Hydrological Processes最新文献

Western U.S. land managers have been investigating the use of in-stream structures such as beaver dam analogues (BDAs) to help restore natural stream processes. There is a presumption that BDAs may modify groundwater hydrology, but there have been few studies that have documented such changes. In this study we combine well transect measurements, streamflow measurements and hydrologic modelling to evaluate changes in riparian water storage and groundwater flow paths brought about by the installation of 45 BDAs across a 1.5-km stretch of Red Canyon Creek in Lander, WY. Based on 3 years of observations, we found that when the majority of BDAs were retaining water, there was an increase in the riparian water table, even in wells 50 m from the stream. Much of the stream reach with BDAs was a losing stream prior to BDA installation. As measured using well transects, the installation of the BDAs led to enhanced hydraulic gradients away from the stream. Additionally, BDA installation induced a measurable but very small increase in the subsurface down valley flow. Watershed-scale modelling validated against weekly-averaged streamflow observations indicated that a disproportionate fraction of streamflow in summer is contributed from higher elevation areas with sufficient storage to detain late spring snowmelt. Increases in the valley bottom water table elevation due to the BDAs added less than 0.5% of the subsurface storage already present in the high elevation portion of the watershed.

The heterogeneity of solute transport is potentially the result of spatial variations in root morphological traits across different diameter classes. However, the mechanism of root systems on solute transport remains unclear. In this study, soil columns collected from Quercus acutissima-, Pinus taeda- and Phyllostachys edulis stands were used to investigate the relationship between solute transport and root systems. The results showed that solute transport parameters like the average pore water velocity (V), dispersion coefficient (D) and distribution coefficient (β) decreased with increasing soil depth, while the dimensionless mass transfer coefficient (ω) showed fluctuating changes. The V, D and β in topsoil (0–20 cm) were 1.39–57.41 times larger than those in subsoil (30–50 cm), while the ω in subsoil was 2.30–2.36 times larger than that in topsoil. The RLD of fine roots (diameter: 0–1 mm) and the total RSAD could significantly promote the V. There was a positive relationship between the D and RSAD of medium roots (diameter: 1–3 mm) and RLD of total roots. The RLD of medium roots and total roots could both have positive effects on β. Yet, the negative effects of the RSAD and RVD of medium roots on ω were observed. Quercus acutissima stands had strong soil and water conservation ability but increased the risk of retaining pollution. Pinus taeda stands could promote rapid infiltration and resist pollution retention. Although Phyllostachys edulis stands had weak soil and water conservation ability, they reduced the risk of pollution downward transport. This study advanced the understanding of the potential regulation on solute transport and provided suggestions for forest management.

Quantifying groundwater discharge into rivers is essential for understanding pollutant pathways and managing water quality. This study estimates groundwater discharge in a 10-km curved section of the lower Ganjiang River, a large meandering river linking Nanchang City to Poyang Lake, using a ²²²Rn mass balance model validated by a water balance approach. River reaches L1, L2, and L7 received groundwater discharge of (2.65 $��\pm �$ 0.22) × 10⁴ m³/d, (1.43 $��\pm �$ 0.17) × 10⁴ m³/d, and (0.82 $��\pm �$ 0.12) × 10⁴ m³/d, with groundwater discharge rates of (29.65 $��\pm �$ 2.50) mm/d, (32.63 $��\pm �$ 3.84) mm/d, and (32.89 $��\pm �$ 5.06) mm/d, respectively. Fluxes of groundwater-derived solutes, including nitrogen species, manganese, and organic carbon, varied by reach and reflected land use impacts. Upstream reaches near urban and industrial areas showed elevated NH₄⁺–N and TOC, while agricultural zones contributed high NO₃⁻–N and Mn. The study reveals that river curvature effects on groundwater discharge are scale-dependent. These findings offer new insights for groundwater discharge estimation and pollution control strategies in large curved river systems.

