A scheme for evaluating the effectiveness of riparian zones in reducing overland flow to streams

Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 683 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Herron ◽  
P. B. Hairsine
Keyword(s):  
Overland Flow ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Antecedent Moisture ◽  
Water Redistribution

Two time-independent equations are developed to assess the effectiveness of riparian zones in reducing overland flow to streams for events in which the time-scale of subsurface water redistribution exceeds that of the rainfall event. In one equation, the effectiveness of the riparian area is limited by the storage capacity of its soils, while in the other equation, the infiltration rate determines the buffer’s effectiveness. Riparian zone widths, expressed as a proportion of total hillslope length, are calculated for a number of different climate, antecedent moisture, and management scenarios for hillslopes of varying topographic convergence. A riparian zone width not exceeding 20% of total hillslope length is proposed as a practical management option in this paper. Riparian zone widths that fall within these bounds are predicted for areas where both the hillslopes and riparian areas are in good condition. Where conditions in either area are degraded, disproportionately large riparian buffer widths are predicted. The results suggest that land management initiatives need to be directed at the catchment as a whole if riparian buffers of realistic widths are to be effective.

scholarly journals The influence of soil moisture on threshold runoff generation processes in an alpine headwater catchment

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 8091-8124 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Penna ◽  
H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld ◽  
A. Gobbi ◽  
M. Borga ◽  
G. Dalla Fontana
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Antecedent Moisture ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Strong Control ◽  
Headwater Catchment

Abstract. This study investigates the role of soil moisture on the threshold runoff response in a small headwater catchment in the Italian Alps that is characterised by steep hillslopes and a distinct riparian zone. This study focuses on: (i) the threshold soil moisture-runoff relationship and the influence of catchment topography on this relation; (ii) the temporal dynamics of soil moisture, streamflow and groundwater that characterize the catchment's response to rainfall during dry and wet periods; and (iii) the combined effect of antecedent wetness conditions and rainfall amount on hillslope and riparian runoff. Our results highlight the strong control exerted by soil moisture on runoff in this catchment: a sharp threshold exists in the relationship between soil water content and runoff coefficient, streamflow, and hillslope-averaged depth to water table. Low runoff ratios were related to the response of the riparian zone, which was always close to saturation. High runoff ratios occurred during wet antecedent conditions, when the soil moisture threshold was exceeded. In these cases, subsurface flow was activated on hillslopes, which became major contributors to runoff. Antecedent wetness conditions also controlled the catchment's response time: during dry periods, streamflow reacted and peaked prior to hillslope soil moisture whereas during wet conditions the opposite occurred. This difference resulted in a hysteretic behaviour in the soil moisture-streamflow relationship. Finally, the influence of antecedent moisture conditions on runoff was also evident in the relation between cumulative rainfall and total stormflow. Small storms during dry conditions produced low runoff amounts, mainly from overland flow from the near saturated riparian zone. Conversely, for rainfall events during wet conditions, hillslopes contributed to streamflow and higher runoff values were observed.

scholarly journals Quantifying the performance of automated GIS-based geomorphological approaches for riparian zone delineation using digital elevation models

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 3851-3862 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Fernández ◽  
J. Barquín ◽  
M. Álvarez-Cabria ◽  
F. J. Peñas
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Digital Elevation Models ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
River Networks ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
River Basin Scale ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Objective Quantification

Abstract. Riparian zone delineation is a central issue for managing rivers and adjacent areas; however, criteria used to delineate them are still under debate. The area inundated by a 50-yr flood has been indicated as an optimal hydrological descriptor for riparian areas. This detailed hydrological information is usually only available for populated areas at risk of flooding. In this work we created several floodplain surfaces by means of two different GIS-based geomorphological approaches using digital elevation models (DEMs), in an attempt to find hydrologically meaningful potential riparian zones for river networks at the river basin scale. Objective quantification of the performance of the two geomorphologic models is provided by analysing coinciding and exceeding areas with respect to the 50-yr flood surface in different river geomorphological types.

