Articles | Volume 18, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4705-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4705-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Aug 2021
Research article |
| 18 Aug 2021
| 18 Aug 2021
Diel patterns in stream nitrate concentration produced by in-stream processes
Jan Greiwe
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79098
Freiburg, Germany
Markus Weiler
Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79098
Freiburg, Germany
Jens Lange
Hydrology, University of Freiburg, Friedrichstraße 39, 79098
Freiburg, Germany
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Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 4405–4436, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4405-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4405-2026, 2026
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Subsurface stormflow (SSF) is a key runoff mechanism in upland environments. The analysis of SSF at two trenched hillslopes showed that SSF volume was controlled by total rainfall and initial wetness. Peakflow depended on rainfall amount, with initial wetness and rainfall intensity being important for small and large events, respectively. The rate at which SSF increased was linked to rainfall intensity and amount.
Heinke Paulsen and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 4305–4319, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4305-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4305-2026, 2026
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Using 12 Forest floor (FF) lysimeters at three beech‑dominated sites, we recorded 1570 rain events and measured throughfall, drainage, and evaporation. Initial retention depended on pre‑event moisture, not litter thickness. Low‑intensity, long‑duration rains filled the FF more efficiently than brief, intense storms. Evaporation was low and consistent across sites, showing the FF protects the soil. Spatial data revealed frequent water redistribution, creating heterogeneous flow paths.
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Throughfall in forests varies in space and time creating distinct patterns. We developed a novel throughfall monitoring approach for continuous, automated measurement that features 60 self-built and cost effective throughfall samplers. Collected data show the potential of the approach to capture throughfall variability at small distances, among and within rainfall events and between different trees species.
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Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 1969–1997, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1969-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1969-2026, 2026
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Biogeosciences, 23, 1719–1738, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1719-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1719-2026, 2026
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Sebastian Gnann, Bailey J. Anderson, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 779–795, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-779-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-779-2026, 2026
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The extent to which streamflow varies in response to variability in precipitation and potential evaporation is essential for understanding climate change impacts on water resources. This so-called streamflow sensitivity is often estimated directly from observational data, but the robustness of these estimates remains unclear. Through systematic examination of existing approaches, we highlight uncertainties inherent in all approaches and discuss their origins.
Jonas Pyschik and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 485–501, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-485-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-485-2026, 2026
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This study introduces a new method of detecting how water moves quickly through certain paths in soil, bypassing the usual, slower flow. By analysing natural water markers in soil samples taken at different depths, we identified unusual flow patterns. Our method is simple and non-invasive, and can be used to cover large areas. This helps us to better understand how water travels through the ground, which is important for managing water resources and protecting the environment.
Yining Zang, Pauline C. Treble, Kei Yoshimura, Jayson Gabriel Pinza, Fengbo Zhang, Kübra Özdemir Çallı, Xiaojun Mei, Admin Husic, Alena Gessert, Andrej Stroj, Bartolomé Andreo, Bernard Ladouche, Christine Stumpp, Diana Mance, Eleni Zagana, Fen Huang, Giuseppe Sappa, Harald Kunstmann, Heike Brielmann, Hong Zhou, Huaying Wu, Jakob Garvelmann, James Berglund, Jean-Baptiste Charlier, Jens Lange, Juan Antonio Barberá Fornell, Junbing Pu, Konstantina Katsanou, Kun Ren, Laura Toran, Laurence Gill, Maria Filippini, Martin Kralik, Matías Mudarra Martínez, Min Zhao, Mingming Luo, Nico Goldscheider, Nikolaos Lambrakis, Pantaleone De Vita, Qiong Xiao, Shi Yu, Silvia Iacurto, Silvio Coda, Ted McCormack, Vincenzo Allocca, W. George Darling, Walter D’Alessandro, Xulei Guo, Yundi Hu, Zhijun Wang, Eva Kaminsky, Jiří Faimon, Marek Lang, Pavel Pracný, and Andreas Hartmann
