Evaluation of SWAT simulated soil moisture at catchment scale by field measurements and Landsat derived indices

Abstract. While groundwater recharge is considered fundamental to hydrogeological insights and basin management, only relatively little attention has been paid to its spatial distribution. And in ungauged catchments it has rarely been quantified, especially on the catchment scale. For the first time, this study attempts such analysis, in a previously ungauged basin. Our work based on field data of several soil moisture stations, which represent five geological formations of karst rock in Wadi Natuf, a semi-arid to sub-humid Mediterranean catchment in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. For that purpose, recharge was conceptualized as deep percolation from soil moisture under saturation excess conditions, which had been modelled parsimoniously and separately with different formation-specific recharge rates. For the regionalisation, inductive methods of empirical field-measurements and observations were combined with deductive approaches of extrapolation, following the recommendations for hydrological Prediction in Ungauged Basins (PUB), by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). Our results show an average annual recharge estimation in Wadi Natuf Catchment (103 km2), ranging from 24 to 28 Mm3/yr, equivalent to recharge coefficients (RC) of 39–46 % of average annual precipitation. Thus, for the first time, formation-specific RC-values could be derived, assessed and quantified in their spatial distribution, and by creating a schematic conceptual basin classification framework for regionalisation that is also applicable in many comparable sedimentary basins in the Mediterranean and worldwide.

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Retrieving the Root-Zone Soil Moisture from Surface Soil Moisture or Temperature Estimates: A Feasibility Study Based on Field Measurements

Journal of Applied Meteorology ◽

10.1175/1520-0450(1998)037<0371:rtrzsm>2.0.co;2 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 371-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

J-C. Calvet ◽

J. Noilhan ◽

P. Bessemoulin

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Root Zone ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Surface Soil Moisture

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Effect of Soil Depth on the Quantification of Soil Moisture Content Value Estimated from NOAA Satellite Images

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.567.705 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 567 ◽

pp. 705-710

Author(s):

Abdalhaleem A. Hassaballa ◽

Abdul Nasir Matori ◽

Helmi Z.M. Shafri

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Critical Parameter ◽

Satellite Images ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Vegetation Indices ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Spatial Estimation ◽

Optical Images

Soil moisture (MC) is considered as the most significant boundary conditions controlling most of the hydrological cycle’s processes especially over humid areas. However, MC is very critical parameter to measure because of its variability in both space and time. The fluctuation of MC along the soil depth in turn, makes it so difficult to assess from optical satellite techniques. The study aims to produce a rectified satellite’s surface temperature (Ts) in order to enhance the spatial estimation of MC. The study also aims to produce MC estimates from three variable depths of the soil using optical images from NOAA 17 in order to examine the potential of satellite techniques in assessing the MC along the soil depths. The universal triangle (UT) algorithm was used for MC assessment based on Ts, vegetation Indices (VI) and field measurements of MC; which were conducted at variable depths. The study area was divided into three classes according to the nature of surface cover. The resultant MC extracted from the UT method with rectified Ts, produced accuracies of MC ranging from 0.65 to 0.89 when validated with in-situ measured MC at depths 5cm and 10 cm respectively.

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Dominant drivers of runoff in a slash-and-burn affected catchment in upland Eastern Madagascar

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-3957 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bob W. Zwartendijk ◽

