Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe
Assessing root sources of three uncertainties – parameterization of soil hydraulic characteristics, boundary conditions, and estimation of source/sink terms – is a significant challenge in soil water transport modeling. This study aims to evaluate the uncertainty of three each widely-used parameter...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Geoderma |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706123003907 |
| _version_ | 1797398729200762880 |
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| author | Ying Zhao Haixia Wang Bing Song Pengfei Xue Wangchen Zhang Stephan Peth Robert Lee Hill Rainer Horn |
| author_facet | Ying Zhao Haixia Wang Bing Song Pengfei Xue Wangchen Zhang Stephan Peth Robert Lee Hill Rainer Horn |
| author_sort | Ying Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Assessing root sources of three uncertainties – parameterization of soil hydraulic characteristics, boundary conditions, and estimation of source/sink terms – is a significant challenge in soil water transport modeling. This study aims to evaluate the uncertainty of three each widely-used parameter estimation methods affecting plot-scale water dynamics. The study employs HYDRUS, a process-based hydrologic model, to incorporate these uncertainties and compare model predictions to measured values in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe, China. Soil hydraulic parameters are determined using two direct methods (laboratory-derived approach and evaporation method) and one indirect method (neural network). While each hydraulic parameter method generally simulates soil moisture dynamics, the evaporation method performed better, especially under dry conditions. This suggests that measuring the intensity properties, such as unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, with the evaporation method is crucial for reasonable soil moisture simulation. The study also demonstrates the impact of different applied boundary conditions on simulated soil moisture, specifically the partitioning of reference FAO evapotranspiration via one direct method (soil fraction cover) and two indirect methods (leaf area index and crop height). The partitioning via soil fraction cover reflected a better simulation. Additionally, the study compares the uncertainties of root water uptake function with root growth parameters and constant root depth referenced to grass and pasture, and finds no significant difference among them. Comparing three sources of uncertainty in predicting soil moisture, the study concludes that the input soil hydraulic parameter is more sensitive than evapotranspiration partitioning or representation of root water uptake function. Our study highlights that measuring soil intensity properties can better reflect the effects of land use change, such as compaction, on field water transports. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:29:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8c7349a9cdc42669d7184536e199f48 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1872-6259 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:29:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoderma |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8c7349a9cdc42669d7184536e199f482023-12-10T06:13:39ZengElsevierGeoderma1872-62592023-12-01440116713Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppeYing Zhao0Haixia Wang1Bing Song2Pengfei Xue3Wangchen Zhang4Stephan Peth5Robert Lee Hill6Rainer Horn7College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China; Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, Kiel 24118, Germany; Corresponding author at: College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong 264025, ChinaLeibniz University Hannover, Institute of Soil Science, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, Hannover 30419, GermanyDepartment of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAInstitute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, Kiel 24118, GermanyAssessing root sources of three uncertainties – parameterization of soil hydraulic characteristics, boundary conditions, and estimation of source/sink terms – is a significant challenge in soil water transport modeling. This study aims to evaluate the uncertainty of three each widely-used parameter estimation methods affecting plot-scale water dynamics. The study employs HYDRUS, a process-based hydrologic model, to incorporate these uncertainties and compare model predictions to measured values in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe, China. Soil hydraulic parameters are determined using two direct methods (laboratory-derived approach and evaporation method) and one indirect method (neural network). While each hydraulic parameter method generally simulates soil moisture dynamics, the evaporation method performed better, especially under dry conditions. This suggests that measuring the intensity properties, such as unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, with the evaporation method is crucial for reasonable soil moisture simulation. The study also demonstrates the impact of different applied boundary conditions on simulated soil moisture, specifically the partitioning of reference FAO evapotranspiration via one direct method (soil fraction cover) and two indirect methods (leaf area index and crop height). The partitioning via soil fraction cover reflected a better simulation. Additionally, the study compares the uncertainties of root water uptake function with root growth parameters and constant root depth referenced to grass and pasture, and finds no significant difference among them. Comparing three sources of uncertainty in predicting soil moisture, the study concludes that the input soil hydraulic parameter is more sensitive than evapotranspiration partitioning or representation of root water uptake function. Our study highlights that measuring soil intensity properties can better reflect the effects of land use change, such as compaction, on field water transports.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706123003907EvapotranspirationRoot water uptakeSoil moisture simulationUncertainty analysisUnsaturated hydraulic conductivity |
| spellingShingle | Ying Zhao Haixia Wang Bing Song Pengfei Xue Wangchen Zhang Stephan Peth Robert Lee Hill Rainer Horn Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe Geoderma Evapotranspiration Root water uptake Soil moisture simulation Uncertainty analysis Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity |
| title | Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe |
| title_full | Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe |
| title_short | Characterizing uncertainty in process-based hydraulic modeling, exemplified in a semiarid Inner Mongolia steppe |
| title_sort | characterizing uncertainty in process based hydraulic modeling exemplified in a semiarid inner mongolia steppe |
| topic | Evapotranspiration Root water uptake Soil moisture simulation Uncertainty analysis Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706123003907 |
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