scholarly journals The influence of soil moisture on threshold runoff generation processes in an alpine headwater catchment

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Penna ◽  
H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld ◽  
A. Gobbi ◽  
M. Borga ◽  
G. Dalla Fontana
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Antecedent Moisture ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Strong Control ◽  
Headwater Catchment

Abstract. This study investigates the role of soil moisture on the threshold runoff response in a small headwater catchment in the Italian Alps that is characterised by steep hillslopes and a distinct riparian zone. This study focuses on: (i) the threshold soil moisture-runoff relationship and the influence of catchment topography on this relation; (ii) the temporal dynamics of soil moisture, streamflow and groundwater that characterize the catchment's response to rainfall during dry and wet periods; and (iii) the combined effect of antecedent wetness conditions and rainfall amount on hillslope and riparian runoff. Our results highlight the strong control exerted by soil moisture on runoff in this catchment: a sharp threshold exists in the relationship between soil water content and runoff coefficient, streamflow, and hillslope-averaged depth to water table. Low runoff ratios were likely related to the response of the riparian zone, which was almost always close to saturation. High runoff ratios occurred during wet antecedent conditions, when the soil moisture threshold was exceeded. In these cases, subsurface flow was activated on hillslopes, which became a major contributor to runoff. Antecedent wetness conditions also controlled the catchment's response time: during dry periods, streamflow reacted and peaked prior to hillslope soil moisture whereas during wet conditions the opposite occurred. This difference resulted in a hysteretic behaviour in the soil moisture-streamflow relationship. Finally, the influence of antecedent moisture conditions on runoff was also evident in the relation between cumulative rainfall and total stormflow. Small storms during dry conditions produced low stormflow amounts, likely mainly from overland flow from the near saturated riparian zone. Conversely, for rainfall events during wet conditions, higher stormflow values were observed and hillslopes must have contributed to streamflow.

Movement of Nitrogen through an Agricultural Riparian Zone: 1. Field Studies

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (3-5) ◽  
pp. 605-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Clausen ◽  
K. G. Wayland ◽  
K. A. Saldi ◽  
K. Guillard
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Nonpoint Source ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Major Process ◽  
Nonpoint Source Pollutants ◽  
Paired Watershed

Forested riparian areas are believed to be important for reducing nonpoint source pollutants. These areas along streams, lakes, and wetlands have been reported to trap sediment and nutrients and enhance denitrification. Past research on the effectiveness of riparian areas has been based on existing forests rather than restored areas. An experiment using the paired-watershed design was established in northeastern Connecticut during 1992 to determine the water quality effects of reforestation on a riparian zone currently cropped in maize. Water quality fluxes in precipitation, overland flow, soil solution, groundwater, and streamflow were determined. Results indicate that this 35 m wide riparian zone had little attenuating influence on N concentrations in groundwater based on NO3−N concentrations and NO3−N:C1 ratios. The primary N flux to the stream was in the groundwater. Denitrification did not appear to be a major process operating in this system. Reforestation of this riparian buffer should result in improved surface and groundwater quality.

scholarly journals Improved Accuracy of Riparian Zone Mapping Using Near Ground Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Photogrammetry Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1997
Author(s):  
Joan Grau ◽  
Kang Liang ◽  
Jae Ogilvie ◽  
Paul Arp ◽  
Sheng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Agricultural Watershed ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Low Resolution ◽  
Channel Network ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

