Abstract
A reliable prediction of hydrograph responses in mountainous headwater catchments requires a mechanistic understanding of the coupled hydro-climatic processes in these regions. This study shows that only a small fraction of the total area in a pre-Alpine headwater catchment actively regulates streamflow responses to hydro-climatic forcing, which facilitates the application of a parsimonious framework for hydrograph time-series prediction. Based on landscape analysis and hydrometric data from the Upper Rietholzbach catchment (URHB, 0.94 km2, northeast Switzerland), a conceptual model was established. Here, the rainfall-event-driven contribution of surface runoff and subsurface flow (event flow) accounts for around 50 % of total river discharge. The event-flow hydrograph is generated from approximately 25 % of the entire area consisting of riparian zones (8 %) and adjacent hillslopes (17 %), each with characteristic streamflow-generating mechanisms. Baseflow generation is attributed to deep groundwater discharge from a fractured-rock aquifer covering ∼75 % of the catchment area. A minimalistic model, that represents event flow as depletion of two parallel linear reservoirs, verified the conceptual model of the URHB with adequate hydrograph simulations (R 2 = 0.67, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) = 0.64). Hereby, the expansion of the event-flow contributing areas was found to be particularly significant during long and high-intensity rainfall events. These findings provide a generalized approach for the large-scale characterization of groundwater recharge and hydrological behavior of mountainous catchments with similar landscape properties.
Résumé
Une prédiction fiable des réponses hydrologiques dans les bassins versants amont de montagne nécessite une appréhension mécaniste des processus couplés hydroclimatiques dans ces régions. La présente étude montre que seule une petite fraction de la surface totale d’un bassin versant amont des Préalpes régule activement les réponses de l’écoulement au forçage hydro-climatique, ce qui rend possible l’utilisation d’un cadre parcimonieux pour la prédiction des chroniques hydrologiques. Sur la base d’une analyse du paysage et des données hydrométriques relatives au bassin versant du Haut Rietholzbach (HRHB, 0.94 km2, Nord Est de la Suisse) un modèle conceptuel a été élaboré. Ici la contribution du ruissellement de surface et de l’écoulement de subsurface (l’évènement hydrologique), induite par un évènement pluvieux, atteint environ 50 % du débit total de la rivière. L’hydrogramme en réponse à un événement pluvieux est généré par environ 25 % de la surface totale, qui comprend les zones riveraines du cours d’eau (8 %) et les versants adjacents (17 %), chacun ayant des mécanismes spécifiques de génération de l’écoulement. La génération de l’écoulement de base est attribuée à la décharge des eaux souterraines profondes depuis un aquifère de roches fracturées couvrant à peu près 75 % du bassin versant. Un modèle minimaliste, qui représente l’évènement hydrologique comme la vidange de deux réservoirs en parallèle à réponse linéaire, conforte le modèle conceptuel du HRHB, avec des simulations hydrologiques satisfaisantes (R 2 = 0.67, coefficient d’efficacité Nash-Sutcliffe (CENS) = 0.64). En l’espèce, l’extension des zones contribuant à la réponse hydrologique à un événement pluvieux s’est trouvée être particulièrement importante pendant les évènements pluvieux de longue durée et de forte intensité. Ces conclusions conduisent à une approche généralisée de la caractérisation à grande échelle de la recharge des eaux souterraines et du comportement hydrologique des bassins versants de montagne présentant des propriétés paysagères similaires.
Resumen
Una predicción confiable de la respuesta de los hidrogramas en las cabeceras de cuencas montañosas requiere una comprensión de la mecánica de los procesos hidroclimáticos acoplados en estas regiones. Este estudio muestra que sólo una pequeña fracción del área total en la cabecera de una cuenca prealpina regula activamente las respuestas de los caudales a las forzantes hidroclimáticas, lo cual facilita la aplicación de una estructura parsimoniosa para la predicción de hidrogramas de series temporales. Se estableció un modelo conceptual en base al análisis del paisaje y a los datos hidrométricos de la cuenca superior de Rietholzbach (URHB, 0.94 km2, noreste de Suiza). En este caso, la contribución del evento de lluvia al flujo superficial y subsuperficial (flujo del evento) representa alrededor del 50 % de la descarga total del río. El hidrograma del flujo de la crecida se genera a partir de aproximadamente el 25 % de toda el área que comprende zonas riparianas (8 %) y ladera adyacentes (17 %), cada una con mecanismos generadores de caudales característicos. La generación del flujo de base se atribuye a la descarga de agua subterránea profunda a un acuífero de roca fracturada que cubre ∼75 % del área de la cuenca. Un modelo minimalista, que representa el flujo de la crecida como un agotamiento de dos reservorios lineares paralelos, verificó el modelo conceptual de la URHB con simulaciónes adecuadas de hidrogramas (R 2 = 0.67, eficiencia de Nash-Sutcliffe (NSE) = 0.64). Por esto, se encontró que la expansión de las aéreas de contribución del evento de crecida resultó particularmente significativa durante eventos largos y de alta intensidad de la precipitación. Estos resultados proporcionan un enfoque generalizado para la caracterización a gran escala de la recarga de agua subterránea y el comportamiento hidrológico de cuencas montañosos con propiedades similares de paisaje.
