scholarly journals Factors influencing stream water transit times in tropical montane watersheds

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 10975-11011 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Muñoz-Villers ◽  
D. R. Geissert ◽  
F. Holwerda ◽  
J. J. McDonnell
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Retention Characteristics

Abstract. Stream water mean transit time (MTT) is a fundamental hydrologic parameter that integrates the distribution of sources, flow paths and storages present in catchments. However, in the tropics little MTT work has been carried out, despite its usefulness for providing important information on watershed functioning at different spatial scales in (largely) ungauged basins. In particular, very few studies have quantified stream MTTs and related to catchment characteristics in tropical montane regions. Here we examined topographic, land use/cover and soil hydraulic controls on baseflow transit times for nested watersheds (0.1–34 km2) within a humid mountainous region, underlain by volcanic soil (Andisols) in central Veracruz (eastern Mexico). We used a 2 year record of bi-weekly isotopic composition of precipitation and stream baseflow data to estimate MTT. Land use/cover and topographic parameters (catchment area and form, drainage density, slope gradient and length) were derived from GIS analysis. Soil water retention characteristics, and depth and permeability of the soil–bedrock interface were obtained from intensive field measurements and laboratory analysis. Results showed that baseflow MTT ranged between 1.2 and 2.7 years across the 12 study catchments. Overall, MTTs across scales were mainly controlled by catchment slope and the permeability observed at the soil–bedrock interface. In association with topography, catchment form, land cover and the depth to the soil–bedrock interface were also identified as important features influencing baseflow MTTs. The greatest differences in MTTs were found at the smallest (0.1–1.5 km2) and the largest scales (14–34 km2). Interestingly, longest stream MTTs were found in the headwater cloud forest catchments.

scholarly journals Factors influencing stream baseflow transit times in tropical montane watersheds

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1621-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyssette E. Muñoz-Villers ◽  
Daniel R. Geissert ◽  
Friso Holwerda ◽  
Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Retention Characteristics

Abstract. Stream water mean transit time (MTT) is a fundamental hydrologic parameter that integrates the distribution of sources, flow paths, and storages present in catchments. However, in the tropics little MTT work has been carried out, despite its usefulness for providing important information on watershed functioning at different spatial scales in (largely) ungauged basins. In particular, very few studies have quantified stream MTTs or have related these to catchment characteristics in tropical montane regions. Here we examined topographic, land use/cover and soil hydraulic controls on baseflow transit times for nested catchments (0.1–34 km2) within a humid mountainous region, underlain by volcanic soil (Andisols) in central Veracruz (eastern Mexico). We used a 2-year record of bi-weekly isotopic composition of precipitation and stream baseflow data to estimate MTT. Land use/cover and topographic parameters (catchment area and form, drainage density, slope gradient and length) were derived from geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Soil water retention characteristics, and depth and permeability of the soil–bedrock interface were obtained from intensive field measurements and laboratory analysis. Results showed that baseflow MTTs ranged between 1.2 and 2.7 years across the 12 study catchments. Overall, MTTs across scales were mainly controlled by catchment slope and the permeability observed at the soil–bedrock interface. In association with topography, catchment form and the depth to the soil–bedrock interface were also identified as important features influencing baseflow MTTs. The greatest differences in MTTs were found both within groups of small (0.1–1.5 km2) and large (14–34 km2) catchments. Interestingly, the longest stream MTTs were found in the headwater cloud forest catchments.

scholarly journals Mean transit times in headwater catchments: insights from the Otway Ranges, Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 635-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Howcroft ◽  
Ian Cartwright ◽  
Uwe Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Southeastern Australia ◽  
Lumped Parameter ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Major Ion Geochemistry

