 28-47. http://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2016.176.

Fischer, B.M.C., van Meerveld, H.J., Seibert, J. 2017a. Spatial variability in the isotopic composition of rainfall in a small headwater catchment and its effect on hydrograph separation. Journal of Hydrology 547, 755-769. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.01.045.

Godsey, S.E., Kirchner, J.W. 2014. Dynamic, discontinuous stream networks: hydrologically driven variations in active drainage density, flowing channels and stream order. Hydrological Processes 28, 5791-5803. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10310.

Grunder, N.R. 2017. Spatial and temporal variability in streamflow chemistry in two small pre-alpine catchments. Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich.

Hagedorn, F., Schleppi, P., Bucher, J., Flühler, H. 2001. Retention and Leaching of Elevated N Deposition in a Forest Ecosystem with Gleysols. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 129, 119-142.

Hagedorn, F., Schleppi, P., Waldner, P., Flühler, H. 2000. Export of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from Gleysol dominated catchments – the significance of water flow paths. Biogeochemistry 50, 137-161. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006398105953.

Hantke, R. (Ed.) 1967. Geologische Karte des Kanton Zürich und seiner Nachbargebiete.

Hegg, C., McArdell, B.W., Badoux, A. 2006. One hundred years of mountain hydrology in Switzerland by the WSL. Hydrological Processes 20, 371-376. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6055.

Herrmann, P. 2014. Dynamik und Prozesse der Abflussbildung und Abflusskonzentration eines steilen voralpinen Einzugsgebiets im Alptal (SZ). Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, 87 pp.

Hsü, K.J., Briegel, U. 1991. Der Flysch. Geologie der Schweiz: Ein Lehrbuch für den Einstieg, und eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Experten. Birkhäuser Basel, Basel, pp. 65-82.

Jencso, K.G., McGlynn, B.L., Gooseff, M.N., Wondzell, S.M., Bencala, K.E., Marshall, L.A. 2009. Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach and plot scale understanding to the catchment scale. Water Resources Research. 45, W04428. http://doi.org/04410.01029/02008WR007225.

Jensen, C.K., McGuire, K.J., Prince, P.S. 2017. Headwater stream length dynamics across four physiographic provinces of the Appalachian Highlands. Hydrological Processes 31, 3350-3363. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11259.

Katsuyama, M., Tani, M., Nishimoto, S. 2010. Connection between streamwater mean residence time and bedrock groundwater recharge/discharge dynamics in weathered granite catchments. Hydrological Processes 24, 2287-2299. http://doig.org/10.1002/hyp.7741.

Keller, H.M. 1970. Factors affecting water quality of small mountain catchments. Journal of Hydrology (New Zealand) 9, 133-141.

Kollegger, A.A. 2011. Untersuchung der räumlichen und zeitlichen Verteilung der Bodenfeuchtigkeit am Beispiel des Erlenbaches (Alptal/Schweiz) - Vergleich einer quantitativen und einer qualitativen Messmethode. Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, 83 pp.

Likens, G.E., Buso, D.C. 2006. Variation in Streamwater Chemistry Throughout the Hubbard Brook Valley. Biogeochemistry 78, 1-30. http//doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-2024-2.

Mohn, J., Schürmann, A., Hagedorn, F., Schleppi, P., Bachofen, R. 2000. Increased rates of denitrification in nitrogen-treated forest soils. Forest Ecology and Management 137, 113-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00320-5.

Molnar, P., Densmore, A.L., McArdell, B.W., Turowski, J.M., Burlando, P. 2010. Analysis of changes in the step-pool morphology and channel profile of a steep mountain stream following a large flood. Geomorphology 124, 85-94. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.08.014.

Moore, R.D., Thompson, J.C. 1996. Are Water Table Variations in a Shallow Forest Soil Consistent with the TOPMODEL Concept? Water Resources Research 32, 663-669. http://doi.org/10.1029/95WR03487.

Ocampo, C.J., Sivapalan, M., Oldham, C. 2006. Hydrological connectivity of upland-riparian zones in agricultural catchments: Implications for runoff generation and nitrate transport. Journal of Hydrology 331, 643-658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.06.010.

Penna, D., van Meerveld, H.J., Oliviero, O., Zuecco, G., Assendelft, R.S., Dalla Fontana, G., Borga, M. 2015. Seasonal changes in runoff generation in a small forested mountain catchment. Hydrological Processes 29, 2027-2042. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10347.

Providoli, I., Bugmann, H., Siegwolf, R., Buchmann, N., Schleppi, P. 2006. Pathways and dynamics of 15NO3− and 15NH4+ applied in a mountain Picea abies forest and in a nearby meadow in central Switzerland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 38, 1645-1657. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.11.019.

Rickenmann, D., Turowski, J.M., Fritschi, B., Klaiber, A., Ludwig, A. 2012. Bedload transport measurements at the Erlenbach stream with geophones and automated basket samplers. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 37, 1000-1011. http://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3225.

Rinderer, M. 2015. Patterns of groundwater and soil moisture variability: Hard data, soft data and dominant controls. Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, p. 124. https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-120907.

Rinderer, M., McGlynn, B.L., van Meerveld, H.J. 2017. Groundwater similarity across a watershed derived from time-warped and flow-corrected time series. Water Resources Research 53, 3921-3940. http://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019856.

Rinderer, M., van Meerveld, H.J., McGlynn, B.L. in preparation. From points to patterns – Functional relationships between hydrological connectivity and catchment-scale streamflow response using time series modeling.