In agriculture-dominant watersheds, riparian ecosystems provide a wide array of benefits such as reducing soil erosion, filtering chemical compounds, and retaining sediments. Traditionally, the boundaries of riparian zones could be estimated from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) or field surveys. In this study, we used an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and photogrammetry method to map the boundaries of riparian zones. We first obtained the 3D digital surface model with a UAV. We applied the Vertical Distance to Channel Network (VDTCN) as a classifier to delineate the boundaries of the riparian area in an agricultural watershed. The same method was also used with a low-resolution DEM obtained with traditional photogrammetry and two more LiDAR-derived DEMs, and the results of different methods were compared. Results indicated that higher resolution UAV-derived DEM achieved a high agreement with the field-measured riparian zone. The accuracy achieved (Kappa Coefficient, KC = 63%) with the UAV-derived DEM was comparable with high-resolution LiDAR-derived DEMs and significantly higher than the prediction accuracy based on traditional low-resolution DEMs obtained with high altitude aerial photos (KC = 25%). We also found that the presence of a dense herbaceous layer on the ground could cause errors in riparian zone delineation with VDTCN for both low altitude UAV and LiDAR data. Nevertheless, the study indicated that using the VDTCN as a classifier combined with a UAV-derived DEM is a suitable approach for mapping riparian zones and can be used for precision agriculture and environmental protection over agricultural landscapes.

Geo-informatics based Morphometric Analysis of a Reservoir Catchment in Shivalik Foothills of North-West India

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (03) ◽  
pp. 286-299
Author(s):  
Mahesh Chand Singh ◽  
Rohit Singh ◽  
Abrar Yousuf ◽  
Vishnu Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Form Factor ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Elongation Ratio ◽  
Alos Palsar ◽  
Bifurcation Ratio ◽  
Runoff Potential ◽  
Drainage Texture

The present study examined 35 morphometric parameters related to stream/drainage network, catchment geometry, and relief aspects for hydrological characterization of the Thana Dam catchment using geospatial tools and techniques. The dam catchment was delineated using the high-resolution Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ALOS PALSAR) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data in ArcGIS 10.4.1 software using the Arc Hydro tools. The catchment is comprised of 4th order stream, obtained using a stream threshold value of 100 m length. The lower values of elongation ratio (0.61), circularity ratio (0.22), and form factor (0.29) indicated higher soil erosion potential, mainly due to their inverse relationship with land erodibility. Moreover, the higher values of stream frequency (15.7), drainage density (>5.0), drainage texture (7.48 km-1), and mean bifurcation ratio (4.08-6.33) indicated higher runoff potential, which would intensify the soil erosion, mainly due to their direct relationship with erodibility. Bifurcation ratio, elongation ratio, circulatory ratio, form factor, altogether indicated an elongated shape of the catchment with a fine drainage texture. The higher values of bifurcation ratio and texture ratio of the catchment also indicated severe overland flow (low infiltration rate) with a limited scope for groundwater recharge in the area, which in turn might significantly encourage the soil erosion. Overall, it was concluded that the catchment has a huge runoff potential resulting in high soil erosion due to its fine texture, impermeable subsurface material, steep slope, low infiltration rate, limited vegetation, longer duration of overland flow, and higher surface runoff. The morphometric analysis was found to be suitable for identifying catchment shape and the factors affecting hydrologic conditions and erodibility of the catchment. Thus, Geo-informatics based morphometric analysis of a reservoir catchment can be useful to study the erosion potential in relation to hydrologic (rainfall-runoff relationship) and other related land characteristics (e.g., relief, slope, infiltration rate, etc.).

scholarly journals Rainfall-runoff modelling in a catchment with a complex groundwater flow system: application of the Representative Elementary Watershed (REW) approach

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Zhang ◽  
H. H. G. Savenije
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Watershed Hydrology ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Infiltration Excess

