scholarly journals Identification of runoff formation with two dyes in a mid-latitude mountain headwater

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 3025-3040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Vlček ◽  
Kristýna Falátková ◽  
Philipp Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Peat Bog ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Tree Roots ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Runoff Formation ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths

Abstract. Subsurface flow in peat bog areas and its role in the hydrologic cycle has garnered increased attention as water scarcity and floods have increased due to a changing climate. In order to further probe the mechanisms in peat bog areas and contextualize them at the catchment scale, this experimental study identifies runoff formation at two opposite hillslopes in a peaty mountain headwater; a slope with organic peat soils and a shallow phreatic zone (0.5 m below surface), and a slope with mineral Podzol soils and no detectable groundwater (> 2 m below surface). Similarities and differences in infiltration, percolation and preferential flow paths between both hillslopes could be identified by sprinkling experiments with Brilliant Blue and Fluorescein sodium. To our knowledge, this is the first time these two dyes have been compared in their ability to stain preferential flow paths in soils. Dye-stained soil profiles within and downstream of the sprinkling areas were excavated parallel (lateral profiles) and perpendicular (frontal profiles) to the slopes' gradients. That way preferential flow patterns in the soil could be clearly identified. The results show that biomat flow, shallow subsurface flow in the organic topsoil layer, occurred at both hillslopes; however, at the peat bog hillslope it was significantly more prominent. The dye solutions infiltrated into the soil and continued either as lateral subsurface pipe flow in the case of the peat bog, or percolated vertically towards the bedrock in the case of the Podzol. This study provides evidence that subsurface pipe flow, lateral preferential flow along decomposed tree roots or logs in the unsaturated zone, is a major runoff formation process at the peat bog hillslope and in the adjacent riparian zone.

scholarly journals Identification of runoff formation with two dyes in a mid-latitude mountain headwater

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukáš Vlček ◽  
Philipp Schneider ◽  
Kristýna Falátková
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Sodium Fluorescein ◽  
Peat Bog ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Tree Roots ◽  
Runoff Formation ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Preferential Flowpaths

Abstract. Subsurface flow in Peat Bog areas and its role in the hydrological cycle has garnered increased attention as water scarcity and floods have increased due to a changing climate. In order to further probe the mechanisms in Peat Bog areas and contextualize them at the catchment scale, this experimental study identifies runoff formation at two opposite hillslopes in a peaty mountain headwater; a slope with organic Peat soils and a shallow phreatic zone (0.5 m below surface) and a slope with mineral Podzol soils and no detectable groundwater (> 2 m below surface). Similarities and differences in infiltration, percolation, and preferential flowpaths between both hillslopes could be identified by sprinkling experiments with Brilliant Blue and Sodium-Fluorescein. To our knowledge, this is the first time these two dyes have been compared in their ability to stain preferential flowpaths in soils. Dye-stained soil profiles within and downstream of the sprinkling areas were excavated parallel (lateral profiles) and perpendicular (frontal profiles) to the slopes' gradients. That way preferential flow patterns in the soil could be clearly identified. The results show that biomat flow, shallow subsurface flow in the organic topsoil layer, occurred at both hillslopes, however at the Peat Bog hillslope it was significantly more prominent. The dye solutions infiltrated into the soil and continued either as lateral subsurface pipeflow in the case of the Peat Bog, or percolated vertically towards the bedrock in the case of the Podzol. This study provides evidence that subsurface pipeflow, lateral preferential flow along decomposed tree roots or logs in the unsaturated zone, is a major runoff formation process at the Peat Bog hillslope and in the adjacent riparian zone.

scholarly journals Form and function in hillslope hydrology: characterization of subsurface flow based on response observations

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 3727-3748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Angermann ◽  
Conrad Jackisch ◽  
Niklas Allroggen ◽  
Matthias Sprenger ◽  
Erwin Zehe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
And Function

