Ladislav Holko

PLANTS AND BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUST INFLUENCE THE HYDROPHYSICAL PARAMETERS AND WATER FLOW IN AN AEOLIAN SANDY SOIL

This study tested the hypothesis that the changes in hydrophysical parameters and heterogeneity of water flow in an aeolian sandy soil have the same trend as the process of succession. Three sub-sites were demarcated at the area of about 50 m x 50 m. The first sub-site was located at the pine-forest glade covered with a biological soil crust and represented the initial stage of succession. The second sub-site was located at the grassland and represented more advanced stage of succession. The third sub-site was located at the pine forest with 30-year old Scots pines and represented advanced stage (close to climax) of succession. The sandy soil at the surface was compared to the soil at the pine-forest glade at 50 cm depth, which served as a control because it had a similar texture but limited impact of vegetation or organic matter. It was found that any type of vegetation cover studied had a strong influence on hydrophysical parameters and heterogeneity of water flow in an aeolian sandy soil during hot and dry spells. The changes in some hydrophysical parameters (WDPT, R, k(-2 cm), Sw(-2 cm), ECS and DPF) and heterogeneity of water flow in an aeolian sandy soil had the same trend as the process of succession, but it was not so in the case of Ksand Se(-2 cm), probably due to the higher content of smaller soil particles in grassland soil in comparison with that content at other sub-sites. Both the persistence and index of water repellency of pure sand differed significantly from those of grassland, glade and forest soils. The highest repellency parameter values in forest soil resulted in the lowest value of both the water sorptivity and hydraulic conductivity in this soil in comparison with other soils studied. The highest value of ethanol sorptivity and the lowest value of saturated hydraulic conductivity in the grassland soil in comparison with other soils studied were due to the higher content of fine-grained (silt and clay) particles in the grassland soil. The effective cross section and the degree of preferential flow of pure sand differed significantly from those of grassland, glade and forest soils. The change in soil hydrophysical parameters due to soil water repellency resulted in preferential flow in the grassland, glade and forest soils, while the wetting front in pure sand area exhibited a form typical of that for stable flow. The latter shape of the wetting front can be expected in the studied soils in spring, when soil water repellency is alleviated substantially. The columnar shape of the wetting front, which can be met during heavy rains following long dry and hot spells, was attributed to redistribution of applied water on the surface to a series of micro-catchments, which acted as runon and runoff zones. V príspevku sa testovala hypotéza, že zmeny hydrofyzikálnych parametrov a heterogenita prúdenia vody v piesočnatej pôde majú rovnaký trend ako proces sukcesie. Na ploche asi 50 m x 50 m sa vytýčili tri parcely. Prvá parcela sa nachádzala na čistine pokrytej biologickým pôdnym pokryvom a reprezentovala počiatočné štádium sukcesie. Druhá parcela sa nachádzala na zatrávnenej ploche a reprezentovala rozvinutejšie štádium sukcesie. Tretia parcela sa nachádzala v borovicovom lese a reprezentovala rozvinuté štádium sukcesie (blízke ku klimaxovej vegetácii). Piesočnatá pôda na povrchu parciel sa porovnávala s pôdou z čistiny v hĺbke 50 cm, ktorá slúžila ako kontrola, pretože mala skoro rovnakú textúru, avšak veľmi malý vplyv vegetácie alebo organickej hmoty. Zistili sme, že akýkoľvek typ študovaného vegetačného pokryvu mal veľký vplyv na hydrofyzikálne parametre a heterogenitu prúdenia vody v piesočnatej pôde počas horúcich a suchých období. Zmeny niektorých hydrofyzikálnych parametrov (WDPT, R, k(-2 cm), Sw(-2 cm), ECS a DPF) a heterogenity prúdenia vody v piesočnatej pôde mali rovnaký trend ako proces sukcesie, neplatilo to však v prípade Ksa Se(-2 cm), pravdepodobne v dôsledku vyššieho obsahu malých pôdnych častíc v pôde s trávnatým pokryvom v porovnaní s inými parcelami. Stálosť aj index vodoodpudivosti čistého piesku sa štatisticky významne líšili od hodnôt týchto parametrov v pôde pod trávou, biologickým pôdnym pokryvom a borovicami. Najvyššie hodnoty parametrov vodoodpudivosti v tráve pod borovicami mali za následok najnižšie hodnoty sorptivity pre vodu a hydraulickej vodivosti v tejto pôde v porovnaní s ostatnými študovanými pôdami. Najvyššie hodnoty sorptivity pre etanol a najnižšie hodnoty nasýtenej hydraulickej vodivosti v pôde pod trávou v porovnaní s inými pôdami boli pravdepodobne spôsobené vyšším obsahom malých pôdnych častíc v tejto pôde. Efektívny prierez (ECS) a stupeň preferovaného prúdenia (DPF) čistého piesku sa štatisticky významne líšili od hodnôt týchto parametrov v pôde pod trávou, biologickým pôdnym pokryvom a borovicami. Zmeny hydrofyzikálnych parametrov pôdy v dôsledku jej vodoodpudivosti mala za následok preferované prúdenie v pôde pod trávou, biologickým pôdnym pokryvom a borovicami, zatiaľ čo čelo omáčania v čistom piesku malo tvar typický pre stabilné prúdenie. Takýto tvar čela omáčania možno vo všetkých študovaných pôdach očakávať na jar, keď je vodoodpudivosť pôdy podstatne znížená v dôsledku jej zvýšenej vlhkosti. Čelo omáčania v tvare prstov, ktoré možno očakávať počas prívalových dažďov nasledujúcich po dlhých suchých a horúcich obdobiach, možno pričítať redistribúcii vody na povrchu pôdy do viacerých mikropovodí, ktoré sa správali ako vtokové a odtokové oblasti.