Abstract. Understanding the timescales of water flow through catchments and the sources of stream water at different flow conditions is critical for understanding catchment behaviour and managing water resources. Here, tritium (3H) activities, major ion geochemistry and streamflow data were used in conjunction with lumped parameter models (LPMs) to investigate mean transit times (MTTs) and the stores of water in six headwater catchments in the Otway Ranges of southeastern Australia. 3H activities of stream water ranged from 0.20 to 2.14 TU, which are significantly lower than the annual average 3H activity of modern local rainfall, which is between 2.4 and 3.2 TU. The 3H activities of the stream water are lowest during low summer flows and increase with increasing streamflow. The concentrations of most major ions vary little with streamflow, which together with the low 3H activities imply that there is no significant direct input of recent rainfall at the streamflows sampled in this study. Instead, shallow younger water stores in the soils and regolith are most likely mobilised during the wetter months. MTTs vary from approximately 7 to 230 years. Despite uncertainties of several years in the MTTs that arise from having to assume an appropriate LPM, macroscopic mixing, and uncertainties in the 3H activities of rainfall, the conclusion that they range from years to decades is robust. Additionally, the relative differences in MTTs at different streamflows in the same catchment are estimated with more certainty. The MTTs in these and similar headwater catchments in southeastern Australia are longer than in many catchments globally. These differences may reflect the relatively low rainfall and high evapotranspiration rates in southeastern Australia compared with headwater catchments elsewhere. The long MTTs imply that there is a long-lived store of water in these catchments that can sustain the streams over drought periods lasting several years. However, the catchments are likely to be vulnerable to decadal changes in land use or climate. Additionally, there may be considerable delay in contaminants reaching the stream. An increase in nitrate and sulfate concentrations in several catchments at high streamflows may represent the input of contaminants through the shallow groundwater that contributes to streamflow during the wetter months. Poor correlations between 3H activities and catchment area, drainage density, land use, and average slope imply that the MTTs are not controlled by a single parameter but a variety of factors, including catchment geomorphology and the hydraulic properties of the soils and aquifers.

scholarly journals Assessment of hydrological pathways in East African montane catchments under different land use

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4981-5000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne R. Jacobs ◽  
Edison Timbe ◽  
Björn Weeser ◽  
Mariana C. Rufino ◽  
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Smallholder Agriculture ◽  
Tea Plantation ◽  
Water Fraction ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Water Isotope

Abstract. Conversion of natural forest (NF) to other land uses could lead to significant changes in catchment hydrology, but the nature of these changes has been insufficiently investigated in tropical montane catchments, especially in Africa. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to identify stream water (RV) sources and flow paths in three tropical montane sub-catchments (27–36 km2) with different land use (natural forest, NF; smallholder agriculture, SHA; and commercial tea and tree plantations, TTP) within a 1021 km2 catchment in the Mau Forest complex, Kenya. Weekly samples were collected from stream water, precipitation (PC) and mobile soil water for 75 weeks and analysed for stable isotopes of water (δ2H and δ18O) for mean transit time (MTT) estimation with two lumped parameter models (gamma model, GM; and exponential piston flow model, EPM) and for the calculation of the young water fraction. Weekly samples from stream water and potential endmembers were collected over a period of 55 weeks and analysed for Li, Na, Mg, K, Rb, Sr and Ba for endmember mixing analysis (EMMA). Solute concentrations in precipitation were lower than in stream water in all catchments (p < 0.05), whereas concentrations in springs, shallow wells and wetlands were generally more similar to stream water. The stream water isotope signal was considerably damped compared to the isotope signal in precipitation. Mean transit time analysis suggested long transit times for stream water (up to 4 years) in the three sub-catchments, but model efficiencies were very low. The young water fraction ranged from 13 % in the smallholder agriculture sub-catchment to 15 % in the tea plantation sub-catchment. Mean transit times of mobile soil water ranged from 3.2–3.3 weeks in forest soils and 4.5–7.9 weeks in pasture soils at 15 cm depth to 10.4–10.8 weeks in pasture soils at 50 cm depth. The contribution of springs and wetlands to stream discharge increased from a median of 16.5 (95 % confidence interval: 11.3–22.9), 2.1 (−3.0–24.2) and 50.2 (30.5–65.5) % during low flow to 20.7 (15.2–34.7), 53.0 (23.0–91.3) and 69.4 (43.0–123.9) % during high flow in the natural forest, smallholder agriculture and tea plantation sub-catchments, respectively. Our results indicate that groundwater is an important component of stream water, irrespective of land use. The results further suggest that the selected transit time models and tracers might not be appropriate in tropical catchments with highly damped stream water isotope signatures. A more in-depth investigation of the discharge dependence of the young water fraction and transit time estimation using other tracers, such as tritium, could therefore shed more light on potential land use effects on the hydrological behaviour of tropical montane catchments.

