scholarly journals Aspect and soil textural controls on snowmelt runoff on forested Boreal Plain hillslopes

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Redding ◽  
Kevin Devito
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Spring Snowmelt

Plot studies were conducted on a jack pine forest with sandy soil and aspen forests with sandy and loam soils to examine the controls of slope aspect, soil texture and fall soil moisture content on near-surface snowmelt runoff and infiltration. It was hypothesized that near-surface runoff would be greater from north-facing slopes on loam soils with increased fall soil moisture content. Fall soil moisture had no measurable effect on spring snowmelt runoff. Infiltration of snowmelt dominated (drainage coefficients 53–100%, median 87%) over near-surface runoff (runoff coefficients 1–65%, median 7%) for most plots. Runoff was related to concrete frost at the mineral soil surface. In contrast to the processes hypothesized, south-facing hillslopes with sandy soils generated greater runoff than north-facing slopes or sites with finer-textured soils. These results were due to greater concrete frost development resulting from periodic spring snowmelt and re-freezing in the upper soil. South-facing hillslopes with sandy soils featured lower canopy cover, allowing greater solar radiation to reach the snow surface which led to the formation of concrete frost and faster melt rates resulting in near-surface runoff. Where hillslopes are connected to receiving surface waters by continuous concrete frost, snowmelt runoff at the watershed scale may be enhanced.

scholarly journals Predicting rut depth induced by an 8-wheeled forwarder in fine-grained boreal forest soils

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jori Uusitalo ◽  
Jari Ala-Ilomäki ◽  
Harri Lindeman ◽  
Jenny Toivio ◽  
Matti Siren
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Forest Operations ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
Cumulative Mass

Abstract Key message Rut depth in fine-grained boreal soils induced by an 8-wheeled forwarder is best predicted with soil moisture content, cumulative mass of machine passes, bulk density and thickness of the humus layer. Context Forest machines are today very heavy and will cause serious damage to soil and prevent future growth if forest operations are carried out at the wrong time of the year. Forest operations performed during the wettest season should therefore be directed at coarse-grained soils that are not as prone to soil damage. Aims The study aimed at investigating the significance of the most important soil characteristics on rutting and developing models that can be utilized in predicting rutting prior to forest operations. Methods A set of wheeling tests on two fine-grained mineral soil stands in Southern Finland were performed. The wheeling experiments were conducted in three different periods of autumn in order to get the largest possible variation in moisture content. The test drives were carried out with an 8-wheeled forwarder. Results Soil moisture content is the most important factor affecting rut depth. Rut depth of an 8-wheeled forwarder in fine-grained boreal soil is best predicted with soil moisture content, cumulative mass of machine passes, bulk density and thickness of the humus layer. Conclusion The results emphasize the importance of moisture content on the risk of rutting in fine-grained mineral soils, especially with high moisture content values when soil saturation reaches 80%. The results indicate that it is of high importance that soil type and soil wetness can be predicted prior to forest operations.

Development of calibration algorithms for selected water content reflectometry probes for burned and non-burned organic soils of Alaska

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Bourgeau-Chavez ◽  
Gordon C. Garwood ◽  
Kevin Riordan ◽  
Benjamin W. Koziol ◽  
James Slawski
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Probe Type

Water content reflectometry is a method used by many commercial manufacturers of affordable sensors to electronically estimate soil moisture content. Field‐deployable and handheld water content reflectometry probes were used in a variety of organic soil‐profile types in Alaska. These probes were calibrated using 65 organic soil samples harvested from these burned and unburned, primarily moss‐dominated sites in the boreal forest. Probe output was compared with gravimetrically measured volumetric moisture content, to produce calibration algorithms for surface‐down‐inserted handheld probes in specific soil‐profile types, as well as field‐deployable horizontally inserted probes in specific organic soil horizons. General organic algorithms for each probe type were also developed. Calibrations are statistically compared to determine their suitability. The resulting calibrations showed good agreement with in situ validation and varied from the default mineral‐soil‐based calibrations by 20% or more. These results are of particular interest to researchers measuring soil moisture content with water content reflectometry probes in soils with high organic content.

scholarly journals Regime and dynamics of soil moisture in forest ecosystems of Záhorská lowland

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
L. Tužinský
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Atmospheric Precipitation ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
The Town ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Wilting Point

