Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives
The design and analysis of surface water pollution control practices such as vegetative filter strips and riparian buffers typically focus on surface runoff, with limited attention given to subsurface flow and transport. Field evidence suggests a prevalence of macropore flow (MF) in the riparian vad...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Vadose Zone Journal |
| Online Access: | https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/vzj/articles/17/1/180031 |
| _version_ | 1818254166419570688 |
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| author | Enrique Orozco-López Rafael Muñoz-Carpena Bin Gao Garey A. Fox |
| author_facet | Enrique Orozco-López Rafael Muñoz-Carpena Bin Gao Garey A. Fox |
| author_sort | Enrique Orozco-López |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The design and analysis of surface water pollution control practices such as vegetative filter strips and riparian buffers typically focus on surface runoff, with limited attention given to subsurface flow and transport. Field evidence suggests a prevalence of macropore flow (MF) in the riparian vadose zone (RVZ) due to abundant biological activity (e.g., fauna and roots) and steep hydraulic gradients created by the adjacent stream and the presence of a seasonally shallow water table (SWT). Because rapid leaching and subsurface transport of contaminants can be significant with MF, their prevalence in riparian buffers can negate the intended benefits of this widely adopted surface runoff pollution control practice. While theories exist for modeling preferential flow processes, experimental and modeling techniques are still lacking to characterize in situ RVZ macropore network morphologies at the soil profile and landscape scales. Importantly, the presence of a seasonal SWT can increase MF and transport processes neglected in current analyses. Additional research is needed to evaluate holistic modeling frameworks that can represent MF from measurable parameters at the riparian field scale. In this work, we review various MF theories and concepts suitable to RVZ conditions and identify current limitations and knowledge gaps. We emphasize the use of dual-permeability approaches as a compromise between model complexity and parameter identifiability. We also identify the need for well-controlled experimental studies using the latest monitoring technology and validation studies at the laboratory and field scales. Only then can decision-support tools realistically predict the influence of preferential flow processes on the performance of riparian buffers as a surface water quality control practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:51:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-665f7788e0b04733a01767b2c281190d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1539-1663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:51:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vadose Zone Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-665f7788e0b04733a01767b2c281190d2022-12-22T00:18:21ZengWileyVadose Zone Journal1539-16632018-09-0117110.2136/vzj2018.02.0031Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and PerspectivesEnrique Orozco-LópezRafael Muñoz-CarpenaBin GaoGarey A. FoxThe design and analysis of surface water pollution control practices such as vegetative filter strips and riparian buffers typically focus on surface runoff, with limited attention given to subsurface flow and transport. Field evidence suggests a prevalence of macropore flow (MF) in the riparian vadose zone (RVZ) due to abundant biological activity (e.g., fauna and roots) and steep hydraulic gradients created by the adjacent stream and the presence of a seasonally shallow water table (SWT). Because rapid leaching and subsurface transport of contaminants can be significant with MF, their prevalence in riparian buffers can negate the intended benefits of this widely adopted surface runoff pollution control practice. While theories exist for modeling preferential flow processes, experimental and modeling techniques are still lacking to characterize in situ RVZ macropore network morphologies at the soil profile and landscape scales. Importantly, the presence of a seasonal SWT can increase MF and transport processes neglected in current analyses. Additional research is needed to evaluate holistic modeling frameworks that can represent MF from measurable parameters at the riparian field scale. In this work, we review various MF theories and concepts suitable to RVZ conditions and identify current limitations and knowledge gaps. We emphasize the use of dual-permeability approaches as a compromise between model complexity and parameter identifiability. We also identify the need for well-controlled experimental studies using the latest monitoring technology and validation studies at the laboratory and field scales. Only then can decision-support tools realistically predict the influence of preferential flow processes on the performance of riparian buffers as a surface water quality control practice.https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/vzj/articles/17/1/180031 |
| spellingShingle | Enrique Orozco-López Rafael Muñoz-Carpena Bin Gao Garey A. Fox Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives Vadose Zone Journal |
| title | Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives |
| title_full | Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives |
| title_short | Riparian Vadose Zone Preferential Flow: Review of Concepts, Limitations, and Perspectives |
| title_sort | riparian vadose zone preferential flow review of concepts limitations and perspectives |
| url | https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/vzj/articles/17/1/180031 |
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