Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Inferring Hillslope Groundwater Recharge Ratios From the Storage‐Discharge Relation
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Inferring Hillslope Groundwater Recharge Ratios From the Storage‐Discharge Relation
Do you wish to request the book?
Inferring Hillslope Groundwater Recharge Ratios From the Storage‐Discharge Relation
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Inferring Hillslope Groundwater Recharge Ratios From the Storage‐Discharge Relation
2023
Overview
Accurate observation of hillslope groundwater storage and instantaneous recharge remains difficult due to limited monitoring and the complexity of mountainous landscapes. We introduce a novel storage‐discharge method to estimate hillslope recharge and the recharge ratio—the fraction of precipitation that recharges groundwater. The method, which relies on streamflow data, is corroborated by independent measurements of water storage dynamics inside the Rivendell experimental hillslope at the Eel River Critical Zone Observatory, California, USA. We find that along‐hillslope patterns in bedrock weathering and plant‐driven storage dynamics govern the seasonal evolution of recharge ratios. Thinner weathering profiles and smaller root‐zone storage deficits near‐channel are replenished before larger ridge‐top deficits. Consequently, precipitation progressively activates groundwater from channel to divide, with an attendant increase in recharge ratios throughout the wet season. Our novel approach and process observations offer valuable insights into controls on groundwater recharge, enhancing our understanding of a critical flux in the hydrologic cycle.
Plain Language Summary
Groundwater in hilly areas is an important source of water. The amount of rainfall that replenishes groundwater storage is known as groundwater recharge. Because groundwater recharge is challenging to measure directly, we applied a technique that makes it possible to use a more readily observable variable—streamflow, or the water flow in rivers and streams—to calculate how much water is stored in the hillslope as groundwater. This made it possible to use streamflow to estimate how much rainfall becomes groundwater recharge. By understanding the structure of the ground and how moisture is distributed, we were able to determine how the amount of recharge changes over the wet season. Our work improves understanding of how rainfall and plant water use affect groundwater recharge, which is important for managing water resources in mountain landscapes.
Key Points
Increases in hillslope groundwater storage can be quantified from storage‐discharge relations
Field measurements of groundwater and vadose zone (VZ) storage corroborate seasonality in recharge ratios (recharge per precipitation input)
Recharge ratio increases with decreasing plant‐driven VZ (soil and rock) storage deficits, reflecting spatial variations in storage
