Field investigation of preferential fissure flow paths with hydrochemical analysis of small-scale sprinkling experiments
Abstract. The unsaturated zone largely controls groundwater recharge by buffering precipitation but at the same time providing preferential flow paths for infiltration. The importance of preferential flow on landslide hydrology is recognized in literature, but its monitoring and quantification remains difficult. This paper presents a combined hydrological and hydrochemical analysis of small-scale sprinkling experiments with the aim to show the potential of such experiments for studying the spatial differences in dominant hydrological processes within a landslide. This methodology was tested in the highly heterogeneous black marls of the Super-Sauze landslide. The tests were performed in three areas characterised by different displacement rates, surface morphology and local hydrological conditions. Special attention was given to test the potential of small-scale sprinkling experiments to identify and characterise preferential flow patterns and dominating hydrological processes.