Abstract. The phrase form and function was established in architecture and biology and refers to the idea that form and functionality are closely correlated, influence each other, and co-evolve. We suggest transferring this idea to hydrological systems to separate and analyze their two main characteristics: their form, which is equivalent to the spatial structure and static properties, and their function, equivalent to internal responses and hydrological behavior. While this approach is not particularly new to hydrological field research, we want to employ this concept to explicitly pursue the question of what information is most advantageous to understand a hydrological system. We applied this concept to subsurface flow within a hillslope, with a methodological focus on function: we conducted observations during a natural storm event and followed this with a hillslope-scale irrigation experiment. The results are used to infer hydrological processes of the monitored system. Based on these findings, the explanatory power and conclusiveness of the data are discussed. The measurements included basic hydrological monitoring methods, like piezometers, soil moisture, and discharge measurements. These were accompanied by isotope sampling and a novel application of 2-D time-lapse GPR (ground-penetrating radar). The main finding regarding the processes in the hillslope was that preferential flow paths were established quickly, despite unsaturated conditions. These flow paths also caused a detectable signal in the catchment response following a natural rainfall event, showing that these processes are relevant also at the catchment scale. Thus, we conclude that response observations (dynamics and patterns, i.e., indicators of function) were well suited to describing processes at the observational scale. Especially the use of 2-D time-lapse GPR measurements, providing detailed subsurface response patterns, as well as the combination of stream-centered and hillslope-centered approaches, allowed us to link processes and put them in a larger context. Transfer to other scales beyond observational scale and generalizations, however, rely on the knowledge of structures (form) and remain speculative. The complementary approach with a methodological focus on form (i.e., structure exploration) is presented and discussed in the companion paper by Jackisch et al.(2017).

scholarly journals The impact of soil development, rainfall intensity and vegetation complexity on subsurface flow paths along a glacial chronosequence of 10 millennia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Hartmann ◽  
Markus Weiler ◽  
Konrad Greinwald ◽  
Theresa Blume
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Landscape Evolution ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Hydrologic Processes ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Irrigation Intensity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Hydrologic processes play an important role in the hydro-pedo-geomorphological feedback cycle of landscape evolution. Soil properties and subsurface flow paths change over time, but due to lack of observations important hydrologic processes such as water flow paths are often not properly considered in soil and landscape evolution studies. We investigated the evolution of subsurface flow paths during landscape development in the calcareous glacier forefield at the Griessfirn in the Swiss Alps. While the main focus was on flow path evolution and the formation of preferential flow paths with soil development, we also looked at the impact of irrigation intensity and vegetation complexity (in what way does the vegetation complexity defined by degree of vegetation cover and functional diversity at each age class relate to subsurface structures and flow path initialization?). We chose four glacial moraines of different ages (110, 160, 4 900, and 13 500 years) and conducted dye tracer experiments with Brilliant Blue (4 g l−1) on three plots at each moraine. The three plots at each age class differed by their degree of vegetation complexity (low, medium, and high) and each was further divided into three equal subplots where dyed water was applied with three different irrigation intensities (20, 40, and 60 mm h−1) and an irrigation amount of 40 mm. Dye pattern characteristics in form of volume density and surface area density were derived by digital image analysis and compared via statistical analysis.Volume density was used to classify the observed dye patterns into specific flow type categories. The effect of soil formation and thus changing soil characteristics on flow types were investigated by the analysis of structural and textural parameters in form of grain size distribution, porosity, bulk density, and loss on ignition. A change in flow types with increasing moraine age was observed from a rather homogeneous matrix flow to heterogeneous matrix and finger flow. Along the soil chronosequence, a reduction in particle sizes and an ongoing vegetation development resulted in an accumulation of organic matter in the topsoil and an increase in water storage capacity (decrease in bulk density and increase in porosity). Differences in irrigation intensity only had an effect on flow types at the oldest moraine, where the frequency of finger flow decreased with increasing irrigation intensity. A relation between vegetation complexity and flow types was only observed at the older moraines, which had a dense vegetation cover. With increasing vegetation complexity the proportion of preferential flow paths in form of finger flow also increased.

