Temporal variations in near surface soil moisture at two contrasting sites in the Wye catchment and their control on storm streamflow generation

Roberts, G.; Crane, S.B.. 1997 Temporal variations in near surface soil moisture at two contrasting sites in the Wye catchment and their control on storm streamflow generation. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 1 (3). 453-461.

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract/Summary

Near surface soil moisture measurements were recorded at hourly intervals at two contrasting sites within the Cyff sub-catchment using a prototype capacitance probe system. In a mire area within a valley bottom, over the twelve month recording period, very little change in moisture content occurred. At the other site, a well drained area on a steeply sloping hillside, major variations occurred with significant soil moisture deficits being generated during a particularly dry summer. Soil moisture on the slope responded rapidly to rainfall inputs during wet periods, with little response during particularly dry periods. A number of rainfall events was analysed to determine whether changes in soil moisture could be used to characterise storm hydrographs for the Cyff and the Gwy, two sub-catchments being composed of differing percentages of mire area and steep slopes. It was found that percentage runoff for the Cyff was correlated with antecedent soil moisture on the slope, though the agreements for peak flow and lag time were poorer. For the Gwy, poor agreements were obtained for all three hydrograph characteristics. A simple formulation, based on storm rainfall and antecedent soil moisture deficits in the slope and mire areas, gave good agreement with storm streamflow volumes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Other
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ Pre-2000 sections
ISSN:	1027-5606
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Hydrology
Date made live:	01 Jun 2009 08:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7323

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...