Abstract. Based on the Representative Elementary Watershed (REW) approach, the modelling tool REWASH (Representative Elementary WAterShed Hydrology) has been developed and applied to the Geer river basin. REWASH is deterministic, semi-distributed, physically based and can be directly applied to the watershed scale. In applying REWASH, the river basin is divided into a number of sub-watersheds, so called REWs, according to the Strahler order of the river network. REWASH describes the dominant hydrological processes, i.e. subsurface flow in the unsaturated and saturated domains, and overland flow by the saturation-excess and infiltration-excess mechanisms. Through flux exchanges among the different spatial domains of the REW, surface and subsurface water interactions are fully coupled. REWASH is a parsimonious tool for modelling watershed hydrological response. However, it can be modified to include more components to simulate specific processes when applied to a specific river basin where such processes are observed or considered to be dominant. In this study, we have added a new component to simulate interception using a simple parametric approach. Interception plays an important role in the water balance of a watershed although it is often disregarded. In addition, a refinement for the transpiration in the unsaturated zone has been made. Finally, an improved approach for simulating saturation overland flow by relating the variable source area to both the topography and the groundwater level is presented. The model has been calibrated and verified using a 4-year data set, which has been split into two for calibration and validation. The model performance has been assessed by multi-criteria evaluation. This work is the first full application of the REW approach to watershed rainfall-runoff modelling in a real watershed. The results demonstrate that the REW approach provides an alternative blueprint for physically based hydrological modelling.

scholarly journals Diversity of Angiospermic Plants in estuarine and Adjoining Riparian Areas of Sabarmati and Mahi Rivers, Gujarat, India

2020 ◽  
pp. 116-124
Author(s):  
Raj B. Patel ◽  
Ketan Tatu ◽  
R. D. Kamboj
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Riparian Zones ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
View Point ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Religious Importance ◽  
Herb Species

The present study was conducted with an aim of documenting the diversity of flowering plants in selected localities in the estuarine and adjoining riparian zones of Sabarmati and Mahi rivers of Gujarat, India. The Sabarmati and Mahi rivers are west-flowing perennial rivers having considerable ecological and religious importance. A total of 40 species of flowering plants belonging to 26 different families were recorded in the study area which were dominated by herbaceous plants. Among the 40 species recorded 2 species were trees, 8 species were shrubs, 28 species were herbs and 2 species were grasses. Moreover, as far as ecological groups are concerned, 6 species were halophytes, 13 species were hydrophytes, 17 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Sabarmati river, 28 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 18 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 3 species were hydrophytes, 16 species were mesophytes and 4 species were xerophytes. In the study area of Mahi river, 24 species were recorded that included 2 tree species, 6 shrub species, 14 herb species and 2 grass species. From the view point of ecological groups 5 species were halophytes, 12 species were hydrophytes, 5 species were mesophytes and 2 species were xerophytes.

A hysteretic model for rainfall-runoff of a simplifed catchment 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Flynn ◽  
Warren Roche
Keyword(s):  
Overland Flow ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Nonlinear Phenomenon ◽  
Hysteretic Model ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Total Runoff ◽  
History Of ◽  
Preisach Operator ◽  
Rainfall Runoff Model

<div>The soil can be modelled as a porous medium in which the three phases of matter coexist and produce the emergent phenomenon of hysteresis.</div><div>Rate-independent hysteresis is a nonlinear phenomenon where the output depends not only on the current input but also the previous history of inputs to the system. In multiphase porous media such as soils, the hysteresis is in the relationship between the soil-moisture content, and the capillary pressure.</div><div>In this work, we develop a simplified hysteretic rainfall-runoff model consisting of the following subsystems that capture much of the physics of flow through a slab of soil:</div><div>1) A slab of soil where rainfall enters and if enough water is present in the soil, it will subsequently drain into the groundwater reservoir. This part of the model is represent by ODE with a Preisach operator.</div><div>2) A runoff component: If the rainfall exceeds the maximum infiltration rate of the soil, the excess will become surface runoff. This part of the model is represented by a series of two hysteretic reservoirs instead of the two linear reservoirs in the literature.</div><div>3) A ground water storage and outflow subsystem component: this is also modelled by a hysteretic reservoir. Finally, the outputs from the groundwater output and the overland flow are combined to give the total runoff. We will examine this model and compare it with non-hysteretic case both qualitatively and quantitively.</div>

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