Cryogenic vacuum extraction (CVE) is widely used to extract water from plant stems for analysis of stable water isotopes, yet it is known to induce significant δ²H offsets. Whether δ¹⁸O is similarly biased has remained uncertain, especially in halophytes that often depend solely on δ¹⁸O as a tracer. Here, we conducted controlled rehydration experiments on Tamarix chinensis stems with two isotopically distinct spiking waters (groundwater and tap water) to evaluate the isotopic offsets (Δδ) in the CVE-extracted stem water relative to the spiking water. The CVE-extracted water showed significant δ¹⁸O offset (Δδ¹⁸O), in addition to δ²H offset (Δδ²H). For the groundwater treatment, the Δδ²H and Δδ¹⁸O averaged −10.88‰ and −0.62‰, respectively, while in the tap water treatment Δδ²H and Δδ¹⁸O averaged −10.61‰ and −0.80‰. Δδ¹⁸O and Δδ²H were positively correlated and both became less negative with increasing stem relative water content, enabling an offset-correction approach. Ignoring the δ¹⁸O offset led to approximately 9% underestimation of shallow soil water contribution and a corresponding overestimation of groundwater uptake in a mixing model. These results underscore the need to correct for CVE-induced δ¹⁸O biases in plant water source studies, especially for halophytes. The linear relationship between isotopic offsets and stem relative water content offers a promising basis for correcting these biases, improving the accuracy of plant water source apportionment and our understanding of plant water use strategies.

Quantifying tree transpiration variability across soil volumetric water content (VWC) is vital for understanding tree water use strategies and developing effective forest management in dryland areas. However, the complicated interaction of soil moisture and meteorology on tree water use is still indistinct, resulting in challenges for water resource management in arid and semiarid regions. To examine the impacts of environmental factors on tree water use, canopy transpiration (T) and canopy conductance (G_c) of Platycladus orientalis plantation were quantified through Granier-type thermal dissipation probes and the Penman-Monteith equation, respectively, in a semiarid area of the Loess Plateau throughout the growing seasons (May–September) of 2020–2022. Average T increased with increasing VWC, while the peak value and growth rate of T decreased due to relatively low vapour pressure deficit (VPD) even when VWC was at the highest level (0.105–0.127 m³ m⁻³). The ratio of stomatal sensitivity to reference G_c decreased from 0.89 to 0.52 with increasing VWC, indicating a shift from more to less strict stomatal regulation. The decoupling coefficient increased simultaneously with rising VWC, indicating an enhanced effect of solar radiation (R_s) and a decreased stomatal limitation on transpiration. VWC exceeded 0.094 m³ m⁻³ in more than 50% of the instances. Under these conditions, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the sensitivity of G_c to VPD and R_s as VWC increased. These results suggest that P. orientalis adapts to drought by reducing stomatal conductance and water loss through transpiration during soil droughts. Given increasing drought events and accelerated soil water depletion in the arid region, heightened water stress will impair tree gas exchange and hinder vegetation growth. This study reveals an adaptive mechanism of P. orientalis in semiarid areas and advances understanding of plant water use strategies in water-limited ecosystems. Given frequent droughts and increasing soil water depletion worldwide, extra attention on drought impacts on the water use of forests is crucial in the Loess Plateau and similar drought regions.