Rinderer, M., van Meerveld, H.J., Seibert, J. 2014. Topographic controls on shallow groundwater levels in a steep, prealpine catchment: When are the TWI assumptions valid? Water Resources Research 50, 6067-6080. http://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR015009.

Rinderer, M., van Meerveld, I., Stähli, M., Seibert, J. 2016. Is groundwater response timing in a pre-alpine catchment controlled more by topography or by rainfall? Hydrological Processes 30, 1036-1051. http://doig.org/10.1002/hyp.10634.

Roth, D.L., Brodsky, E.E., Finnegan, N.J., Rickenmann, D., Turowski, J.M., Badoux, A. 2016. Bed load sediment transport inferred from seismic signals near a river. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 121, 725-747. http://doig.org/10.1002/2015JF003782.

Sauter, T. 2017. Occurrence and chemical composition of overland flow in a pre-alpine catchment, Alptal (CH). Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, 79 pp.

Schleppi, P., Hagedorn, F., Providoli, I. 2004. Nitrate Leaching From a Mountain Forest Ecosystem with Gleysols Subjected to Experimentally Increased N Deposition. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 4, 453-467. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WAFO.0000028371.72044.fb.

Schleppi, P., Muller, N., Feyen, H., Papritz, A., Bucher, J.B., Flühler, H. 1998. Nitrogen budgets of two small experimental forested catchments at Alptal, Switzerland. Forest Ecology and Management 101, 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00134-5.

Seibert, J., K.H. Bishop and L. Nyberg 1997. A test of TOPMODEL's ability to predict spatially distributed groundwater levels. Hydrological Processes 11, 1131-1144. http://doig.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199707)11:9<1131::AID-HYP549>3.0.CO;2-#.

Sjöberg, O. 2015. The Origin of Streams – Stream cartography in Swiss pre alpine headwater (Bäckarnas ursprung – Kartering över temporära bäckar i föralpina källområden i Schweiz). Department of Earth Sciences. Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, 75 pp.

Smith, J.C., Galy, A., Hovius, N., Tye, A.M., Turowski, J.M., Schleppi, P. 2013. Runoff-driven export of particulate organic carbon from soil in temperate forested uplands. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 365, 198-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2013.01.027.

Sodemann, H., Zubler, E. 2010. Seasonal and inter-annual variability of the moisture sources for Alpine precipitation during 1995–2002. International Journal of Climatology 30, 947-961. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1932.

Stähli, M., Badoux, A., Ludwig, A., Steiner, K., Zappa, M., Hegg, C. 2011. One century of hydrological monitoring in two small catchments with different forest coverage. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 174, 91-106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1757-0.

Stähli, M., Gustafsson, D. 2006. Long-term investigations of the snow cover in a subalpine semi-forested catchment. Hydrological Processes 20, 411-428. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6058.

Stähli, M., Jonas, T., Gustafsson, D. 2009. The role of snow interception in winter-time radiation processes of a coniferous sub-alpine forest. Hydrological Processes 23, 2498-2512. http://doi.org/ 10.1002/hyp.7180.

Stewart, M.K., Mehlhorn, J., Elliott, S. 2007. Hydrometric and natural tracer (oxygen-18, silica, tritium and sulphur hexafluoride) evidence for a dominant groundwater contribution to Pukemanga Stream, New Zealand. Hydrological Processes 21, 3340-3356. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6557.

Stieglitz, M., Shaman, J., McNamara, J., Engel, V., Shanley, J., Kling, G.W. 2003. An approach to understanding hydrologic connectivity on the hillslope and the implications for nutrient transport. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17, 1105. http://doi.org/1110.1029/2003GB002041.

van Meerveld, H.J., Seibert, J., Peters, N.E. 2015. Hillslope–riparian-stream connectivity and flow directions at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed. Hydrological Processes 29, 3556-3574. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10508.

Weiler, M., Scherrer, S., Naef, F., Burlando, P. 1999. Hydrograph separation of runoff components based on measuring hydraulic state variables, tracer experiments, and weighting methods. IAHS Publication 258, 249-255.

Wenninger, J., Uhlenbrook, S., Lorentz, S., Leibundgut, C. 2008. Identification of runoff generation processes using combined hydrometric, tracer and geophysical methods in a headwater catchment in South Africa. Hydrological Sciences Journal 53, 65-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1623/hysj.53.1.65.

Wigington, P.J., Moser, T.J., Lindeman, D.R. 2005. Stream network expansion: a riparian water quality factor. Hydrological Processes 19, 1715-1721. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5866.

Wyss, C.R., Rickenmann, D., Fritschi, B., Turowski, J.M., Weitbrecht, V., Boes, R.M. 2016. Measuring Bed Load Transport Rates by Grain-Size Fraction Using the Swiss Plate Geophone Signal at the Erlenbach. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 142, 04016003. http://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001090.

Zehnder, M. 2013. Hydraulic Conductivity Estimation and Analysis using Slug Tests - Relations with Site-Characteristics in a pre-alpine torrent catchment, Alptal (SZ). Department of Geography. University of Zurich, Zurich, 54 pp.

Zimmer, M.A., Bailey, S.W., McGuire, K.J., Bullen, T.D. 2013. Fine scale variations of surface water chemistry in an ephemeral to perennial drainage network. Hydrological Processes 27, 3438-3451. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9449.

Zimmermann, B., Zimmermann, A., Turner, B.L., Francke, T., Elsenbeer, H. 2014. Connectivity of overland flow by drainage network expansion in a rain forest catchment. Water Resources Research 50, 1457-1473. http://doi.org/10.1002/ 2012WR012660.