scholarly journals Quantifying Subsurface Lateral Flow along Sloping Horizon Boundaries in Soil Profiles of a Hummocky Ground Moraine

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 170106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilim Filipović ◽  
Horst H. Gerke ◽  
Lana Filipović ◽  
Michael Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Ground Moraine ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow

scholarly journals Simulation and validation of concentrated subsurface lateral flow paths in an agricultural landscape

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1503-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Zhu ◽  
H. S. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Clay Layer ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow ◽  
Simulated Flow ◽  
Water Flow Paths

Abstract. The importance of soil water flow paths to the transport of nutrients and contaminants has long been recognized. However, effective means of detecting concentrated subsurface flow paths in a large landscape are still lacking. The flow direction and accumulation algorithm based on single-direction flow algorithm (D8) in GIS hydrologic modeling is a cost-effective way to simulate potential concentrated flow paths over a large area once relevant data are collected. This study tested the D8 algorithm for simulating concentrated lateral flow paths at three interfaces in soil profiles in a 19.5-ha agricultural landscape in central Pennsylvania, USA. These interfaces were (1) the interface between surface plowed layers of Ap1 and Ap2 horizons, (2) the interface with subsoil water-restricting clay layer where clay content increased to over 40%, and (3) the soil-bedrock interface. The simulated flow paths were validated through soil hydrologic monitoring, geophysical surveys, and observable soil morphological features. The results confirmed that concentrated subsurface lateral flow occurred at the interfaces with the clay layer and the underlying bedrock. At these two interfaces, the soils on the simulated flow paths were closer to saturation and showed more temporally unstable moisture dynamics than those off the simulated flow paths. Apparent electrical conductivity in the soil on the simulated flow paths was elevated and temporally unstable as compared to those outside the simulated paths. The soil cores collected from the simulated flow paths showed significantly higher Mn content at these interfaces than those away from the simulated paths. These results suggest that (1) the D8 algorithm is useful in simulating possible concentrated subsurface lateral flow paths if used with appropriate threshold value of contributing area and sufficiently detailed digital elevation model (DEM); (2) repeated electromagnetic surveys can reflect the temporal change of soil water storage and thus is a useful indicator of possible subsurface flow path over a large area; and (3) observable Mn distribution in soil profiles can be used as a simple indicator of water flow paths in soils and over the landscape; however, it does require sufficient soil sampling (by excavation or augering) to possibly infer landscape-scale subsurface flow paths. In areas where subsurface interface topography varies similarly with surface topography, surface DEM can be used to simulate potential subsurface lateral flow path reasonably so the cost associated with obtaining depth to subsurface water-restricting layer can be minimized.

scholarly journals Simulation and validation of subsurface lateral flow paths in an agricultural landscape

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 2893-2929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Zhu ◽  
H. S. Lin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Clay Layer ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow ◽  
Simulated Flow ◽  
Water Flow Paths

Abstract. The importance of soil water flow paths to the transport of nutrients and contaminants has long been recognized. However, effective means of detecting subsurface flow paths in a large landscape is still lacking. The flow direction and accumulation algorithm in GIS hydrologic modeling is a cost effective way to simulate potential flow paths over a large area. This study tested this algorithm for simulating lateral flow paths at three interfaces in soil profiles in a 19.5-ha agricultural landscape in central Pennsylvania, USA. These interfaces were (1) the surface plowed layers (Ap1 and Ap2 horizons) interface, (2) the interface with subsoil clay layer where clay content increased to over 40%, and (3) soil-bedrock interface. The simulated flow paths were validated through soil hydrologic monitoring, geophysical surveys, and observable soil morphological features. The results confirmed that subsurface lateral flow occurred at the interfaces with the clay layer and the underlying bedrock. At these two interfaces, the soils on the simulated flow paths were closer to saturation and showed more temporally unstable moisture dynamics than those off the simulated flow paths. Apparent electrical conductivity in the soil on the simulated flow paths was elevated and temporally unstable as compared to those outside the simulated paths. The soil cores collected from the simulated flow paths showed significantly higher Mn contents at these interfaces than those away from the simulated paths. These results suggest that (1) the algorithm is useful in simulating possible subsurface lateral flow paths if used appropriately with sufficiently detailed digital elevation model; (2) repeated electromagnetic surveys can reflect the temporal change of soil water storage and thus is an indicator of soil water movement over the landscape; and (3) observable Mn content in soil profiles can be used as a simple indicator of water flow paths in soils and over the landscape.

scholarly journals Subsurface Lateral Flow in Texture-Contrast (Duplex) Soils and Catchments with Shallow Bedrock

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus A. Hardie ◽  
Richard B. Doyle ◽  
William E. Cotching ◽  
Shaun Lisson
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Antecedent Soil Moisture ◽  
Process Understanding ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Texture Contrast

Development-perched watertables and subsurface lateral flows in texture-contrast soils (duplex) are commonly believed to occur as a consequence of the hydraulic discontinuity between the A and B soil horizons. However, in catchments containing shallow bedrock, subsurface lateral flows result from a combination of preferential flow from the soil surface to the soil—bedrock interface, undulations in the bedrock topography, lateral flow through macropore networks at the soil—bedrock interface, and the influence of antecedent soil moisture on macropore connectivity. Review of literature indicates that some of these processes may also be involved in the development of subsurface lateral flow in texture contrast soils. However, the extent to which these mechanisms can be applied to texture contrast soils requires further field studies. Improved process understanding is required for modelling subsurface lateral flows in order to improve the management of waterlogging, drainage, salinity, and offsite agrochemicals movement.