The paper describes the regime and dynamics of the soil moisture content of sandy soils in Záhorská lowland during different growing seasons. Research plots are situated near Kamenný mlyn, approximately 3 km from Plavecký Štvrtok and 8 km southward from the town of Malacky. Changes in the soil moisture content are described by soil moisture constants (MCC, PDA, WP) and its relation to atmospheric precipitation and to the character of undergrowth is shown. The low water-holding capacity of sandy soils and their high drainage together with dense root system do not allow the sufficient saturation of soil during the growing season. The low wilting point value (2%) leads to the consumption of all available water in the soil. The most frequent is the semiarid interval of soil moisture (PDA –WP) with reduced availability of water to plants (> pF 3.1). The arid interval (< WP) occurrence on hot summer days results in a decrease in transpiration and assimilation intensity of plants, their physiological weakening and premature fall of assimilation organs. 

scholarly journals Study on Variation of Surface Runoff and Soil Moisture Content in the Subgrade of Permeable Pavement Structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lijun Hou ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Fengchun Shen ◽  
Ming Lei ◽  
Xiang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Asphalt Pavement ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Flood Peak

The self-designed indoor simulated rainfall device was used to rain on five types of pavement structures with 4 types of rainfall intensity (2.5 mm/min, 3.4 mm/min, 4.6 mm/min, and 5.5 mm/min). The effect of rainfall intensity on the surface runoff, the relation between the subgrade soil moisture content changes, and the influence of initial soil water content on rain infiltration rate are studied. The test results show that the surface runoff coefficient of densely asphalted pavement is greater than 90% in drainage pavements and it has little influence on the reducing and hysteresis of the flood peak. The surface runoff coefficient of large-void asphalt pavement (permeable) is less than 40%. Although the large-void asphalt pavement (permeable) can reduce a small amount of surface runoff, it has no obvious effect on the reduction and hysteresis of the flood peak. In semipermeable pavement, with the increasing of the thickness of base (graded gravel), the surface runoff coefficient decreases at different rainfall intensities, parts of the surface runoff are reduced, and the arrival of flood peaks is delayed. In permeable roads, almost no surface runoff occurred. As time continued, the soil moisture content quickly reached a saturated state and presented a stable infiltration situation under the action of gravity and the gradient of soil water suction. As the initial moisture content increases, the initial infiltration rate decreases and the time to reach a stable infiltration rate becomes shorter. The drier the soil, the greater the initial infiltration rate and the higher the soil moisture content after infiltration stabilization. Permeable roads can greatly alleviate the pressure of urban drainage and reduce the risk of storms and floods.

scholarly journals Effects of soil‐moisture content on shallow‐seismic data

Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1357-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Jefferson ◽  
Don W. Steeples ◽  
Ross A. Black ◽  
Tim Carr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Moisture ◽  
Shallow Seismic ◽  
Unconsolidated Material ◽  
Moisture Conditions

Repeated shallow‐seismic experiments were conducted at a site on days with different near‐surface moisture conditions in unconsolidated material. Experimental field parameters remained constant to ensure comparability of results. Variations in the seismic data are attributed to the changes in soil‐moisture content of the unconsolidated material. Higher amplitudes of reflections and refractions were obtained under wetter near‐surface conditions. An increase in amplitude of 21 dB in the 100–300 Hz frequency range was observed when the moisture content increased from 18% to 36% in the upper 0.15 m (0.5 ft) of the subsurface. In the time‐domain records, highly saturated soil conditions caused large‐amplitude ringy wavelets that interfered with and degraded the appearance of some of the reflection information in the raw field data. This may indicate that an intermediate near‐surface moisture content is most conducive to the recording of high‐quality shallow‐seismic reflection data at this site. This study illustrates the drastic changes that can occur in shallow‐seismic data due to variations in near‐surface moisture conditions. These conditions may need to be considered to optimize the acquisition timing and parameters prior to collection of data.

scholarly journals Spatial-Temporal Simulations of Soil Moisture Content in a Large Basin of the Loess Plateau, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Zhiqi Wang ◽  
Xiaobo Feng ◽  
Zhihong Yao ◽  
Zhaolong Ma ◽  
Guodong Ji
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Basin Scale

