Soil & Water Res., 2011, 6(1):43-53 | DOI: 10.17221/33/2010-SWR

Assessment of frequency and areal extent of overland flow generation in a forested mountain catchmentOriginal Paper

Ladislav Holko1, Zdeněk Kostka1, Martin Šanda2
1 Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
2 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Short time rainfall and throughfall measurements in the period May-October 2009, and the calculated saturated hydraulic conductivities of soils and isotopic hydrograph separations in August 2009 were used to estimate the frequency of the infiltration excess overland flow generation and the extent of saturated areas producing the saturation excess overland flow in the forested mountain catchment of the Jalovecký Creek, Western Tatra Mountains, northern Slovakia. The rainfall intensities exceeding 0.2 mm per 10 min occurred only in 2-4% of all data measured. Saturated hydraulic conductivities (KS) of soils were calculated by means of four methods based on the relationship between KS and soil texture. The comparison of KS with the measured rainfall intensities indicated that the infiltration excess overland flow could have been generated for 0-10% of the rainfall intensities measured. Isotopic hydrograph separation by means of the deuterium isotope indicated that the areas, where the saturated excess overland flow could have occurred, represented about 2-13% of the catchment during the analysed events. Despite the uncertainties connected with the assessments, the results are consistent with empirical knowledge of the catchment and limited older data.

Keywords: isotopic hydrograph separation; mountain catchment; rainfall intensity; runoff generation; soil hydraulic conductivity

