The case for increased validation of rainfall simulation as a tool for researching runoff, soil erosion, and related processes

Dunkerley, David

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2021.105283

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…Although rainfall simulation experiments are not exactly representative of spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, they are one of the most common methods to measure interception (Iserloh et al, 2013) and allow estimation of the amount of rainwater intercepted by plant individuals where field methods are extraordinarily challenging (like beneath shrub canopies). The extreme rates typically produced by rainfall simulators have been (rightly) criticized for not representing realistic rain event properties under typical conditions (Dunkerley, 2008, 2021); however, this study demonstrates how these simulations may be useful in assessing the response of vegetation (and localized soils) to the extreme rainfall conditions projected for some regions under climate change (and increasingly observed in Mediterranean Spain) (Camarasa‐Belmonte et al, 2020; Duchon et al, 2014; Duchon & Biddle, 2010; Llasat et al, 2021; Pollock et al, 2018). Additionally, these experiments can help to identify associations between the canopy interception capacity, the size, and the species of the shrubs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing canopy rainfall partitioning by Mediterranean dryland shrubs under extreme rainfall

Lucas‐Borja,

Van Stan,

Carmona Yáñez

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

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Intense rain events have become more frequent in some regions due to climate change, and this trend is particularly concerning in dryland regions where the ecological and geomorphological impacts of rainfall are intimately tied to its intensity. The interception of rainfall by vegetation is a critical process in the water balance of drylands; thus, this study estimated the canopy interception capacity and interception rates as well as stemflow of three typical Mediterranean shrub species (Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, and Macrochloa tenacissima) of three size classes in Spain under a simulated extreme rainfall rate (~8 mm min−1, historical return period of >100 years). Given that these plants' canopy structures markedly differ from taller woody plants (i.e., trees), a novel method was developed to assess the stemflow fraction. Results showed significant differences in interception amount, rates, and storage capacity among the shrub species, with variations in plant morphology, such as shrub height and canopy diameter, being the key factors determining interception capacity. R. officinalis had the highest interception fraction per unit canopy area, or ‘specific interception,’ (18.4%). In contrast, the lowest specific interception fraction was measured for M. tenacissima (6.5%). Thymus vulgaris was characterized by the highest stemflow yields per unit canopy area (4.85 mm) and fraction (up to 29.6% of rainfall), which was the lowest for M. tenacissima (1.09 mm, ~1%–4%). Strong linear correlations were found between canopy interception and shrub canopy diameter (|r| > −0.51, max = −0.90), when observations were grouped for size class. These linear correlations between shrub morphology and partitioning enabled multiple‐regression linear models to be developed that predicted canopy interception and stemflow with good accuracy (r2 > 0.64, with a maximum of 0.82) from shrub height, canopy diameter, dry biomass, size class, and species. Despite these measurements being conducted under one extreme storm depth and intensity, the results provide: (i) values of rainfall partitioning for important shrub species in Mediterranean dryland environments; and (ii) a simple but reliable model that may be further developed (e.g., embedding variable rainfall values as weather input or incorporating other morphological parameters) and may be integrated into complex hydrological models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing canopy rainfall partitioning by Mediterranean dryland shrubs under extreme rainfall

Lucas‐Borja,

Van Stan,

Carmona Yáñez

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It was a pressurized system including a spray nozzle attached to a PVC pipe that was connected to a water tap. Dunkerley [46] had undertaken a comprehensive…”

Section: Rainfall Simulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A pressurized nozzle-based rainfall simulation system was employed to generate an artificial rainfall. Acknowledging the distinctions between artificial and natural rainfall events [46], this study attempted to replicate the characteristics of a natural rainfall as closely as possible. Further details about the rainfall simulation system are provided in Section 2.2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Field Study to Investigate the Hydrological Characteristics of Newly Established Biochar-Amended Green Roofs