Understanding the sources and transit times of water contributing streamflow from intermittent headwater catchments in semi-arid areas

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shovon Barua ◽  
Ian Cartwright ◽  
Edoardo Daly ◽  
Uwe Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Stream Health ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Semi Arid

&lt;p&gt;Intermittent headwater catchments constitute a significant proportion of many stream networks. In semi-arid climates, intermittent headwater streams flow only following periods of sustained rainfall. There is commonly a rapid response of streamflow to rainfall; however, whether this is the input of recent rainfall or displacement of water stored in the catchments for several years is not well known. Understanding the sources and transit times of water that contribute to streamflow is important for the maintenance of stream health and predicting the response of land-use changes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The study focuses on two intermittent streams from two contrasting land-use (pasture and forest) in southeast Australia. The native eucalyptus forests in this region were originally cleared for grazing following European settlement &lt;sup&gt;~&lt;/sup&gt;180 years ago and then partially replaced by plantation in the last &lt;sup&gt;~&lt;/sup&gt;15 years. Stream water and groundwater from the riparian zone adjacent to the streams were sampled between May and October 2018.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The stream water has &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H activities of 1.30 to 3.17 TU in the pasture and 1.84 to 3.99 TU in the forest, with higher activities recorded during the higher winter flows. Groundwater from the riparian zone has &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H activities of 0.16 to 0.79 TU in the pasture and 2.01 to 4.10 TU in the forest. Aside from one riparian zone groundwater sample, all &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H activities of groundwater in the riparian zone are lower than those of recent local rainfall (&lt;sup&gt;~&lt;/sup&gt;2.79 TU). The single high &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H activity in riparian zone possibly reflects recharge by winter rainfall with higher &lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;H activities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The mean transit times (MTTs) of water were estimated using a range of tracer lumped parameter models. The riparian zone groundwater has greater MTTs of hundreds of years in the pasture and up to 9 years in the forest. At high streamflow, the stream water has MTTs of &lt;6 years in the pasture and the forest. The MTTs of stream water at low streamflow vary from 15 to 42 years in the pasture and from 3 to 16 years in the forest. The long MTTs of water from streams indicate that the source water is not just recent rainfall, rather water stored in the riparian zone is mobilised at the commencement of flow and recent rainfall makes a larger contribution at higher flows. The observation is consistent with the major ion geochemistry of the stream water, which most closely represents that of the riparian zone groundwater. The differences in MTTs of stream water between two contrasting land-use imply that the streamflow has been being most likely impacted by land-use changes. Thus, it is necessary to improve the strategies for catchment management to protect stream health from land-use practices.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Land use alters dominant water sources and flow paths in tropical montane catchments in East Africa

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne R. Jacobs ◽  
Edison Timbe ◽  
Björn Weeser ◽  
Mariana C. Rufino ◽  
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Smallholder Agriculture ◽  
Catchment Hydrology ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Tea Plantation

Abstract. Conversion of natural forest to other land uses could lead to significant changes in catchment hydrology, but the nature of these changes has been insufficiently investigated in tropical montane catchments, especially in Africa. To address this knowledge gap, we identified stream water sources and flow paths in three tropical montane sub-catchments (27–36 km2) with different land use (natural forest, smallholder agriculture and commercial tea plantations) within a 1 021 km2 catchment in the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya. Weekly samples were collected from stream water, precipitation and soil water for 75 weeks and analysed for stable water isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) for mean transit time estimation, whereas trace element samples from stream water and potential end members were collected over a period of 55 weeks for end member mixing analysis. Stream water mean transit time was similar (~ 4 years) in the three sub-catchments, and ranged from 3.2–3.3 weeks in forest soils and 4.5–7.9 weeks in pasture soils at 15 cm depth to 10.4–10.8 weeks in pasture soils at 50 cm depth. The contribution of springs and wetlands to stream discharge increased from 18, 1 and 48 % during low flow to 22, 51 and 65 % during high flow in the natural forest, smallholder agriculture and tea plantation sub-catchments, respectively. The dominant stream water source in the tea plantation sub-catchment was spring water (56 %), while precipitation was dominant in the smallholder agriculture (59 %) and natural forest (45 %) sub-catchments. These results confirm that catchment hydrology is strongly influenced by land use, which could have serious consequences for water-related ecosystem services, such as provision of clean water.

