Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Anderson, AE M. Weiler, Y. Alila, and R. O. Hudson (2009). Dye staining and excavation of a lateral preferential flow network European Geosciences Union Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 5, 1043-1065
Organization UBC
URL http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/13/935/2009/hess-13-935-2009.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords Preferential flow paths have been found to be important
for runoff generation, solute transport, and slope stability
in many areas around the world. Although many studies
have identified the particular characteristics of individual
features and measured the runoff generation and solute transport
within hillslopes, very few studies have determined how
individual features are hydraulically connected at a hillslope
scale. In this study, we used dye staining and excavation to
determine the morphology and spatial pattern of a preferential
flow network over a large scale (30 m). We explore the
feasibility of extending small-scale dye staining techniques
to the hillslope scale. We determine the lateral preferential
flow paths that are active during the steady-state flow conditions
and their interaction with the surrounding soil matrix.
We also calculate the velocities of the flow through
each cross-section of the hillslope and compare them to hillslope
scale applied tracer measurements. Finally, we investigate
the relationship between the contributing area and the
characteristics of the preferential flow paths. The experiment
revealed that larger contributing areas coincided with
highly developed and hydraulically connected preferential
flow paths that had flow with little interaction with the surrounding
soil matrix. We found evidence of subsurface erosion
and deposition of soil and organic material laterally and
vertically within the soil. These results are important because
they add to the understanding of the runoff generation, solute
transport, and slope stability of preferential flow-dominated
hillslopes.
Information Type article
Regional Watershed Vancouver Island North
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name Axel Anderson
Contact Email [email protected]