Dissecting the variable source area concept – Subsurface flow pathways and water mixing processes in a hillslope

Dahlke, H. E.; Easton, Zachary M.; Lyon, Steve W.; Walter, M. Todd; Destouni, Georgia; Steenhuis, Tammo S.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.052

Cited by 62 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Similar runoff regime on cultivated soils with fragipan layer was also observer by e.g. Dahlke et al (2011), Klaus et al (2013) or Steenhuis et al (1988). The maximum discharge initiated by subsurface runoff of almost 30 l s -1 (note the value similar to the peak flows during the artificial flood experiments) was recorded on 29.5.2014.…”

Section: Subsurface Runoff Dominationsupporting

confidence: 68%

Identification of prevailing storm runoff generation mechanisms in an intensively cultivated catchment

Zumr

Dostál

Devátý

2015

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Abstract:The fact that flash floods initiated in arable catchments are often accompanied by massive sediment and nutrient loads often leads to the assumption that surface runoff is the principle pathway by which runoff reaches watercourses. On the basis of an evaluation of several rainfall-runoff events in a representative agricultural catchment, we show that runoff from cultivated land may be generated in a way similar to that seen on forested slopes, where shallow subsurface runoff is the predominant pathway by which runoff makes its way to watercourses in most runoff events. To identify the predominant runoff pathway, we employed a combination of turbidity measurements and stream discharge data. Suspended sediment flux, a newly introduced index representing the ratio between precipitation duration and total sediment yield, and direction of the discharge-turbidity hysteresis loops were proposed as reflective indicators of the frequency of runoff via different pathways.In our study, most of the events initiated by rainstorms of various intensities and durations resulted in rapid increases in stream discharge. Although we observed temporal variability of topsoil properties attributable to seasonal weather changes and agricultural activities, e.g. bulk density and porosity, runoff generation was mainly driven by precipitation characteristics and the initial catchment saturation.

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Section: Subsurface Runoff Dominationsupporting

confidence: 68%

Identification of prevailing storm runoff generation mechanisms in an intensively cultivated catchment

Zumr

Dostál

Devátý

2015

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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“…I used a hillslope site near Ithaca, New York (76°14'48.44" W, 42°24'56.86" N) ( The monitoring layout is described in detail in Dahlke et al (2012a). Briefly, rainfall data were collected by a tipping bucket rain gauge (Spectrum Technologies Inc., Plainfield, IL, USA) on-site at 5-min intervals from October 2009 to May 2010 (excluding January to total discharge were monitored by a trench excavated at the bottom of the hillslope (Fig.…”

Section: Descriptions Of the Field Test Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although I a = 0.2S is a traditional assumption, recent research shows I a varies for different study areas or events (Jiang, 2001;Shaw and Walter, 2009;Dahlke et al, 2012a). In my calculation, I set I a = aS, in which a is constant for each basin.…”

Section: Other Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving risk estimates of runoff producing areas: Formulating variable source areas as a bivariate process

Cheng

Shaw

Marjerison

et al. 2014

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…ArcIMS was chosen as a platform to provide a user-friendly, internet accessible interface that does not require the user to install software on a local computer. The HSA prediction tool integrates a pre-calibrated (watershed-specific) water balance model that represents the integration of several standard hydrologic models and four decades of VSA hydrology research [14,16,17,22,34,49]. This VSA water balance model is a semi-distributed model that is based on the Thornthwaite-Mather soil water budget model [51] and predicts the location of VSAs and the amount of runoff contributed from them during storm events.…”

Section: The Framework Of the Hsa Prediction Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tools such as the New York State (NYS) Phosphorus (P) Runoff Index (P-Index) were developed, e.g., [4,18,28,32] that support planners in creating farm level nutrient management plans (NMPs) and the risk assessment of P export from agricultural fields to streams [33]. However, there still exists a gap between the scientific understanding of processes controlling NPS nutrient transport in watersheds dominated by VSA hydrology and the tools used by watershed planners to determine these high-risk areas [4,9,14,22,34]. For example, the NYS P-Index currently considers HSAs based on distance from a stream (i.e., areas close to streams are more likely to saturate and generate runoff than areas farther from streams [28,30,35]) and the local soil's flood frequency class, as defined in the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data base.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-Time Forecast of Hydrologically Sensitive Areas in the Salmon Creek Watershed, New York State, Using an Online Prediction Tool

Dahlke

Easton

Fuka

et al. 2013

Water

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Abstract:In the northeastern United States (U.S.), watersheds and ecosystems are impacted by nonpoint source pollution (NPS) from agricultural activity. Where agricultural fields coincide with runoff-producing areas-so called hydrologically sensitive areas (HSA)-there is a potential risk of NPS contaminant transport to streams during rainfall events. Although improvements have been made, water management practices implemented to reduce NPS pollution generally do not account for the highly variable, spatiotemporal dynamics of HSAs and the associated dynamics in NPS pollution risks. This paper presents a prototype for a web-based HSA prediction tool developed for the Salmon Creek watershed in upstate New York to assist producers and planners in quickly identifying areas at high risk of generating storm runoff. These predictions can be used to prioritize potentially polluting activities to parts of the landscape with low risks of generating storm runoff. The tool uses real-time measured data and 24-48 h weather forecasts so that locations and the timing of storm runoff generation are accurately predicted based on

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Dissecting the variable source area concept – Subsurface flow pathways and water mixing processes in a hillslope

Cited by 62 publications

References 64 publications

Identification of prevailing storm runoff generation mechanisms in an intensively cultivated catchment

Identification of prevailing storm runoff generation mechanisms in an intensively cultivated catchment

Improving risk estimates of runoff producing areas: Formulating variable source areas as a bivariate process

Real-Time Forecast of Hydrologically Sensitive Areas in the Salmon Creek Watershed, New York State, Using an Online Prediction Tool

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