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Jasmin Tesch, Kathrin Kühnhammer, Delon Wagner, Andreas Christen, Carsten Dormann, Julian Frey, Rüdiger Grote, Teja Kattenborn, Markus Sulzer, Ulrike Wallrabe, Markus Weiler, Christiane Werner, Samaneh Baghbani, Julian Brzozon, Laura Maria Comella, Lea Dedden, Stefanie Dumberger, Yasmina Frey, Matthias Gassilloud, Timo Gerach, Anna Göritz, Simon Haberstroh, Johannes Klüppel, Luis Kremer, Jürgen Kreuzwieser, Hojin Lee, Joachim Maack, Julian Müller, Oswald Prucker, Sanam Kumari Rajak, Jürgen Rühe, Stefan J. Rupitsch, Helmer Schack-Kirchner, Christian Scharinger, Uttunga Shinde, Till Steinmann, Clara Stock, and Josef Strack
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Andreas Hänsler and Markus Weiler
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Spatially explicit quantification of design storms is essential for flood risk assessment and planning. However, available datasets are mainly based on spatially interpolated station-based design storms. Since the spatial interpolation of the data inherits a large potential for uncertainty, we develop an approach to be able to derive spatially explicit design storms on the basis of weather radar data. We find that our approach leads to an improved spatial representation of design storms.
Anne Hartmann, Markus Weiler, Konrad Greinwald, and Theresa Blume
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Nils Hinrich Kaplan, Theresa Blume, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2671–2696, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2671-2022, 2022
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This study is analyses how characteristics of precipitation events and soil moisture and temperature dynamics during these events can be used to model the associated streamflow responses in intermittent streams. The models are used to identify differences between the dominant controls of streamflow intermittency in three distinct geologies of the Attert catchment, Luxembourg. Overall, soil moisture was found to be the most important control of intermittent streamflow in all geologies.
Benjamin Gralher, Barbara Herbstritt, and Markus Weiler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 5219–5235, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5219-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5219-2021, 2021
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We scrutinized the quickest currently available method for stable isotope analysis of matrix-bound water. Simulating common procedures, we demonstrated the limits of certain materials currently used and identified a reliable and cost-efficient alternative. Further, we calculated the optimum proportions of important protocol aspects critical for precise and accurate analyses. Our unifying protocol suggestions increase data quality and comparability as well as the method's general applicability.
Felicia Linke, Oliver Olsson, Frank Preusser, Klaus Kümmerer, Lena Schnarr, Marcus Bork, and Jens Lange
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 4495–4512, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4495-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-4495-2021, 2021
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We used a two-step approach with limited sampling effort in existing storm water infrastructure to illustrate the risk of biocide emission in a 2 ha urban area 13 years after construction had ended. First samples at a swale confirmed the overall relevance of biocide pollution. Then we identified sources where biocides were used for film protection and pathways where transformation products were formed. Our results suggest that biocide pollution is a also continuous risk in aging urban areas.
Stefan Seeger and Markus Weiler
Biogeosciences, 18, 4603–4627, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4603-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4603-2021, 2021
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We developed a setup for fully automated in situ measurements of stable water isotopes in soil and the stems of fully grown trees. We used this setup in a 12-week field campaign to monitor the propagation of a labelling pulse from the soil up to a stem height of 8 m.
We could observe trees shifting their main water uptake depths multiple times, depending on water availability.
The gained knowledge about the temporal dynamics can help to improve water uptake models and future study designs.
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Short summary
We analyzed variability in diel nitrate patterns at three locations in a lowland stream. Comparison of time lags between monitoring sites with water travel time indicated that diel patterns were created by in-stream processes rather than transported downstream from an upstream point of origin. Most of the patterns (70 %) could be explained by assimilatory nitrate uptake. The remaining patterns suggest seasonally varying dominance and synchronicity of different biochemical processes.
We analyzed variability in diel nitrate patterns at three locations in a lowland stream....
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