Imaging of hill-slope soil moisture wetting patterns in a semi-arid oak savanna catchment using time-lapse electromagnetic induction

Robinson, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-4867; Abdu, Hiruy; Lebron, Inma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8610-9717; Jones, Scott B.. 2012 Imaging of hill-slope soil moisture wetting patterns in a semi-arid oak savanna catchment using time-lapse electromagnetic induction. Journal of Hydrology, 416-417. 39-49. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034

Abstract/Summary

Soil moisture (θ) is a fundamental hydrological state variable and its spatial pattern is important for understanding hydrological processes. Determination of small catchment-scale soil moisture status and distribution at intermediate scales (0.01–1 km2) is challenging. Primarily because multi-point measurements using sensors are often impractical, while remote sensing resolution is often too coarse. Geophysical methods, e.g. electromagnetic induction (EMI), offer potential for bridging this gap. Our objective was to test the use of time-lapse EMI surveys to separate the influences of ‘static’ soil variables, e.g. texture/mineralogy, from ‘dynamic’, e.g. changes in soil moisture. A novel differencing approach is used for estimating relative changes in soil moisture, subtracting the bulk soil electrical conductivity (ECa) of the driest seasonal soil map, named the residual ECa, from the ECa collected during subsequent wetting. This approach allows us to remove the effects of spatially distributed mineral electrical surface charge (ECs) and other factors, and improve estimation of water content. Comparing results with TDR determined soil moisture, we improve the correlation from r2 = 0.28 to r2 = 0.48. ECa measurements are observed to be correlated in time (r2 > 0.7), but fall into two distinct groups, corresponding to times before and after the onset of stream flow, supporting the concept of preferred soil moisture states. Catchment wetness index predicts areas of convergence resulting in overland flow and stream flow. However, the spatial pattern of soil moisture does not mirror the wetness index, as others have found. We contend that the use of time-lapse EMI imaging provides important insight into the distribution and dynamics of catchment-scale changes in soil moisture, but acknowledge its limitations of requiring moisture dependent contrast of ECa, which will not occur in some soils.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.1 - Identify and quantify sources, fluxes and pathways of water, chemicals ... CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.4 - Develop innovative, effective methods for monitoring fluxes, exposure and effects
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Emmett
ISSN:	0022-1694
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	The attached document is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Hydrology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Hydrology, 416-417. 39-49. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034 www.elsevier.com/
Additional Keywords:	soil science, induction, EMI, water content, hydrogeophysics, time domain reflectometry
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Hydrology
Date made live:	08 Feb 2012 12:31 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16558

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.1 - Identify and quantify sources, fluxes and pathways of water, chemicals ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.4 - Develop innovative, effective methods for monitoring fluxes, exposure and effects

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Emmett

ISSN:

0022-1694

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

The attached document is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Hydrology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Hydrology, 416-417. 39-49. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.034 www.elsevier.com/

Additional Keywords:

soil science, induction, EMI, water content, hydrogeophysics, time domain reflectometry

NORA Subject Terms:

Agriculture and Soil Science
Hydrology

Date made live:

08 Feb 2012 12:31 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16558