scholarly journals Transit times from rainfall to baseflow in headwater catchments estimated using tritium: the Ovens River, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 3771-3785 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Cartwright ◽  
U. Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Transit Time ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Transit Times

Abstract. Headwater streams contribute a significant proportion of the total flow to many river systems, especially during summer low-flow periods. However, despite their importance, the time taken for water to travel through headwater catchments and into the streams (the transit time) is poorly understood. Here, 3H activities of stream water are used to define transit times of water contributing to streams from the upper reaches of the Ovens River in south-east Australia at varying flow conditions. 3H activities of the stream water varied from 1.63 to 2.45 TU, which are below the average 3H activity of modern local rainfall (2.85 to 2.99 TU). The highest 3H activities were recorded following higher winter flows and the lowest 3H activities were recorded at summer low-flow conditions. Variations of major ion concentrations and 3H activities with streamflow imply that different stores of water from within the catchment (e.g. from the soil or regolith) are mobilised during rainfall events rather than there being simple dilution of an older groundwater component by event water. Mean transit times calculated using an exponential-piston flow model range from 4 to 30 years and are higher at summer low-flow conditions. Mean transit times calculated using other flow models (e.g. exponential flow or dispersion) are similar. There are broad correlations between 3H activities and the percentage of rainfall exported from each catchment and between 3H activities and Na and Cl concentrations that allow first-order estimates of mean transit times in adjacent catchments or at different times in these catchments to be made. Water from the upper Ovens River has similar mean transit times to the headwater streams implying there is no significant input of old water from the alluvial gravels. The observation that the water contributing to the headwater streams in the Ovens catchment has a mean transit time of years to decades implies that these streams are buffered against rainfall variations on timescales of a few years. However, impacts of any changes to land use in these catchments may take years to decades to manifest themselves in changes to streamflow or water quality.

scholarly journals Importance of vegetation, topography and flow paths for water transit times of base flow in alpine headwater catchments

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1661-1679 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Mueller ◽  
R. Weingartner ◽  
C. Alewell
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Transit Times

Abstract. The mean transit time (MTT) of water in a catchment gives information about storage, flow paths, sources of water and thus also about retention and release of solutes in a catchment. To our knowledge there are only a few catchment studies on the influence of vegetation cover changes on base flow MTTs. The main changes in vegetation cover in the Swiss Alps are massive shrub encroachment and forest expansion into formerly open habitats. Four small and relatively steep headwater catchments in the Swiss Alps (Ursern Valley) were investigated to relate different vegetation cover to water transit times. Time series of water stable isotopes were used to calculate MTTs. The high temporal variation of the stable isotope signals in precipitation was strongly dampened in stream base flow samples. MTTs of the four catchments were 70 to 102 weeks. The strong dampening of the stable isotope input signal as well as stream water geochemistry points to deeper flow paths and mixing of waters of different ages at the catchments' outlets. MTTs were neither related to topographic indices nor vegetation cover. The major part of the quickly infiltrating precipitation likely percolates through fractured and partially karstified deeper rock zones, which increases the control of bedrock flow paths on MTT. Snow accumulation and the timing of its melt play an important role for stable isotope dynamics during spring and early summer. We conclude that, in mountainous headwater catchments with relatively shallow soil layers, the hydrogeological and geochemical patterns (i.e. geochemistry, porosity and hydraulic conductivity of rocks) and snow dynamics influence storage, mixing and release of water in a stronger way than vegetation cover or topography do.

scholarly journals Transit times from rainfall to baseflow in headwater catchments estimated using tritium: the Ovens River, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 5427-5463 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Cartwright ◽  
U. Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Transit Time ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Transit Times