We investigated the influence of landslide deposits on hydrologic connectivity and subsurface water movement in small headwater catchments in the Western Cascades, Oregon, USA. We examined isotopic variations in surface water across multiple catchments, comparing wet and dry periods to assess how antecedent moisture influences hydrologic connectivity and groundwater interactions. Seasonal shifts in δ¹⁸O values reveal that hydrologic connectivity increases during wet conditions, resulting in more uniform isotopic signatures across catchments due to enhanced vertical and lateral water movement in the subsurface. In contrast, during dry periods there was greater spatial variability in δ¹⁸O, reflecting localised groundwater contributions and reduced connectivity. Notably, some catchments with high proportions of earthflow terrain maintain consistent water isotopic ratios across seasons, suggesting persistent groundwater inputs from landslide deposits. Spatial patterns in δ¹⁸O also point to subsurface inter-catchment flow paths facilitated by landslide deposits. Streamflow measurements during the dry season further support these findings. Catchments underlain by older, stabilised landslide deposits had highly variable unit discharge and frequent periods of flow cessation, consistent with weaker subsurface connectivity and limited water retention. In contrast, catchments draining active earthflows maintained relatively high unit discharges and perennial flow, indicating stronger subsurface linkages and greater potential for water accumulation that sustains both flow and ongoing slope movement. We estimated storage potential within landslide deposits and then used this to estimate catchment storage potential. Catchment storage was negatively correlated to variability in isotopic ratios, indicating an inverse relationship between catchment storage and variability in water sources in both space and time. Overall, our results demonstrate that geomorphic setting—particularly the presence and structure of landslide deposits—can exert strong control on the spatial distribution of hydrologic connectivity in mountain catchments. These insights improve our understanding of how subsurface properties mediate water movement and streamflow resilience under varying climate conditions.

Significant advancements have been made in vegetation restoration and ecosystem rehabilitation on the Loess Plateau, China. Previous studies have mainly focused on runoff and erosion in different vegetation types (trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants), with few studies using hydrodynamic parameters to explain the flow and sediment reduction effects of the tree canopy, litter layer, and root layer. Using an artificial soil tank, the runoff and sediment yields of vegetation at each level (litter layer (LL), canopy layer (CL), bare soil layer (RL), and composite layer (litter + canopy) (SC)) were investigated under different rainfall intensities (RI) (30 and 90 mm/h) and slopes (S) (10° and 15°). The effects of hydrodynamic parameters on erosion were analysed by the structural equation model. The runoff rate of RL was the highest, with an average value of 0.37 L/min (RI: 30 mm/h; S: 15°). The litter and composite layer had the greatest reduction effects on slope erosion (75.66%–92.94%), whereas the reduction rate of slope erosion by the canopy layer was 14.27%–63.94%. Under different rainfall and slope conditions, the cumulative runoff of RL was the largest. Except at an RI of 30 mm/h and an S of 10°, the cumulative runoff of LL plots was the smallest, indicating that litter plays an important role in reducing slope runoff. Based on the structural equation model, the influence coefficients of the Froude number (Fr) on runoff and erosion are −0.28 and −0.31, respectively. This study provides quantitative evidence for optimising vegetation allocation strategies and a scientific basis for ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin.

Controls of hydrology, landscape and soil characteristics on redox potentials, particularly at fine spatial and temporal scales, are poorly quantified and understood. Using high-frequency sensors (30 min), the variability of redox potentials (Eh) in riparian soils was investigated for multiple depths and across diel, event and seasonal time scales over a period of 2 years. Sampling was performed for two riparian sites upstream of dams with contrasting soil textures. Incremental changes in soil moisture triggered abrupt and disproportionately large shifts in soil Eh values, a threshold-like behaviour that has not been reported before. Contrary to expectations, Eh values initially decreased as the soil dried and then abruptly increased with further drying and oxidation of soil. Diel Eh patterns differed between sites, with the sand-rich site oxidising by day and reducing at night, while the clay- and silt-rich site showed the opposite pattern. These differences were attributed to differential oxygen diffusion and consumption by processes such as photosynthesis, evapotranspiration and microbial respiration. Sharp Eh shifts also occurred at soil depths with textural discontinuities. These redox hot spots and hot moments were attributed to differences in site topography, hydrology and soil characteristics such as texture, moisture, organic matter content and microbial biomass. Identifying and understanding these fine-scale spatial and temporal patterns of Eh is critical for improved characterisation and quantification of biogeochemical processes in redox-sensitive environments. This study underscores the value of high-frequency redox sensors in making such assessments.