Modelling the hydrological behaviour of a mountain catchment using TOPMODEL

Abstract The mathematical catchment model TOPMODEL was used to simulate the hydrological behaviour of a mountain catchment at Jalovecky Creek, Western Tatras, Slovakia. The model provided adequate results in simulation of daily runoff from the catchment for the period 1 August 1987–31 October 1993. Air temperature inversions, typical of certain periods in mountain catchments, caused overestimation of simulated runoff because of treatment of snowfall as rainfall. A single value of the temperature limit for solid–liquid precipitation was also not appropriate for some events. Similarly, the single value of the degree–day factor for the entire period used in the snow subroutine has led to higher simulated snowmelt runoff in some years. Hourly data were used for runoff simulation during the short period between 15 August and 7 September 1993. The results indicate that more effort will be required to improve the simulation, although the total simulated runoff for the whole period was close to the measured runoff. The areal extent of the saturated area calculated by TOPMODEL for the two short-term events was comparable with the results based on isotopic runoff separation. However, saturated areas estimated by TOPMODEL may provide both event and pre-event water, whereas areas contributing new water estimated by the isotopic method provide pre-event water by definition.

Grass Cover Influences Hydrophysical Parameters and Heterogeneity of Water Flow in a Sandy Soil

Vegetation cover has a major effect on water flow in soils. Two sites, separated by distance of about 50 m, were selected to quantify the influence of grass cover on hydrophysical parameters and heterogeneity of water flow in a sandy soil emerging during a heavy rain following a long hot, dry period. A control soil (pure sand) with limited impact of vegetation or organic matter was obtained by sampling at 50 cm depth beneath a glade area, and a grassland soil was covered in a 10 cm thick humic layer and colonised by grasses. The persistence of water repellency was measured using the water drop penetration time test, sorptivity and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity using a mini disk infiltrometer, and saturated hydraulic conductivity using a double-ring infiltrometer. Dye tracer experiments were used to assess the heterogeneity of water flow, and both the modified method for estimating effective cross section and an original method for assessing the degree of preferential flow were used to quantify this heterogeneity from the images of dyed soil profiles. Most hydrophysical parameters were substantially different between the two surfaces. The grassland soil had an index of water repellency about 10 times that of pure sand and the persistence of water repellency almost 350 times that of pure sand. Water and ethanol sorptivities in the grassland soil were 7% and 43%, respectively, of those of the pure sand. Hydraulic conductivity and saturated hydraulic conductivities in the grassland soil were 5% and 16% of those of the pure sand, respectively. Dye tracer experiments revealed a stable flow with “air-draining” condition in pure sand and well-developed preferential flow in grassland soil, corresponding to individual grass tussocks and small micro-depressions. The grassland soil was substantially more water repellent and had 3 times the degree of preferential flow compared to pure sand. The results of this study reinforce our view that the consequences of any change in climate, which will ultimately influence hydrology, will be markedly different between grasslands and bare soils.