H.J. (Ilja) van Meerveld ◽

Ryan J. Teuling ◽

Chandra P. Ghimire ◽

L. Adrian Bruijnzeel

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Overland Flow ◽

Quantitative Information ◽

Forest Loss ◽

Runoff Generation ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

Valley Bottom ◽

Antecedent Soil Moisture ◽

Slash And Burn ◽

Slash And Burn Agriculture

In many tropical areas slash-and-burn agriculture is an important driver of forest loss. In areas where slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for decades, land cover is typically a mosaic of patches of remnant forest, fields under active cultivation, fallows in various stages of regrowth (ranging from young shrub to semi-mature), and degraded fire-climax grasslands. Although runoff generation mechanisms are expected to be different for these different patches, little quantitative information is available in this regard, particularly at the catchment scale and over longer time-scales (i.e., multiple slash-and-burn cycles).We re-instrumented a 31&#160;ha catchment in upland Eastern Madagascar, where slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for more than 70&#160;years in 2015; it had been monitored between 1963 and 1972 as well1. We measured streamflow at two locations and overland flow and soil moisture for four hillside plots (0.05 &#8211; 1.93&#160;ha): one plot under repeatedly coppiced and burned Eucalyptus and three plots under young shrub and tree fallows. One of the plots underwent rudimentary terracing in the past. We analysed the rainfall-runoff dynamics for 50&#160;rainfall events (median 12&#160;mm, maximum 71&#160;mm).For 60% of the events, the stormflow coefficient (minimum contributing area) was <3%, which is the proportion of valley-bottom wetlands and rice paddies in the catchment. Stable isotope sampling for five storm runoff events indicate a maximum total event-water contribution of 16%. However, instantaneous event-water contributions were as high as 66%. The hillside plot runoff response was dominated by saturation-excess overland flow and showed strong threshold behaviour in terms of the antecedent soil moisture storage in the upper 30 cm of the soil plus the event total rainfall amount (ASI + P). Average threshold values for overland flow occurrence ranged from 87 mm for the coppiced Eucalyptus to 137&#160;mm for the young fallow plots (regardless of terrace presence). Stormflow also increased after an ASI+P-threshold was exceeded (100&#160;mm based on the soil moisture sensors for the Eucalyptus plot and 150&#160;mm for the sensors at the tree fallow plots).These results indicate an increased hydrological connectivity between hillslopes and valley bottom under wetter conditions and that stormflow in the study catchment is strongly affected by variations in seasonal rainfall. The results will be used to validate a hydrological model to determine the net effect of concurrent changes in soil infiltrability and vegetation water use associated with forest loss and recovery on stormflow totals and the seasonal flow regime.1Bailly, C., de Coignac, G.B., Malvos, C., Ningre, J.M., and Sarrailh, J.M. (1974). &#201;tude de l'influence du couvert naturel et de ses modifications &#225; Madagascar. Exp&#233;rimentations en bassins versants &#233;l&#233;mentaires. Cahiers Scientifiques, 4. Centre Scientifique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France, 114 pp.

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Effect of irrigation machines on soil compaction

Research in Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.17221/26/2013-rae ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 60 (Special Issue) ◽

pp. S1-S8

Author(s):

J. Jobbágy ◽

P. Findura ◽

F. Janík

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Penetration Resistance ◽

Technological Operation ◽

Performance Parameters ◽

Shallow Soil ◽

Average Resistance ◽

The Impact

The analysis of soil compaction with chassis of a wide-span irrigation machine Valmont was determined. The sprinkler had 12 two-wheeled chassis (size of tyre 14.9'' × 24''). During the evaluation of soil compaction, we monitored the values of penetration resistance and soil moisture during the operation of the sprinkler. Considering the performance parameters of the pump, the sprinkler was only half of its length (300 m) in the technological operation. In this area, also field measurements were performed in 19 monitoring points spaced both in tracks and outside the chassis tracks. The analysis showed the impact of compression with sprinkler wheels. The correction of obtained results of penetration resistance was applied in connection with soil moisture (mass) values according to Act No. 220/2004 (Lhotský et al. 1985). The results of average resistance ranged from 1.2 to 3.26 MPa. The values of the max. resistance ranged from 2.3 to 5.35 MPa. The results indicated a shallow soil compaction; however, it is not devastating.

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NASA Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX 2002/03): Field Measurements of Snowpack Properties and Soil Moisture

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/2008jhm877.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 320-329 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Kelly Elder ◽

Don Cline ◽

Glen E. Liston ◽

Richard Armstrong

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Near Surface ◽

Surface Wetness ◽

North Park ◽

Soil Measurements ◽

Snowpack Properties ◽

Fraser Valley ◽

Rabbit Ears

Abstract A field measurement program was undertaken as part NASA’s Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX). Extensive snowpack and soil measurements were taken at field sites in Colorado over four study periods during the two study years (2002 and 2003). Measurements included snow depth, density, temperature, grain type and size, surface wetness, surface roughness, and canopy cover. Soil moisture measurements were made in the near-surface layer in snow pits. Measurements were taken in the Fraser valley, North Park, and Rabbit Ears Pass areas of Colorado. Sites were chosen to gain a wide representation of snowpack types and physiographies typical of seasonally snow-covered regions of the world. The data have been collected with rigorous protocol to ensure consistency and quality, and they have undergone several levels of quality assurance to produce a high-quality spatial dataset for continued cold lands hydrological research. The dataset is archived at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado.