scholarly journals Subsurface lateral flow from hillslope and its contribution to nitrate loading in streams through an agricultural catchment during subtropical rainstorm events

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 3153-3170 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Zhang ◽  
J. L. Tang ◽  
Ch. Gao ◽  
H. Zepp
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Stream Flow ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Source Surface ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Particulate Nitrogen ◽  
Total N ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow

Abstract. Subsurface lateral flow from agricultural hillslopes is often overlooked compared with overland flow and tile drain flow, partly due to the difficulties in monitoring and quantifying. The objectives of this study were to examine how subsurface lateral flow generated through soil pedons from cropped hillslopes and to quantify its contribution to nitrate loading in the streams through an agricultural catchment in the subtropical region of China. Profiles of soil water potential along hillslopes and stream hydro-chemographs in a trenched stream below a cropped hillslope and at the catchment outlet were simultaneously recorded during two rainstorm events. The dynamics of soil water potential showed positive matrix soil water potential over impermeable soil layer at 0.6 to 1.50 m depths during and after the storms, indicating soil water saturation and drainage processes along the hillslopes irrespective of land uses. The hydro-chemographs in the streams, one trenched below a cropped hillslope and one at the catchment outlet, showed that the concentrations of particulate nitrogen and phosphorus corresponded well to stream flow during the storm, while the nitrate concentration increased on the recession limbs of the hydrographs after the end of the storm. All the synchronous data revealed that nitrate was delivered from the cropped hillslope through subsurface lateral flow to the streams during and after the end of the rainstorms. A chemical mixing model based on electricity conductivity (EC) and H+ concentration was successfully established, particularly for the trenched stream. The results showed that the subsurface lateral flow accounted for 29% to 45% of total stream flow in the trenched stream, responsible for 86% of total NO3−-N loss (or 26% of total N loss), and for 5.7% to 7.3% of total stream flow at the catchment outlet, responsible for about 69% of total NO3−-N loss (or 28% of total N loss). The results suggest that subsurface lateral flow through hydraulically stratified soil pedons have to be paid more attention for controlling non-point source surface water pollution from intensive agricultural catchment particularly in the subtropical areas with great soil infiltration.

scholarly journals Simulation of Flow and Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollutant Transport in a Tibetan Plateau Irrigation District

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqing Li ◽  
Zuhao Zhou ◽  
Kang Wang ◽  
Chongyu Xu
Keyword(s):  
Transport Processes ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Irrigation District ◽  
Distributed Model ◽  
Flow And Transport ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Simulated Flow ◽  
Highland Barley

Flow and transport processes in soil and rock play a critical role in agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPS) loads. In this study, we investigated the ANPS load discharged into rivers from an irrigation district in the Tibetan Plateau and simulated ANPS load using a distributed model. Experiments were conducted for two years to measure soil water content and nitrogen concentrations in soil and the quality and quantity of subsurface lateral flow in the rock and at the drainage canal outlet during the highland barley growing period. A distributed model, in which the subsurface lateral flow in the rock was described using a stepwise method, was developed to simulate flow and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) transport processes. Sobol’s method was used to evaluate the sensitivity of simulated flow and transport processes to the model inputs. The results showed that with a 21.2% increase of rainfall and irrigation in the highland barley growing period, the average NH4+-N and NO3−-N concentrations in the soil layer decreased by 10.8% and 14.3%, respectively, due to increased deep seepage. Deep seepage of rainfall water accounted for 0–52.4% of total rainfall, whereas deep seepage of irrigation water accounted for 36.6–45.3% of total irrigation. NH4+-N and NO3−-N discharged into the drainage canal represented 19.9–30.4% and 19.4–26.7% of the deep seepage, respectively. The mean Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient value, which was close to 0.8, and the lowest values of root mean square errors, the fraction bias, and the fractional gross error indicated that the simulated flow rates and nitrogen concentrations using the proposed method were very accurate. The Sobol’s sensitivity analysis results demonstrated that subsurface lateral flow had the most important first-order and total-order effect on the simulated flow and NH4+-N and NO3−-N concentrations at the surface drainage outlet.

Effect of surface heterogeneity on hyper-resolution simulation of soil moisture

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhan Zeng ◽  
Xing Yuan ◽  
Peng Ji
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Subsurface Lateral Flow ◽  
Soil Moisture Heterogeneity ◽  
Increase Soil Moisture

<p>Due to the land surface complexity, soil moisture immensely varies both spatially and temporally. However, the combined effects of land surface complexity and key hydrological processes (e.g., subsurface lateral flow) on fine-scale soil moisture heterogeneity remain elusive due to the scarcity of observations. Benefit from improvements in hyper-resolution land surface modeling, it provides an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the fine-scale soil moisture heterogeneity over a large region. Here, we use the Conjunctive Surface-Subsurface Process model version 2 (CSSPv2), which considers subsurface lateral flow, to perform hyperresolution (100-m) simulations over ten selected regions with different climate. We find that the heterogeneities of vegetation, soil texture, precipitation or their combinations increase soil moisture heterogeneity significantly (p<0.01). If only the topography heterogeneity presents, subsurface lateral flow increases the soil moisture heterogeneity significantly (p<0.01). However, the effect of subsurface lateral flow has been reduced by combining topography heterogeneity with other surface heterogeneities, with a few regions showing decreased soil moisture heterogeneity mainly because of the combined effect of subsurface lateral flow and soil texture heterogeneity. This study suggests that soil texture heterogeneity does not necessarily interact synergistically with physical processes (e.g., subsurface lateral flow) for increasing soil moisture heterogeneity, although they can increase the heterogeneity separately.</p>

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