Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity
Nonlinear relations between rain input and hillslope outflow are common observations in hillslope hydrology field studies. In this paper we use percolation theory to model the threshold relationship between rainfall amount and outflow and show that this nonlinear relationship may arise from simple l...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2007-01-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1047/2007/hess-11-1047-2007.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818929654297264128 |
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| author | P. Lehmann P. Lehmann P. Lehmann C. Hinz G. McGrath H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld J. J. McDonnell J. J. McDonnell |
| author_facet | P. Lehmann P. Lehmann P. Lehmann C. Hinz G. McGrath H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld J. J. McDonnell J. J. McDonnell |
| author_sort | P. Lehmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nonlinear relations between rain input and hillslope outflow are common observations in hillslope hydrology field studies. In this paper we use percolation theory to model the threshold relationship between rainfall amount and outflow and show that this nonlinear relationship may arise from simple linear processes at the smaller scale. When the rainfall amount exceeds a threshold value, the underlying elements become connected and water flows out of the base of the hillslope. The percolation approach shows how random variations in storage capacity and connectivity at the small spatial scale cause a threshold relationship between rainstorm amount and hillslope outflow. <br><br> As a test case, we applied percolation theory to the well characterized experimental hillslope at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed. Analysing the measured rainstorm events and the subsurface stormflow with percolation theory, we could determine the effect of bedrock permeability, spatial distribution of soil properties and initial water content within the hillslope. The measured variation in the relationship between rainstorm amount and subsurface flow could be reproduced by modelling the initial moisture deficit, the loss of free water to the bedrock, the limited size of the system and the connectivity that is a function of bedrock topography and existence of macropores. The values of the model parameters were in agreement with measured values of soil depth distribution and water saturation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:48:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f85a9355e754591b54bde4c9afb8e17 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:48:14Z |
| publishDate | 2007-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f85a9355e754591b54bde4c9afb8e172022-12-21T19:54:33ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382007-01-0111210471063Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivityP. LehmannP. LehmannP. LehmannC. HinzG. McGrathH. J. Tromp-van MeerveldH. J. Tromp-van MeerveldJ. J. McDonnellJ. J. McDonnellNonlinear relations between rain input and hillslope outflow are common observations in hillslope hydrology field studies. In this paper we use percolation theory to model the threshold relationship between rainfall amount and outflow and show that this nonlinear relationship may arise from simple linear processes at the smaller scale. When the rainfall amount exceeds a threshold value, the underlying elements become connected and water flows out of the base of the hillslope. The percolation approach shows how random variations in storage capacity and connectivity at the small spatial scale cause a threshold relationship between rainstorm amount and hillslope outflow. <br><br> As a test case, we applied percolation theory to the well characterized experimental hillslope at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed. Analysing the measured rainstorm events and the subsurface stormflow with percolation theory, we could determine the effect of bedrock permeability, spatial distribution of soil properties and initial water content within the hillslope. The measured variation in the relationship between rainstorm amount and subsurface flow could be reproduced by modelling the initial moisture deficit, the loss of free water to the bedrock, the limited size of the system and the connectivity that is a function of bedrock topography and existence of macropores. The values of the model parameters were in agreement with measured values of soil depth distribution and water saturation.http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1047/2007/hess-11-1047-2007.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. Lehmann P. Lehmann P. Lehmann C. Hinz G. McGrath H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld J. J. McDonnell J. J. McDonnell Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| title_full | Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| title_fullStr | Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| title_short | Rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow: an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| title_sort | rainfall threshold for hillslope outflow an emergent property of flow pathway connectivity |
| url | http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1047/2007/hess-11-1047-2007.pdf |
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