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Generation of soil moisture patterns at the catchment scale by EOF interpolation

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-12-39-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 39-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

M. A. Perry ◽

J. D. Niemann

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Interpolation Method ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Eof Analysis ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Hydrologic Processes ◽

Improved Performance ◽

Controlling Processes ◽

Time Invariant

Abstract. Spatial patterns of soil moisture cannot be adequately characterized by direct measurement for most practical applications, so interpolation between observations is required. Interpolation of soil moisture is complicated because multiple hydrologic processes can affect soil moisture and these processes can introduce distinct modes of variation into the soil moisture patterns. In this paper, a new method to interpolate soil moisture data is presented. This method accepts a dataset of soil moisture at widely-spaced locations on multiple dates and produces fine-scale patterns of soil moisture on the same dates. The method first uses Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to decompose the dataset into a set of time-invariant patterns of covariation (EOFs) and a set of associated time series (called expansion coefficients or ECs) that indicate the importance of the patterns on each date. The method then uses a statistical test to retain only the most important EOFs, and these EOFs are interpolated to the desired resolution using a standard estimation or interpolation method. The interpolated EOFs are finally combined with the spatial averages and the ECs to construct the fine-scale soil moisture patterns. Using the Tarrawarra dataset, the EOF-based interpolation method is shown to outperform analogous direct interpolation methods, and this improved performance is observed when as few as two observation dates are available. The improved performance occurs because EOF analysis decomposes soil moisture roughly according to the controlling processes and the most important EOFs exhibit distinct but more consistent spatial structures than soil moisture itself. Less predictable variation is also separated into higher order EOFs, which are discarded by the method.

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Modeling the hydrophysical soil properties and comparative analysis for three systems of functions

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202017509016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 175 ◽

pp. 09016

Author(s):

Vitaly Terleev ◽

Roman Ginevsky ◽

Viktor Lazarev ◽

Aleksandr Nikonorov ◽

Alexander Topaj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Porous Medium ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Comparative Analysis ◽

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Water Retention ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Practical Significance ◽

Water Retention Capacity ◽

Retention Capacity

A functional description of the hydrophysical properties of the soil as a capillary-porous medium is presented. The described functions of water retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity of the soil have common parameters, which are interpreted within the framework of physical and statistical concepts. The practical significance of the proposed functions lies in the fact that the volume of labor-intensive field measurements necessary, for example, for modeling the dynamics of soil moisture, is significantly reduced. To identify the parameters of these functions, it is sufficient to use data only on the water retention capacity of the soil. The parameters identified in this way can be used to predict the ratio of the hydraulic conductivity of the soil to the moisture filtration coefficient. The presented system of the hydrophysical functions of the soil is compared with world analogues using literature data on soils of different texture.

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Impact of Scale and Aggregation on the Terrestrial Water Exchange: Integrating Land Surface Models and Rhône Catchment Observations

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/jhm613.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 1002-1015 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Reto Stöckli ◽

Pier Luigi Vidale ◽

Aaron Boone ◽

Christoph Schär

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Spatial Resolution ◽

Land Surface ◽

Climate Model ◽

Good Representation ◽

Subgrid Scale ◽

Land Surface Models ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

Surface Models ◽

Terrestrial Water

Abstract Land surface models (LSMs) used in climate modeling include detailed above-ground biophysics but usually lack a good representation of runoff. Both processes are closely linked through soil moisture. Soil moisture however has a high spatial variability that is unresolved at climate model grid scales. Physically based vertical and horizontal aggregation methods exist to account for this scaling problem. Effects of scaling and aggregation have been evaluated in this study by performing catchment-scale LSM simulations for the Rhône catchment. It is found that evapotranspiration is not sensitive to soil moisture over the Rhône but it largely controls total runoff as a residual of the terrestrial water balance. Runoff magnitude is better simulated when the vertical soil moisture fluxes are resolved at a finer vertical resolution. The use of subgrid-scale topography significantly improves both the timing of runoff on the daily time scale (response to rainfall events) and the magnitude of summer baseflow (from seasonal groundwater recharge). Explicitly accounting for soil moisture as a subgrid-scale process in LSMs allows one to better resolve the seasonal course of the terrestrial water storage and makes runoff insensitive to the used grid scale. However, scale dependency of runoff to above-ground hydrology cannot be ignored: snowmelt runoff from the Alpine part of the Rhône is sensitive to the spatial resolution of the snow scheme, and autumnal runoff from the Mediterranean part of the Rhône is sensitive to the spatial resolution of precipitation.

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