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Identifying Subsurface Connectivity From Observations: Experimentation With Equifinality Defines Both Challenges and Pathways to Progress
SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden.
University of British Columbia, Canada.
Uppsala University, Sweden.
SLU Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden.
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2024 (English)In: Hydrological Processes, ISSN 0885-6087, E-ISSN 1099-1085, Vol. 38, no 11, article id e15234Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Linkages between landscapes and streams are increasingly described in terms of hydrological connectivity. The ability to effectively distinguish different patterns of water movement through catchments makes connectivity particularly interesting to both scientists and practical water managers. Hydrometric data (groundwater levels, soil moisture and streamflow) are often employed to infer the connection between the landscape and its drainage network. Such observational data, however, are insufficient to infer subsurface connectivity in humid settings with perennial stream flow, due to the risk of equifinality. To quantify how much subsurface flow patterns can differ and still be consistent (equifinal) with comprehensive observations of hillslope groundwater levels and stream runoff (the hydrometric data), this study used a modelling experiment based on a well-characterised field site. Particle-tracking simulations at different flow rates defined the water flow paths and transit times of two virtual hillslopes that differed profoundly in the vertical distribution of the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Even though the simulated weekly stream flows and groundwater levels were similar (i.e., the hillslopes were hydrometrically equifinal) particle velocities and water ages at specific locations along these hillslopes differed by orders of magnitude. Flow path lengths and catchment transit times varied up to several 100%. The hillslope- and stream-based metrics used to describe connectivity also varied with stream flow rates. These results underline the need to recognise the risks for equifinality when inferring subsurface connectivity from hydrometric observations alone, even when those observations are comprehensive. The results also highlight the value of model simulations for quantifying the uncertainty in the inferred connectivity, targeting the best sampling locations/times to reduce this uncertainty with tracer data and better understanding the way connectivity influences stream chemistry. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley and Sons Ltd , 2024. Vol. 38, no 11, article id e15234
Keywords [en]
Aquifers; Catchments; Flow patterns; Groundwater flow; Groundwater geochemistry; Hydraulic conductivity; Rivers; Runoff; Stream flow; Catchment science; Critical zones; Equifinality; Flow path; Ground water level; Hillslopes; Hydrometric data; Runoff generation; Subsurface Flow; Subsurface-flow; Soil moisture
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-76118DOI: 10.1002/hyp.15324Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85208797073OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-76118DiVA, id: diva2:1932786
Note

 This study was supported by the Swedish Research Council through grant no. 2015- 0403 to the Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science(SITES), in this case at the SLU Svartberget field research station, and also through Swedish Research Council grant no. 2017- 00635 to KB

Available from: 2025-01-29 Created: 2025-01-29 Last updated: 2025-09-23Bibliographically approved

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Amvrosiadi, Nino

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