Soil moisture is a crucial factor limiting the growth and survival of plants on the Loess Plateau. Its level has a severe impact on plants’ growth and development and the type and distribution characteristics of communities. This study area is the Jihe Basin in the Loess Plateau, China. Multiple linear regression models with different environmental variables (land use, topographic and meteorological factors, etc.) were developed to simulate soil moisture’s spatial and temporal changes by integrating field experiments, indoor analysis, and GIS spatial analysis. The model performances were evaluated in the Jihe Basin, with soil moisture content measurements. The result shows that soil moisture content is positively correlated with soil bulk density, monthly rainfall, topographic wetness index, land use coefficient, and slope aspect coefficient but negatively correlated with the monthly-averaged temperature and the relative elevation coefficient. The selected variables are all related to the soil moisture content and can account for 75% of the variations of soil moisture content, and the remaining 25% of the variations are related to other factors. Comparing the simulated and measured values at all sampling points shows that the average error of all the simulated values is 0.09, indicating that the simulation has high accuracy. The spatial distribution of soil moisture content is significantly affected by land use and topographic factors, and seasonal variation is remarkable in the year. Seasonal variation of soil moisture content is determined by the seasonal variation of rainfall and the air temperature (determining evaporation) and vegetation growth cycle. Therefore, the proposed model can simulate the spatial and temporal variation of soil moisture content and support developing the soil and water loss model on a basin scale.

GPS Multipath and Its Relation to Near-Surface Soil Moisture Content

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine M. Larson ◽  
John J. Braun ◽  
Eric E. Small ◽  
Valery U. Zavorotny ◽  
Ethan D. Gutmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Near Surface

Simulation of soil moisture and other components of the hydrological cycle using a water budget approach

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. O. Akinremi ◽  
S. M. McGinn ◽  
A. G. Barr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Drought Monitoring ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Modified Model

Accurate simulation of soil moisture content at any time of the year is important to agriculture in dry regions due to the vital role soil moisture plays in crop production. In certain applications such as drought monitoring, other components of the hydrologic cycle such as runoff, snowmelt runoff, deep drainage and evaporative loss must also be accurately estimated. The goal of this study was to develop a model which accurately accounts for the major components of the hydrological cycle in order to simulate soil moisture content for drought monitoring and crop yield prediction. The versatile soil moisture budget (VSMB) was evaluated and modified to improve the prediction of soil moisture content runoff from rainfall and snowmelt, drainage of moisture out of the root zone and soil surface temperature. The modified components of the model were independently tested and validated using field and published data. The soil moisture output from our modified model correlated well with observed changes in soil moisture during the growing season under wheat, fallow and over the winter. The moisture content of the surface layer was simulated with greater accuracy than that of deeper layers. The soil moisture simulated by the modified model compares better with measured values than that simulated using the original version of the VSMB. The simulation of snow dynamics at Lethbridge, a chinook-dominated region, gave credibility to the snowmelt runoff predicted by the model. Key words: Soil moisture, modelling, runoff, evapotranspiration, snowmelt, Canadian prairies

scholarly journals Hydrologic Flowpath Development Varies by Aspect during Spring Snowmelt in Complex Subalpine Terrain

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. Webb ◽  
Steven R. Fassnacht ◽  
Michael N. Gooseff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Spring Snowmelt ◽  
Preferential Flowpaths

Abstract. In many mountainous regions around the world, snow and soil moisture are key components of the hydrologic cycle. Preferential flowpaths of snowmelt water through snow have been known to occur for years with few studies observing the effect on soil moisture. In this study, statistical analysis of the topographical and hydrological controls on the spatio-temporal variability of snow water equivalent and soil moisture during snowmelt was undertaken at a subalpine forested setting with north, south, and flat aspects as a seasonally persistent snowpack melts. We investigated if preferential flowpaths in snow can be observed and the effect on soil moisture through measurements of snow water equivalent and near surface soil moisture in addition to observing how SWE and near surface soil moisture vary on hillslopes relative to the toes of hillslopes and flat areas. We then compared snowmelt infiltration beyond the near surface soil between flat and sloping terrain during the entire snowmelt season using soil moisture sensor profiles. This study was conducted during varying snowmelt seasons representing above normal, relatively normal, and below normal snow seasons in northern Colorado. Evidence is presented of preferential meltwater flowpaths at the snow-soil interface on the north facing slope with the effects observed in changes in SWE and infiltration into the soil at 20 cm depth; less association is observed in the near surface soil moisture (top 7 cm). We present a conceptualization of the meltwater flowpaths that develop based on slope aspect and soil properties. The resulting flowpaths are shown to increase the snow water equivalent by as much as 170 % at the base of a north facing hillslope. Results from this study show that snow acts as an extension of the vadose zone during spring snowmelt and future hydrologic investigations will benefit from studying the snow and soil together.

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