Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements
Besides floodplains, hillslopes are basic units that mainly control water movement and flow pathways within catchments of subdued mountain ranges. The structure of their shallow subsurface affects water balance, e.g. infiltration, retention, and runoff. Nevertheless, there is still a gap in the kn...
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doaj-26491f036bfc4642baefc482e2a0ef132020-11-24T22:49:57ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382015-01-0119122524010.5194/hess-19-225-2015Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurementsR. Hübner0K. Heller1T. Günther2A. Kleber3Institute of Geography, Dresden University of Technology, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Geography, Dresden University of Technology, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, GermanyLeibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Geography, Dresden University of Technology, Helmholtzstr. 10, 01069 Dresden, GermanyBesides floodplains, hillslopes are basic units that mainly control water movement and flow pathways within catchments of subdued mountain ranges. The structure of their shallow subsurface affects water balance, e.g. infiltration, retention, and runoff. Nevertheless, there is still a gap in the knowledge of the hydrological dynamics on hillslopes, notably due to the lack of generalization and transferability. This study presents a robust multi-method framework of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in addition to hydrometric point measurements, transferring hydrometric data into higher spatial scales to obtain additional patterns of distribution and dynamics of soil moisture on a hillslope. A geoelectrical monitoring in a small catchment in the eastern Ore Mountains was carried out at weekly intervals from May to December 2008 to image seasonal moisture dynamics on the hillslope scale. To link water content and electrical resistivity, the parameters of Archie's law were determined using different core samples. To optimize inversion parameters and methods, the derived spatial and temporal water content distribution was compared to tensiometer data. The results from ERT measurements show a strong correlation with the hydrometric data. The response is congruent to the soil tension data. Water content calculated from the ERT profile shows similar variations as that of water content from soil moisture sensors. Consequently, soil moisture dynamics on the hillslope scale may be determined not only by expensive invasive punctual hydrometric measurements, but also by minimally invasive time-lapse ERT, provided that pedo-/petrophysical relationships are known. Since ERT integrates larger spatial scales, a combination with hydrometric point measurements improves the understanding of the ongoing hydrological processes and better suits identification of heterogeneities.http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/19/225/2015/hess-19-225-2015.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
R. Hübner K. Heller T. Günther A. Kleber |
spellingShingle |
R. Hübner K. Heller T. Günther A. Kleber Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
author_facet |
R. Hübner K. Heller T. Günther A. Kleber |
author_sort |
R. Hübner |
title |
Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
title_short |
Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
title_full |
Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
title_fullStr |
Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
title_full_unstemmed |
Monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ERT for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
title_sort |
monitoring hillslope moisture dynamics with surface ert for enhancing spatial significance of hydrometric point measurements |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
issn |
1027-5606 1607-7938 |
publishDate |
2015-01-01 |
description |
Besides floodplains, hillslopes are basic units that
mainly control water movement and flow pathways within catchments
of subdued mountain ranges. The structure of their
shallow subsurface affects water balance, e.g. infiltration,
retention, and runoff. Nevertheless, there is still a gap in the
knowledge of the hydrological dynamics on hillslopes, notably due to
the lack of generalization and transferability.
This study presents a robust multi-method framework of electrical resistivity
tomography (ERT) in addition to hydrometric point measurements, transferring
hydrometric data into higher spatial scales to obtain additional patterns of
distribution and dynamics of soil moisture on a hillslope. A geoelectrical
monitoring in a small catchment in the eastern Ore Mountains was carried out at
weekly intervals from May to December 2008 to image seasonal moisture dynamics on the
hillslope scale. To link water content and electrical resistivity, the
parameters of Archie's law were determined using different core
samples. To optimize inversion parameters and methods, the derived
spatial and temporal water content distribution was compared to
tensiometer data. The results from ERT measurements show a strong correlation with the
hydrometric data. The response is congruent to the soil tension data. Water content
calculated from the ERT profile shows similar variations as that of water content from soil
moisture sensors. Consequently, soil moisture dynamics on the hillslope scale may be
determined not only by expensive invasive punctual hydrometric measurements, but also
by minimally invasive time-lapse ERT, provided that pedo-/petrophysical relationships are
known. Since ERT integrates larger spatial scales, a combination with hydrometric point
measurements improves the understanding of the ongoing hydrological processes and better suits
identification of heterogeneities. |
url |
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/19/225/2015/hess-19-225-2015.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT rhubner monitoringhillslopemoisturedynamicswithsurfaceertforenhancingspatialsignificanceofhydrometricpointmeasurements AT kheller monitoringhillslopemoisturedynamicswithsurfaceertforenhancingspatialsignificanceofhydrometricpointmeasurements AT tgunther monitoringhillslopemoisturedynamicswithsurfaceertforenhancingspatialsignificanceofhydrometricpointmeasurements AT akleber monitoringhillslopemoisturedynamicswithsurfaceertforenhancingspatialsignificanceofhydrometricpointmeasurements |
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1725674144530432000 |