Published: March 31, 2011  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Holko L, Kostka Z, Šanda M. Assessment of frequency and areal extent of overland flow generation in a forested mountain catchment. Soil & Water Res. 2011;6(1):43-53. doi: 10.17221/33/2010-SWR.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Arya L.M., Paris J.F. (1986): A physical model to predict the soil moisture characteristics from particle size distribution and bulk density data. Soil Science of America Journal, 45: 1023-1030. Go to original source...
    2. Bonell M. (1993): Progress in understanding of runoff generation dynamics in forests. Journal of Hydrology, 150: 217-275. Go to original source...
    3. Bonell M., Purandara B.K., Venkatesh B., Krishnaswamy J., Acharya H.A.K., Singh U.V., Jayakumar R., Chappell N. (2010): The impact of forest use and reforestation on soil hydraulic conductivity in the Western Ghats of India: Implications for surface and sub-surface hydrology. Journal of Hydrology, 391: 47-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.004 Go to original source...
    4. Burns D.A. (2002): Stormflow-hydrograph separation based on isotopes: the thrill is gone - what's next? Invited Commentary, Hydrological Processes, 16: 1515-1517. Go to original source...
    5. Buttle J.M. (1998): Fundamentals of small catchment hydrology. In: Kendall C., McDonnell J.J. (eds): Isotopic Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1-49. Go to original source...
    6. Chappell N., Ternan L. (1992): Flow path dimensionality and hydrological modelling. In: Beven K.J., Moore I.D. (eds): Terrain Analysis and Distributed Modelling in Hydrology. Advances in Hydrological Processes. Wiley, Chichester, 121-139.
    7. Clapp R.B., Hornberger G.M. (1978): Empirical equations for some soil hydraulic properties. Water Resources Research, 14: 601-604. Go to original source...
    8. Corradini C., Morbidelli R., Melone F. (1997): On the interaction between infiltration and Hortonian runoff. Journal of Hydrology, 204: 52-67. Go to original source...
    9. Cosby B.J., Hornberger G.M., Ginn T.R., Clapp R.B. (1984): A statistical exploration of the relationship of soil moisture characteristics to the physical properties of soil. Water Resources Research, 20: 682-690. Go to original source...
    10. Craig H. (1961): Isotope variations in meteoric waters. Science, 133: 1702-1703. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Descroix L., Viramontes D., Estrada J., Gonzalez Barrios J.L., Asseline J. (2007): Investigating the spatial and temporal boundaries of Hortonian and Hewlettian runoff in Northern Mexico. Journal of Hydrology, 346: 144-158. Go to original source...
    12. Genereux D.P., Hooper R.P. (1998): Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in rainfall-runoff studies. In: Kendall C., McDonnell J.J. (eds): Isotopic Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 319-346. Go to original source...
    13. Greminger P.J., Sud Y.K., Nielsen D.R. (1985): Spatial variability of field measured soil water characteristics, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 49: 1075-1082. Go to original source...
    14. Gupta S.C., Larson W.E. (1979): Estimating soil water retention from particle size distribution, organic matter content and bulk density. Water Resources Research, 15: 1635-1655. Go to original source...
    15. Hewlett J.D., Hibbert A.R. (1967): Factors affecting the response of small watersheds to precipitation in humid areas. In: Sopper W.E., Lull H.W. (eds): Int. Symp. on Forest Hydrology. The Pennsylvania State University, August 29- September 10, 1965. Pergamon, Oxford, 275-290.
    16. Hewlett J.D., Nutter W.L. (1970): The varying source area of streamflow from upland basins. In: Symp. Interdiscipinary Acpects of Watershed Management. Montana State University, 65-83.
    17. Holko L. (1995): Stable environmental isotopes of 18O and 2H in hydrological research of mountainous catchment. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 43: 249-274.
    18. Holko L., Lepistő A. (1997): Modelling the hydrological behaviour of a mountainous catchment using TOPMODEL. Journal of Hydrology, 196: 361-377. Go to original source...
    19. Holko L., Kostka Z. (2006): Hydrological research in a high-mountain catchment of the Jalovecký Creek. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 54: 192- 206. (in Slovak)
    20. Holko L., Kostka Z. (2010): Hydrological processes in mountains - knowledge gained in the Jalovecky Creek catchment, Slovakia. IAHS Publication, 336: 84-89.
    21. Jansson P.-E. (1990): Manual and help library for PLOTPF. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
    22. Holko L., Škvarenina J., Kostka Z., Frič M., Staroň, J. (2009): Impact of spruce forest on rainfall interception and seasonal snow cover evolution in the Western Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. Biologia, 64, Section Botany, 594-599. doi: 10.2478/s11756-009-0087-6 Go to original source...
    23. Jansson P.-E. (1991): Simulation model for soil water and heat conditions. Description of the SOIL model. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Report 165, Uppsala.
    24. Kňazovický L. (1970): Western Tatras. VEDA, Bratislava. (in Slovak)
    25. Kostka Z., Holko L. (1997): Soil moisture and runoff generation in small mountain basin. Institute of Hydrology SAS & Slovak Committee for Hydrology, Publ. No. 2, Bratislava.
    26. Kostka Z., Holko L. (2001): Runoff modelling in a mountain catchment with conspicuous relief using TOPMODEL. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 49: 149-171. (in Slovak)
    27. Miyata S., Kosugi K., Nishi Y., Gomi T., Sidle R.C., Mizuyama T. (2010): Spatial pattern of infiltration rate and its effect on hydrological processes in a small headwater catchment. Hydrological Processes, 24: 535-549. Go to original source...
    28. Pelíšek J. (1956): Soil conditions on permanent research plots. In: Príroda TANAP. Osveta, Martin. (in Slovak)
    29. Pelíšek J. (1973): Soil conditions in Tatra National Park. Zborník TANAP, 15: 145-180. (in Slovak)
    30. Penna D., Stenni B., Šanda M., Wrede S., Bogaard T.A., Gobbi A., Borga, M., Fischer B.M.C., Bonazza M., Chárová Z. (2010): On the reproducibility and repeatability of laser absorption spectroscopy measurements for δ2H and δ18O isotopic analysis, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 14: 1551-1566 Go to original source...
    31. Price K., Jackson C.R., Parker A.J. (2010): Variation of surficial soil hydraulic properties across land uses in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, USA. Journal of Hydrology, 383: 256-268. Go to original source...
    32. Puckett W.E., Dane J.H., Hajek B.F. (1985): Physical and mineralogical data to determine soil hydraulic properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 49: 831-836. Go to original source...
    33. Ribolzi O., Karambiri H., Bariac T., Benedetti M., Caquineaux S., Descloitres M., Aventurier A. (2007): Mechanisms affecting stormflow generation and solute behaviour in a Sahelian headwater catchment. Journal of Hydrology, 337: 104-116. Go to original source...
    34. Rodhe A. (1987): The origin of Streamwater Traced by Oxygen18. Report Series A No. 41, Uppsala University, Uppsala.
    35. Rodhe A. (1998): Snowmelt-Dominated Systems. In: Kendall C., McDonnell J.J. (eds): Isotopic Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 391-433. Go to original source...
    36. Saxton K.E., Rawls W.J., Romberger J.S., Papendick R.J. (1986): Estimating generalized soil-water characteristics from texture. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 50: 1031-1036. Go to original source...
    37. Sheridan G.J., Lane P.N.J., Noske P.J. (2007): Quantification of hillslope runoff and erosion processes before and after wildfire in a wet Eucalyptus forest. Journal of Hydrology, 343: 12-28. Go to original source...
    38. Šanda M., Císlerová M. (2009): Transforming hydrographs in the hillslope subsurface. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 57: 254-275. Go to original source...
    39. Tricker A.S. (1981): Spatial and temporal patterns of infiltration. Journal of Hydrology, 49: 261-277. Go to original source...
    40. Van Genuchten M.Th. (1980): A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 44: 892-898. Go to original source...
    41. Woolhiser D.A., Smith R.E., Giraldez J.V. (1996): Effects of spatial variability of saturated hydraulic conductivity on Hortonian overland flow. Water Resources Research, 32: 671-678. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content