Conceptualization of runoff processes using a geographical information system and tracers in a nested mesoscale catchment

被引:164
作者
Tetzlaff, D. [1 ]
Soulsby, C.
Waldron, S.
Malcolm, I. A.
Bacon, P. J.
Dunn, S. M.
Lilly, A.
Youngson, A. F.
机构
[1] Univ Aberdeen, Sch Geosci, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, Scotland
[2] Univ Glasgow, Dept Geog & Earth Sci, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Lanark, Scotland
[3] FRS Freshwater Lab, Pitlochry PH16 5LB, Perthshire, Scotland
[4] Macaulay Land Use Res Inst, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland
基金
英国自然环境研究理事会;
关键词
dominant runoff processes; environmental tracers; geographical information system; HOST classification; isotopes; landscape organization; mean residence times; mesoscale; terrain analyses;
D O I
10.1002/hyp.6309
中图分类号
TV21 [水资源调查与水利规划];
学科分类号
081501 ;
摘要
Tracer investigations were combined with a geographical information system (GIS) analysis of the 31 km(2) Girnock catchment (Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland) in order to understand hydrological functioning by identifying dominant runoff sources and estimating mean residence times. The catchment has a complex geology, soil cover and topography. Gran alkalinity was used to demonstrate that catchment geology has a dominant influence on baseflow chemistry, but flow paths originating in acidic horizons in the upper soil profiles controlled stormflow alkalinity. Chemically based hydrograph separations at the catchment scale indicated that similar to 30% of annual runoff was derived from groundwater sources. Similar contributions (23-36%) were estimated for virtually all major sub-basins. delta O-18 of precipitation (mean: -9.4%o; range: -16.1 to -5.0%) and stream waters (mean: -9.1%; range: -11.6 to -7.4%) were used to assess mean catchment and sub-basin residence times, which were in the order similar to 4-6 months. GIS analysis showed that these tracer-based diagnostic features of catchment functioning were consistent with the landscape organization of the catchment. Soil and HOST (Hydrology of Soil Type) maps indicated that the catchment and individual sub-basins were dominated by hydrologically responsive soils, such as peats (Histosol), peaty gleys (Histic Gleysols) and rankers (Umbric Leptosols and Histosols). Soil cover (in combination with a topographic index) predicted extensive areas of saturation that probably expand during hydrological events, thus providing a high degree of hydrological connectivity between catchment hillslopes and stream channel network. This was validated by aerial photographic interpretation and groundtruthing. These characteristics of hydrological functioning (i.e. dominance of responsive hydrological pathways and short residence times) dictate that the catchment is sensitive to land use change impacts on the quality and quantity of streamflows. It is suggested that such conceptualization of hydrological functioning using tracer-validated GIS analysis can play an important role in the sustainable management of river basins. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
引用
收藏
页码:1289 / 1307
页数:19
相关论文
共 89 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], 2001, Rainfall-runoff Modelling, The Primer
[2]  
[Anonymous], LANDFORM MONITORING
[3]   Understanding and modeling basin hydrology: interpreting the hydrogeological signature [J].
Beighley, RE ;
Dunne, T ;
Melack, JM .
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, 2005, 19 (07) :1333-1353
[4]   Selected challenges in runoff generation research in forests from the hillslope to headwater drainage basin scale [J].
Bonell, M .
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, 1998, 34 (04) :765-785
[5]   How do we move from ideas to action? The role of the HELP Programme [J].
Bonell, M .
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, 2004, 20 (03) :283-296
[6]   Applying different spatial distribution and modelling concepts in three nested mesoscale catchments of Germany [J].
Bongartz, K .
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH, 2003, 28 (33-36) :1343-1349
[7]  
Boorman D.B., 1995, HYDROLOGY SOIL TYPES
[8]   Anatomy of a catchment: the relation of physical attributes of the Plynlimon catchments to variations in hydrology and water status [J].
Brandt, C ;
Robinson, M ;
Finch, JW .
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES, 2004, 8 (03) :345-354
[9]  
Brogan J., 1996, Scottish Forestry, V50, P133
[10]  
Brooks K.N., 2003, Hydrology and the management of watersheds, VThird