Nguyen,

Chau,

Muttil

2024

Water

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Green roofs (GRs) have been researched for decades, yet their implementation remains constrained due to several reasons, including their limited appeal to policymakers and the public. Biochar, a carbon-rich material, has been recently introduced as an amendment to GR substrate to enhance the performance of GRs through reduced runoff volume, improved runoff quality, and increased soil fertility. This paper aims to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the hydrological performance of newly established GRs. Six 1 m × 1 m GR test beds were constructed, comprising of five biochar-amended GR test beds, and one conventional test bed (without any biochar in its substrate). The water retention capacity and runoff outflow delay of the six test beds were studied with the application of artificial rainfall using a nozzle-based simulator. Biochar was found to increase the water retention capacity and effectively delay runoff outflow in the biochar-amended GRs. After nine artificial rainfall events of 110.7 mm rainfall in total, 39.7 to 58.9 L of runoff was retained by the biochar-amended GRs as compared to 37.9 L of runoff retained by the conventional GR. Additionally, the test bed without biochar quickly started releasing runoff after 300 to 750 s, whereas test beds with fine biochar particles could delay runoff outflow by 700 to 1100 s. The performance of the non-biochar and biochar-amended test beds varies according to the values of biochar-related variables such as biochar particle sizes, amendment rates, and application methods. The observational data illustrated that the GR test bed with medium biochar particles applied to the bottom layer of the GR substrate was the optimal biochar-GR design. This selection was determined by the combined performance of high retention rates, long runoff outflow delays, and few other factors, such as lesser loss of biochar caused by wind and/or water.

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“…Consequently, this phenomenon impacts soil erodibility and infiltration capacity [37][38][39]. The interaction of freezing and thawing with water erosion, gravity erosion, and other factors either concurrently or alternatively leads to a soil erosion process distinct from that driven by singular forces, consequently exacerbating soil erosion rates [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. The influence of freezing and thawing extends to soil erodibility and critical shear, potentially leading to modifications in soil erosion rates [49,50].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Collapse Mechanism of Slope Rill Sidewall under Composite Erosion of Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Water

Huang,

Shao,

Liu

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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The composite erosion of freeze-thaw and water flow on slope rills is characterized by periodicity and spatial superposition. When revealing the collapse mechanism of slope rill sidewalls under the composite erosion of freeze-thaw and water flow, it is necessary to fully consider the effect of water migration and its impact on the stability of the rill sidewall. In this paper, we placed the self-developed collapse test system in an environmental chamber to carry out model tests on rill sidewall collapse on slopes under the composite erosion of freeze-thaw and water flow. We utilized three-dimensional reconstruction technology and the fixed grid coordinate method to reproduce the collapse process of the rill sidewall and precisely locate the top crack. We obtained the relationship between the water content of the specimen and mechanical indexes through the straight shear test. The main conclusions are as follows: The soil structure of the rill sidewall is significantly affected by the freeze-thaw cycle, which benefits capillary action in the soil. One freeze-thaw cycle has the most serious effect on the soil structure of the rill sidewall, and the change in the moisture field is more intense after the soil temperature drops below zero. The friction angle of the soil increases with the number of freeze-thaw cycles and tends to stabilize gradually. The effect of the freeze-thaw cycle on the rate of change of the water content of the soil at each position of the wall can be accurately described by a logarithmic function. The expression of the two-factor interaction effect on the rate of change of water content of soil at each position of the rill sidewall can be accurately fitted. We propose a calculation system for locating cracks at the top of the rill sidewall and determining the critical state of instability and collapse of the rill sidewall during the process of freeze-thaw and water flow composite erosion. The results of this research can help improve the accuracy of combined freeze-thaw and water flow erosion test equipment and the development of a prediction model for the collapse of the rill sidewall under compound erosion. This is of great significance for soil and water conservation and sustainability.

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The case for increased validation of rainfall simulation as a tool for researching runoff, soil erosion, and related processes

Cited by 17 publications

References 89 publications

Assessing canopy rainfall partitioning by Mediterranean dryland shrubs under extreme rainfall

Assessing canopy rainfall partitioning by Mediterranean dryland shrubs under extreme rainfall

A Field Study to Investigate the Hydrological Characteristics of Newly Established Biochar-Amended Green Roofs

The Collapse Mechanism of Slope Rill Sidewall under Composite Erosion of Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Water

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