Land use change impacts on floods at the catchment scale : Challenges and opportunities for future research

Abstract Research gaps in understanding flood changes at the catchment scale caused by changes in forest management, agricultural practices, artificial drainage, and terracing are identified. Potential strategies in addressing these gaps are proposed, such as complex systems approaches to link processes across time scales, long‐term experiments on physical‐chemical‐biological process interactions, and a focus on connectivity and patterns across spatial scales. It is suggested that these strategies will stimulate new research that coherently addresses the issues across hydrology, soil and agricultural sciences, forest engineering, forest ecology, and geomorphology.

Impact of spruce forest on rainfall interception and seasonal snow cover evolution in the Western Tatra Mountains, Slovakia

The paper analyzes the impacts of the spruce forest on precipitation interception and evolution of snow cover in the mountain catchment of the Jalovecký creek, the Western Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. Both processes were monitored at the elevation of 1420 m a.s.l.. Interception was measured from the end of August 2006 until November 2008 by a network of 13 raingauges. Mean interception over the studied period in forest window was 23%. Mean values for the dripping zone under tree branches, near stems of the trees and under the young trees were 28%, 65% and 44%, respectively. With exception of forest window, the interception at the same characteristic positions was highly variable. Calculated daily precipitation thresholds needed to fulfill the storage capacity of the canopy were about 0.8–0.9 mm.Differences in snow accumulation and melt in the open area (elevation 1500 m a.s.l.) and in the forest were measured in winters 2003–2008. Snow depths (SD) and water equivalents (SWE) were typically smaller in the forest, although the differences were getting smaller towards the end of snow season. SD and SWE in the forest were higher than in the open area for a short time before the end of season in winters 2003 and 2005. The correlations between SD and SWE in the open area and in the forest explained about 90% of variability. The energy balance snow model UEB satisfactorily simulated the evolution of snow cover in the forest and in the open area.

Pines influence hydrophysical parameters and water flow in a sandy soil

Pines, used for sand dune stabilization, can influence the hydrophysical parameters and water flow in an aeolian sandy soil considerably, mainly due to soil water repellency. Two sites, separated by distance of about 20 m, formed the basis of our study. A control soil (“Pure sand“) with limited impact of vegetation or organic matter was formed at 50 cm depth beneath a forest glade area. This was compared to a “Forest soil” in a 30-year old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest. Most of the hydrophysical parameters were substantially different between the two soil surfaces. The forest soil was substantially more water repellent and had two-times the degree of preferential flow compared to pure sand. Water and ethanol sorptivities, hydraulic conductivity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were 1%, 84%, 2% and 26% those of the pure sand, respectively. The change in soil hydrophysical parameters due to soil water repellency resulted in preferential flow in the forest soil, emerging during a simulated heavy rain following a long hot, dry period. The wetting front established in pure sand exhibited a form typical of that for stable flow. Such a shape of the wetting front can be expected in the forest soil in spring, when soil water repellency is alleviated substantially.

