Blume, T.; Achleitner, S.; Kohl, B.; Leese, F.; Hergarten , S.; Hopp, L.; Hartmann, A.; Reinhardt-Imjela, C. & van Meerveld, I. (2023.04.28). <b>Fast and Invisible: Conquering Subsurface Stormflow through an Interdisciplinary Multi-Site Approach</b>. Presented at EGU General Assembly , Vienna, Austria.
Resource Description
Title:
Fast and Invisible: Conquering Subsurface Stormflow through an Interdisciplinary Multi-Site Approach
FOR816dw ID:
380
Publication Date:
2023-04-28
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual:
T. Blume
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> lcrs.de
Individual:
Stefan Achleitner
Contact:
email:
Stefan.Achleitner <at> uibk.ac.at
University of Innsbruck
Arbeitsbereich für Wasserbau
Technikerstrasse 13
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
Individual:
Bernhard Kohl
Contact:
email:
bernhard.kohl <at> bfw.gv.at
BFW - Austrian Research Centre for Forests
Rennweg 1
Hofburg
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
Individual:
Florian Leese
Contact:
email:
florian.leese.ude <at> uni-due.de
University Duisburg-Essen
Fakultät für Biologie
Aquatische Ökosystemforschung
Universitätsstr. 5
45141 Essen
Individual:
Stefan Hergarten
Contact:
email:
stefan.hergarten <at> geologie.uni-freiburg.de
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Albertstr. 23B
79098 Freiburg
Germany
Individual:
L. Hopp
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> lcrs.de
Individual:
Andreas Hartmann
Contact:
email:
andreas.hartmann <at> tu-dresden.de
TU Dresden
Institute for Groundwater Management
Bergstraße 66
Neubau Chemie, Raum E 60
01069 Dresden
Germany
Individual:
Christian Reinhardt-Imjela
Contact:
email:
christian.reinhardt-imjela <at> fu-berlin.de
Freie Universitaet Berlin
Department of Geosciences
Institute for Geographical Sciences
Applied Physical Geography Environmental Hydrology and Resource Management
Malteserstraße 74-100
12249 Berlin
Germany
Individual:
Ilja van Meerveld
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> lcrs.de
Abstract:
Where does water go when it rains? Where are floods generated and how? What controls stream water quality during events? These questions are important to many fields from engineering and flood protection to water and ecosystem management and prediction of impacts of global change. The most elusive processes in the process-ensemble underlying these questions is subsurface stormflow (SSF), the fast event response triggered by lateral subsurface flow. SSF is prevalent and a more important process than generally accounted for because a basic understanding based on systematic studies across scales and sites is still lacking. However, only with systematic studies will it be possible to really advance our understanding by discovering general principles of SSF functioning and to provide protocols and best practices for its assessment, both experimentally and with respect to modelling.<br/>
<br/>
In many natural landscapes, SSF, i.e. any subsurface flow that occurs in response to a precipitation event, plays a major role in runoff generation: either by contributing directly to streamflow or by producing saturated areas or return flow, which then is the underlying cause of saturation excess overland flow. Therefore, much of what we see as event response in the hydrograph might be the direct or indirect result of SSF. It is likely that the discharge signal of SSF, including the indirectly triggered response in the stream, is larger than we generally assume. While its importance is probably largest in the headwaters, headwaters make up 70% of the stream network and greatly influence the supply and transport of water and solutes downstream. However, SSF is elusive and poorly accounted for as measurements are difficult for several reasons: the inaccessibility of the subsurface, the large spatial variability and heterogeneity, the variable sources and the fact that it is a threshold-driven process that only occurs during certain events. Thus, systematic studies of SSF are lacking, mainly due to difficulties of quantification.<br/>
<br/>
We suggest such a systematic study of SSF in different environments, across scales, and using a well-designed and replicated selection of approaches including novel approaches. This will be followed by a systematic evaluation of methods and possible proxies as well as model intercomparison, evaluation and improvement. Thereby, we will focus on 4 challenges: 1) Development of novel experimental methods,2) Spatial patterns of SSF, 3) Thresholds and cascading effects of SSF, 4) Impacts of SSF.<br/>
<br/>
Whereas standard single research projects investigate part of this puzzle at a specific location, this Research Unit provides the unique opportunity of fitting a large number of puzzle pieces together. This Research Unit will have a strong emphasis on experimental work in four contrasting catchments from the low to high mountain ranges (Sauerland, Ore Mountains, Black Forest, Alps) that then directly feeds into a collaborative modelling effort, which in turn influences experimental design in an iterative process.