摘要
山区源头流域水位图响应的可靠预测需要机械理解这些地区的耦合水文气候过程。这项研究显示,阿尔卑斯山前流域内整个地区只有很小一部分积极地调控河流对水文气候的响应,而水文气候强迫性促进了水文图时间序列预测质量较差框架的应用。在Rietholzbach上游流域(瑞士东北部0.94 km2)测定比重资料和地形分析的基础上,建立了一个概念模型。在模型里,降雨事件驱动的地表水径流和潜流(事件流)贡献率占整个河流排泄量的大约50 %。事件流水文图依靠整个地区大约25 %的地区生成的,这25 %的地区包括河岸带(8 %)和毗连的山坡(17 %),每个地区都具特有的河流生成机理。基流的生成归因于覆盖流域区75%的断裂岩层含水层的深层地下水排泄。一个展现两个平行线性储水地枯竭的事件流简约模型采用适当的水文图预测结果(R 2 = 0.67,Nash-Sutcliffe效率 (NSE) =0.64)验证了Rietholzbach上游流域的概念模型。据此,发现事件流贡献区的扩张在长时间和高强度的降雨事件期间特别重要。这些发现为大尺度描述具有类似地形特性的山区流域的地下水补给和水文特征提供了一个广义上的方法。
Resumo
Uma predição confiável das respostas em hidrograma nas partes superiores das bacias hidrográficas em zonas montanhosas requer, nestas regiões, uma compreensão mecanicista dos processos hidroclimáticos acoplados. Este estudo mostra que somente uma pequena fração da área total da parte superior de uma bacia hidrográfica pré-Alpina regula ativamente as respostas do escoamento fluvial à imposição hidroclimática, o que facilita a aplicação de um esquema simples para a predição de hidrogramas de séries de tempo. Foi estabelecido um modelo concetual com base na análise da paisagem e em dados hidrométricos da bacia superior do Rietholzbach (URHB, 0.94 km2, nordeste da Suíça). Aqui, a contribuição do evento induzido pela precipitação no escoamento superficial e subsuperficial (evento de escoamento) é responsável por cerca de 50 % do escoamento fluvial total. O hidrograma do evento de escoamento é gerado a partir de aproximadamente 25 % da área total, consistindo das zonas ripícolas (8 %) e das vertentes adjacentes (17 %), cada uma com os seus mecanismos de geração de escoamento fluvial caraterísticos. O caudal de base é atribuído à descarga de água subterrânea profunda de um aquífero fraturado que cobre ∼75 % da área da bacia. Um modelo minimalista, que representa o evento de escoamento como o esvaziamento de dois reservatórios lineares paralelos, confirmou o modelo concetual da URHB, através de adequadas simulaçãoes do hidrograma (R 2 = 0.67, coeficiente de eficiência de Nash-Sutcliffe (NSE) = 0.64). Desta forma, descobriu-se que a expansão das áreas contribuintes para eventos de escoamento era particularmente significativa quando ocorriam eventos pluviosos prolongados e de alta intensidade. Estes resultados proporcionam uma abordagem generalizada para a caraterização em grande escala da recarga da água subterrânea e do comportamento hidrológico de bacias hidrográficas de montanha com propriedades de paisagem similares.
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Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF, Projects No. 200021_129735 and 200020_143688). Additional financial support was provided by the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability (CCES) of the ETH domain in the framework of the RECORD—Assessment and Modeling of Coupled Ecological and Hydrological Dynamics in the Restored Corridor of a River (Restored Corridor Dynamics)—and RECORD Catchment projects. Parts of the data analysis and modeling were completed in collaboration with P.S.C. Rao while the first author (J. v. Freyberg) was at Purdue University, and supported, in part, by the Lee A. Reith Endowment in the Lyle School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University. We would like to thank S. Basso, B. Doulatyari, H. Gall, B. Kianfar, I. Lehner, R. Mégroz, A. Raffainer and C. Wigger for their support during fieldwork and data analysis. The group of S. Seneviratne (Land-Climate-Dynamics), Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (IAC), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) provided data from the meteorological station Büel (lysimeter seepage, rainfall, evapotranspiration) and gauging station Upper Rietholzbach (URHB).
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von Freyberg, J., Rao, P.S.C., Radny, D. et al. The impact of hillslope groundwater dynamics and landscape functioning in event-flow generation: a field study in the Rietholzbach catchment, Switzerland. Hydrogeol J 23, 935–948 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1238-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1238-1