Abstract. Headwater streams contribute a significant proportion of the total flow to many river systems, especially during summer low-flow periods. However, despite their importance, the time taken for water to travel through headwater catchments and into the streams (the transit time) is poorly constrained. Here, 3H activities of stream water are used to define transit times of water contributing to streams from the upper reaches of the Ovens River in southeast Australia at varying flow conditions. 3H activities of the stream water varied from 1.63 to 2.45 TU, which are below the average 3H activity of modern local rainfall (~3 TU). The highest 3H activities were recorded following higher winter flows and the lowest 3H activities were recorded at summer low-flow conditions. Variations of major ion concentrations and 3H activities with streamflow imply that different stores of water from within the catchment (e.g. from the soil or regolith) are mobilised during rainfall events rather than there being simple dilution of an older groundwater component by event water. Mean transit times calculated using an exponential-piston flow model range between 5 and 31 years and are higher at summer low-flow conditions. Mean transit times calculated using other flow models (e.g. exponential flow or dispersion) are similar. There are broad correlations between 3H activities and the percentage of rainfall exported from each catchment and between 3H activities and Na and Cl concentrations that allow first-order estimates of mean transit times in adjacent catchments or at different times in these catchments to be made. Water from the upper Ovens River has similar mean transit times to the headwater streams implying there is no significant input of old water from the alluvial gravels. The observation that the water contributing to the headwater streams in the Ovens catchment has a mean transit time of years to decades implies that these streams are buffered against rainfall variations on timescales of a few years. However, impacts of any changes to landuse in these catchments may take years to decades to manifest itself in changes to streamflow or water quality.

scholarly journals Impact of Land Use on Stream Water Quality in the German Low Mountain Range Basin Gersprenz

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Schmalz ◽  
Marion Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
Hydrological Data ◽  
Comprehensive Management

Knowledge of the interactions of hydrological processes with the landscape are important to understand variations in basic hydrological data for the comprehensive management of basins. Land cover and land use is one essential factor in the assessment of such management problems. In this study in a representative German basin, available land cover and land use data is analysed in correspondence with available hydrological measuring data.The aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between hydrological data and land use and to obtain a monitoring strategy which allows a valuable support to a comprehensive management of river basins.Two spatial scales, the basin Gersprenz and its subbasin Fischbach, are described in detail regarding the variations in electrical conductivity (EC) as a parameter of water quality with high resolution field data from the state-wide monitoring network (12 stations) as well as from own research monitoring (12 stations). The results show that water quality, using EC as an indicator, can be related to land use pattern. From stream source to mouth, there is an increase in anthropogenic impacts and the EC values show an increasing tendency in downstream direction. This anthropogenic impact is due to agricultural use, settlements, commerce and industry areas, and discharges of waste water. The hydrological monitoring will be continued in the future to give the possibility to assess long-term variations on different spatial and temporal scales.

scholarly journals Dating of streamwater using tritium in a post-bomb world: continuous variation of mean transit time with streamflow

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 4731-4760 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Morgenstern ◽  
M. K. Stewart ◽  
R. Stenger
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mean Transit Time ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Transit Times ◽  
Bomb Test ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. Tritium measurements of streamwater draining the Toenepi catchment, a small dairy farming area in Waikato, New Zealand, have shown that the mean transit time of the water varies with the flow of the stream. Mean transit times through the catchment are 2–5 years during high baseflow conditions (in winter), becoming older as streamflow decreases (in summer), and then quite dramatically older during drought conditions, with ages of more than 100 years. Older water seems to be gained in the lower reaches of the stream, compared to younger water in the headwater catchment. The groundwater store supplying baseflow was estimated from the mean transit time and average baseflow to be 15.4×106 m3 of water, about 1 m water equivalent over the catchment and 2.3 times total annual streamflow. Nitrate from recent intensified land use is relatively high at normal streamflow, but is low at times of low flow with old water. This reflects both lower nitrate loading in the catchment several decades ago, and active denitrification processes in older groundwater. Silica, leached from the aquifer material and accumulating in the water in proportion to contact time, is high at times of low streamflow. There was a good correlation between silica and streamwater age, which potentially allows silica concentrations to be used as a proxy for age when calibrated by tritium measurements. This study shows that tritium dating of stream water is possible with single tritium measurements now that bomb-test tritium has effectively disappeared from hydrological systems in New Zealand, without the need for time-series data.

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