Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events
The runoff coefficient (RC) is widely used despite requiring to know the effective contributing area, which cannot be known a priori. In a previous work, we defined runoff length (RL), which is difficult to measure. This work aimed to define the minimum RL (mRL), a quantitative and easy proxy of RL,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2021-0029 |
| _version_ | 1811272522761502720 |
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| author | Lázaro Roberto Calvo-Cases Adolfo Arnau-Rosalén Eva Rubio Consuelo Fuentes David López-Canfín Clément |
| author_facet | Lázaro Roberto Calvo-Cases Adolfo Arnau-Rosalén Eva Rubio Consuelo Fuentes David López-Canfín Clément |
| author_sort | Lázaro Roberto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The runoff coefficient (RC) is widely used despite requiring to know the effective contributing area, which cannot be known a priori. In a previous work, we defined runoff length (RL), which is difficult to measure. This work aimed to define the minimum RL (mRL), a quantitative and easy proxy of RL, for use in a pilot study on biocrusts in the Tabernas Desert, Spain. We show that RC decreases according to a hyperbola when the contributing area increases, the independent variable being the length of the effective contributing area and its coefficient involving the effects of rainfall and surface features and antecedent conditions. We defined the mRL as the length of the effective contributing area making RC = 1, which is calculated regardless of the area. We studied mRL from three biocrust types and 1411 events clustered in seven categories. The mRL increased with rain volume and intensity, catchment area and slope, whereas plant cover and biocrust succession (with one exception) had a negative effect. Depending on the plot, mRL reached up 3.3–4.0 m on cyanobacterial biocrust, 2.2–7.5 m on the most widespread lichens, and 1.0–1.5 m on late-successional lichens. We discuss the relationships of mRL with other runoff-related parameters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:41:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b63c8b4617324085a30b56a6f5ead999 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1338-4333 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:41:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b63c8b4617324085a30b56a6f5ead9992022-12-22T03:13:42ZengSciendoJournal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics1338-43332021-12-0169438739910.2478/johh-2021-0029Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall eventsLázaro Roberto0Calvo-Cases Adolfo1Arnau-Rosalén Eva2Rubio Consuelo3Fuentes David4López-Canfín Clément5Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), Carretera Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain.Inter-University Institute for Local Development (IIDL), Department of Geography, University of Valencia, Edifici d’Instituts, 4ª Planta C/ Serpis 29, 46022, València, Spain.Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building E410a, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), Carretera Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain.Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, C/ de San Vicente del Raspeig, s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), Carretera Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain.The runoff coefficient (RC) is widely used despite requiring to know the effective contributing area, which cannot be known a priori. In a previous work, we defined runoff length (RL), which is difficult to measure. This work aimed to define the minimum RL (mRL), a quantitative and easy proxy of RL, for use in a pilot study on biocrusts in the Tabernas Desert, Spain. We show that RC decreases according to a hyperbola when the contributing area increases, the independent variable being the length of the effective contributing area and its coefficient involving the effects of rainfall and surface features and antecedent conditions. We defined the mRL as the length of the effective contributing area making RC = 1, which is calculated regardless of the area. We studied mRL from three biocrust types and 1411 events clustered in seven categories. The mRL increased with rain volume and intensity, catchment area and slope, whereas plant cover and biocrust succession (with one exception) had a negative effect. Depending on the plot, mRL reached up 3.3–4.0 m on cyanobacterial biocrust, 2.2–7.5 m on the most widespread lichens, and 1.0–1.5 m on late-successional lichens. We discuss the relationships of mRL with other runoff-related parameters.https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2021-0029semiaridbiological soil crustrunoff connectivitylength slope factorinfiltrationtabernas desert |
| spellingShingle | Lázaro Roberto Calvo-Cases Adolfo Arnau-Rosalén Eva Rubio Consuelo Fuentes David López-Canfín Clément Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics semiarid biological soil crust runoff connectivity length slope factor infiltration tabernas desert |
| title | Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| title_full | Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| title_fullStr | Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| title_short | Defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| title_sort | defining minimum runoff length allows for discriminating biocrusts and rainfall events |
| topic | semiarid biological soil crust runoff connectivity length slope factor infiltration tabernas desert |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2021-0029 |
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