Identifying controls of the rainfall–runoff response of small catchments in the tropical Andes (Ecuador)

Crespo, Patricio; Feyen, Jan; Buytaert, Wouter; Bücker, Amelie; Breuer, Lutz; Frede, Hans‐Georg; Ramírez, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.07.021

Cited by 105 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This approach was used because no evidence of groundwater contribution to discharge has been found in previous studies in the páramo sites of Ecuador [74,108]. Discharge data from the stream flow-gage stations of Virgen del Cajas and Matadero were used to calculate the runoff and runoff coefficients (i.e., Q/P) of each micro catchment.…”

Section: Validation Of Metric Retrievals With Et From the Water Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The catchment is mostly shaped by glacial landforms with slopes that usually range from 0% to 45%. Predominant soil types according to the FAO soil classification system are andosols and histosols [73], with a very high content of organic matter (30% and 60%, respectively) and a field capacity that ranges between 0.39 and 0.90 cm 3 ·cm −3 (mean = 0.64) [74][75][76]. Wetlands and small lakes are important elements in the highlands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamic Mapping of Evapotranspiration Using an Energy Balance-Based Model over an Andean Páramo Catchment of Southern Ecuador

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Understanding of evapotranspiration (ET) processes over Andean mountain environments is crucial, particularly due to the importance of these regions to deliver water-related ecosystem services. In this context, the detection of spatio-temporal changes in ET remains poorly investigated for specific Andean ecosystems, like the páramo. To overcome this lack of knowledge, we implemented the energy-balance model METRIC with Landsat 7 ETM+ and MODIS-Terra imagery for a páramo catchment. The implementation contemplated adjustments for complex terrain in order to obtain daily, monthly and annual ET maps (between 2013 and 2014). In addition, we compared our results to the global ET product MOD16. Finally, a rigorous validation of the outputs was conducted with residual ET from the water balance. ET retrievals from METRIC (Landsat-based) showed good agreement with the validation-related ET at monthly and annual steps (mean bias error <8 mm¨month´1 and annual deviation <17%). However, METRIC (MODIS-based) outputs and the MOD16 product were revealed to be unsuitable for our study due to the low spatial resolution. At last, the plausibility of METRIC to obtain spatial ET retrievals using higher resolution satellite data is demonstrated, which constitutes the first contribution to the understanding of spatially-explicit ET over an alpine catchment in the neo-tropical Andes.

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Section: Validation Of Metric Retrievals With Et From the Water Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Mapping of Evapotranspiration Using an Energy Balance-Based Model over an Andean Páramo Catchment of Southern Ecuador

et al. 2016

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“…(Tetzlaff et al, 2009). Detailed hydrometric observations highlighting subsurface dominated rainfall-runoff response (Crespo et al, 2011;Mosquera et al, 2016) together with information on the landscape biophysical characteristics in our páramo study site will allow for process-based understanding regarding (i) the spatial variability of baseflow MTTs and (ii) the factors controlling such variability. Based on our current knowledge of the hydrology of the ecosystem, in particular, the apparent dominance of shallow subsurface flow to runoff generation, we hypothesize relatively short baseflow MTTs compared to systems dominated by groundwater contributions to discharge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Recent investigations in our study site suggest that runoff originates from the shallow organic horizon of the páramo soils located near the streams (Histosol soils or Andean wetlands), thus favoring shallow subsurface flow. By contrast, deep groundwater contributions to discharge are minimal and saturation excess overland flow (even in the nearly saturated Histosol soils) rarely occurs (Buytaert and Beven, 2011;Crespo et al, 2011). The hydrological importance of shallow subsurface flow to runoff generation has also been demonstrated in a variety of ecosystems around the globe (e.g., Freeze, 1972;Hewlett, 1961;Penna et al, 2011), but yet, MTTs have not been explored in these systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the water mean transit time in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem

Mosquera

Segura

Vaché

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. This study focuses on the investigation of the mean transit time (MTT) of water and its spatial variability in a tropical high-elevation ecosystem (wet Andean páramo). The study site is the Zhurucay River Ecohydrological Observatory (7.53 km 2 ) located in southern Ecuador. A lumped parameter model considering five transit time distribution (TTD) functions was used to estimate MTTs under steadystate conditions (i.e., baseflow MTT). We used a unique data set of the δ 18 O isotopic composition of rainfall and streamflow water samples collected for 3 years (May 2011 to May 2014) in a nested monitoring system of streams. Linear regression between MTT and landscape (soil and vegetation cover, geology, and topography) and hydrometric (runoff coefficient and specific discharge rates) variables was used to explore controls on MTT variability, as well as mean electrical conductivity (MEC) as a possible proxy for MTT. Results revealed that the exponential TTD function best describes the hydrology of the site, indicating a relatively simple transition from rainfall water to the streams through the organic horizon of the wet páramo soils. MTT of the streams is relatively short (0.15-0.73 years, 53-264 days). Regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between the catchment's average slope and MTT (R 2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). MTT showed no significant correlation with hydrometric variables, whereas MEC increases with MTT (R 2 = 0.89, p < 0.001). Overall, we conclude that (1) baseflow MTT confirms that the hydrology of the ecosystem is dominated by shallow subsurface flow; (2) the interplay between the high storage capacity of the wet páramo soils and the slope of the catchments provides the ecosystem with high regulation capacity; and (3) MEC is an efficient predictor of MTT variability in this system of catchments with relatively homogeneous geology.

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“…Most modelling efforts in páramo areas have been carried out in micro-watersheds (Buytaert et al, 2004(Buytaert et al, , 2006b(Buytaert et al, , 2005bBuytaert and Beven, 2011;Buytaert et al, 2007;Crespo et al, 2011) and have focused on advancing the understanding of hydrological processes and anthropogenic impacts. However, there is a relevant need to model larger páramo watersheds (Crespo et al, 2012), and advance in the challenge to produce forecasts for flood early warning to downstream communities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrological model assessment for flood early warning in a tropical high mountain basin

Rogelis

Werner

Obregón

et al. 2016

Preprint

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Abstract. A distributed model (TETIS), a semi-distributed model (TOPMODEL) and a lumped model (HEC HMS soil moisture accounting) were used to simulate the discharge response of a tropical high mountain basin characterized by soils with high water storage capacity and high conductivity. The models were calibrated with the Shuffle Complex Evolution algorithm, using the Kling and Gupta efficiency as objective function. Performance analysis and diagnostics were carried out using the signatures of the flow duration curve and through analysis of the model fluxes in order to identify the most appropriate model for the 5 study area for flood early warning. The impact of varying grid sizes was assessed in the TETIS model and the TOPMODEL in order to chose a model with balanced model performance and computational efficiency. The sensitivity of the models to variation in the precipitation input was analysed by forcing the models with a rainfall ensemble obtained from Gaussian simulation.The resulting discharge ensembles of each model were compared in order to identify differences among models structures. The results show that TOPMODEL is the most realistic model of the three tested, albeit showing the largest discharge ensemble 10 spread. The main differences among models occur between HEC HMS soil moisture accounting and TETIS, and HEC HMS soil moisture accounting and TOPMODEL, with HEC HMS soil moisture accounting producing ensembles in a range lower than the other two models. The ensembles of TETIS and TOPMODEL are more similar.

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Identifying controls of the rainfall–runoff response of small catchments in the tropical Andes (Ecuador)

Cited by 105 publications

References 26 publications

Dynamic Mapping of Evapotranspiration Using an Energy Balance-Based Model over an Andean Páramo Catchment of Southern Ecuador

Dynamic Mapping of Evapotranspiration Using an Energy Balance-Based Model over an Andean Páramo Catchment of Southern Ecuador

Insights into the water mean transit time in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem

Hydrological model assessment for flood early warning in a tropical high mountain basin

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