| Resource Name |
Mechanisms and pathways of lateral flow on aspen-forested, luvisolic soils, Western Boreal Plain, Alberta, Canada |
| Unique File Number |
395 |
| Information Type |
applied Research |
| Surface Water |
y |
| Aquatic Ecosystem |
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| Groundwater |
y |
| Groundwater & Surface Water |
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| Management for Natural & Industrial Hazards |
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| Strengths |
developed quantitative runoff mechanisms and pathways using irrigation experiments |
| Limitations |
applicability of results through space is unclear |
| Challenges |
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| Outstanding Research Questions |
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| Outstanding Research Questions |
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| Information Subtype |
boreal hydrology |
| Organization |
University of Alberta |
| Resource Name |
Redding, TE and Devito, KL. 2010. Mechanisms and pathways of lateral flow on aspen-forested, luvisolic soils, Western Boreal Plain, Alberta, Canada. Hydrological Processes 24: 2995-3010. |
| Resource Purpose |
Rainfall simulation experiments by Redding and Devito (2008, Hydrological Processes 23: 4287–4300) on two adjacent plots of contrasting antecedent soil moisture storage on an aspen-forested hillslope on the Boreal Plain showed that lateral flow generation occurred only once large soil storage capacity was saturated combined with a minimum event precipitation of 15–20 mm. This paper extends the results of Redding and Devito (2008, Hydrological Processes 23: 4287–4300) with detailed analysis of pore pressure, soil moisture and tracer data from the rainfall simulation experiments, which is used to identify lateral flow generation mechanisms and flow pathways. Lateral flow was not generated until soils were wet into the fine textured C horizon. Lateral flow occurred dominantly through the clay-rich Bt horizon by way of root channels. Lateral flow during the largest event was dominated by event water, and precipitation intensity was critical in lateral flow generation. Lateral flow was initiated as preferential flow near the soil surface into root channels, followed by development of a perched water table at depth, which also interacted with preferential flow pathways to move water laterally by the transmissivity feedback mechanism. The results indicate that lateral flow generated by rainfall on these hillslopes is uncommon because of the generally high available soil moisture storage capacity and the low probability of rainfall events of sufficient magnitude and intensity. |
| Type of Information |
article |
| How does this help decision making? |
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| Program Status |
complete |
| NE Coverage |
boreal plains |
| Drinking Water |
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| Ecosystem |
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| Fish |
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| Groundwater |
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| Public Safety |
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| SW Quality |
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| SW Quantity |
y |
| Link |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hyp.7710/abstract |
| Text Query |
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| Google Earth |
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| iMap Path Link |
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| Spatial Metadata |
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| Map |
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| Contact Email |
[email protected] |