Visualizing Preferential Flow Paths using Ammonium Carbonate and a pH Indicator

2002 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Wang ◽  
Jianhang Lu ◽  
Laosheng Wu ◽  
Thomas Harter ◽  
William A. Jury
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Ammonium Carbonate ◽  
Ph Indicator ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths

Equation for Describing Solute Transport in Field Soils with Preferential Flow Paths

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Jin Kim ◽  
Christophe J. G. Darnault ◽  
Nathan O. Bailey ◽  
J.-Yves Parlange ◽  
Tammo S. Steenhuis
Keyword(s):  
Solute Transport ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Field Soils

Dynamic Modeling of Channel Formation During Fluid Injection Into Unconsolidated Formations

SPE Journal ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 689-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.. Ameen ◽  
A. Dahi Taleghani
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Internal Erosion ◽  
Fluid Injection ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Stress Changes

Summary Injectivity loss is a common problem in unconsolidated-sand formations. Injection of water into a poorly cemented granular medium may lead to internal erosion, and consequently formation of preferential flow paths within the medium because of channelization. Channelization in the porous medium might occur when fluid-induced stresses become locally larger than a critical threshold and small grains are dislodged and carried away; hence, porosity and permeability of the medium will evolve along the induced flow paths. Vice versa, flowback during shut-in might carry particles back to the well and cause sand accumulation inside the well, and subsequently loss of injectivity. In most cases, to maintain the injection rate, operators will increase injection pressure and pumping power. The increased injection pressure results in stress changes and possibly further changes in channel patterns around the wellbore. Experimental laboratory studies have confirmed the presence of the transition from uniform Darcy flow to a fingered-pattern flow. To predict these phenomena, a model is needed to fill this gap by predicting the formation of preferential flow paths and their evolution. A model based on the multiphase-volume-fraction concept is used to decompose porosity into mobile and immobile porosities where phases may change spatially, evolve over time, and lead to development of erosional channels depending on injection rates, viscosity, and rock properties. This model will account for both particle release and suspension deposition. By use of this model, a methodology is proposed to derive model parameters from routine injection tests by inverse analysis. The proposed model presents the characteristic behavior of unconsolidated formation during fluid injection and the possible effect of injection parameters on downhole-permeability evolution.

Biofilm development and the dynamics of preferential flow paths in porous media

Biofouling ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1069-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Bottero ◽  
Tomas Storck ◽  
Timo J. Heimovaara ◽  
Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht ◽  
Michael V. Enzien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Biofilm Development

scholarly journals Liquid water infiltration into a layered snowpack: evaluation of a 3-D water transport model with laboratory experiments

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 5503-5515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Hirashima ◽  
Francesco Avanzi ◽  
Satoru Yamaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Water ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Capillary Barriers ◽  
Wet Snow

Abstract. The heterogeneous movement of liquid water through the snowpack during precipitation and snowmelt leads to complex liquid water distributions that are important for avalanche and runoff forecasting. We reproduced the formation of capillary barriers and the development of preferential flow through snow using a three-dimensional water transport model, which was then validated using laboratory experiments of liquid water infiltration into layered, initially dry snow. Three-dimensional simulations assumed the same column shape and size, grain size, snow density, and water input rate as the laboratory experiments. Model evaluation focused on the timing of water movement, thickness of the upper layer affected by ponding, water content profiles and wet snow fraction. Simulation results showed that the model reconstructs relevant features of capillary barriers, including ponding in the upper layer, preferential infiltration far from the interface, and the timing of liquid water arrival at the snow base. In contrast, the area of preferential flow paths was usually underestimated and consequently the averaged water content in areas characterized by preferential flow paths was also underestimated. Improving the representation of preferential infiltration into initially dry snow is necessary to reproduce the transition from a dry-snow-dominant condition to a wet-snow-dominant one, especially in long-period simulations.

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