Isotopes of oxygen-18 and deuterium in precipitation in Slovakia / Izotopy kyslíka-18 A deutéria v zrážkach na Slovensku

The article synthesizes available information on isotopic composition of precipitation in Slovakia (the Western Carpathians). Monthly δ18O data from eleven stations and period 1988-1997 were used to investigate correlations among the stations, altitude, air temperature and precipitation amount effects. The mean annual altitude and air temperature gradients of δ18O in precipitation were 0.21‰/100 m and 0.36‰/1°C, respectively. Maps of spatial distribution of mean annual δ18O in precipitation based on both gradients were constructed. The two maps do not significantly differ for the majority of Slovakia. δ2H data were available for only three stations. Local meteoric water line derived for the station with the longest data series (δ2H = = 7.86δ18O + 6.99) was close to the Global Meteoric Water line. Its parameters in periods 1991-1993 and 1991-2008 did not change. The study indicates that a more detailed monitoring of isotopic composition of precipitation in mountains should be carried out in the future. The highest station exhibited very small seasonal variability of δ18O in precipitation compared to other Slovak stations. The second highest mountain station had significantly higher deuterium excess than the neighboring stations located in the valley. In some analyses the data from the nearest stations situated abroad (Vienna, Krakow) were used. Príspevok syntetizuje dostupné údaje o izotopickom zložení zrážok na území Slovenska (Západné Karpaty). Hodnotí koreláciu hodnôt δ18O v kumulatívnych mesačných zrážkach z rokov 1988-1997 medzi jednotlivými stanicami, vplyv nadmorskej výšky, teploty vzduchu a úhrnu zrážok. Priemerný ročný výškový gradient δ18O v zrážkach je 0,21‰/100 m, priemerný ročný teplotný gradient δ18O v zrážkach je 0,36‰/1°C. Oba gradienty boli použité na vytvorenie mapy priestorového rozdelenia δ18O v zrážkach na území Slovenska. Mapa vytvorená pomocou výškového gradientu δ18O v zrážkach sa pre väčšinu územia Slovenska významne nelíši od mapy vytvorenej pomocou teplotného gradientu. Hodnoty δ2H v zrážkach boli k dispozícii len pre tri stanice na Slovensku. Pre stanicu s najdlhším radom údajov (1991-2008) bola určená lokálna meteorická čiara (δ2H = 7.86δ18O + 6.99), ktorej priebeh je blízky globálnej meteorickej čiare. Parametre lokálnej meteorickej čiary sa počas skúmaného obdobia nezmenili. Merané mesačné údaje poukazujú na potrebu podrobnejšieho monitoringu izotopického zloženia zrážok v horách. Najvyššie ležiaca stanica mala v porovnaní s ostatnými stanicami veľmi malú sezónnu variabilitu δ18O v zrážkach. Druhá najvyššie položená stanica mala podstatne vyšší exces deutéria, ako susedné stanice ležiace v kotlinovej polohe. Pri niektorých analýzach boli údaje zo Slovenska porovnávané s najbližšie ležiacimi zahraničnými stanicami (Viedeň, Krakov).

Variation of nitrates in runoff from mountain and rural areas

The paper presents results of temporal and spatial variation of nitrates in streamwater in the small mountain catchment of the Jalovecký creek, the Western Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. Water samples were collected between October 2003 and April 2005 in areas with contrasting catchments. Water samples collected at the outlet of the mountain part (almost no human activities) had lower concentrations of nitrates than the samples collected donwstream in the rural area. The differences were smaller during the warm period of the year. The highest concentrations of nitrates and the highest differences among the uninhabited and inhabited areas were observed at the time of snowmelt. Samples collected along the creek in March and April 2005 showed increasing concentrations with increasing urbanization. Concentrations of nitrates measured during springs 1992, 2004 and 2005 were in similar range. Higher frequency sampling during the summer rainfall-runoff event indicated that concentrations of nitrates in the creek varied during the event. Water samples from snow had low concentrations of nitrates.

On the role of rock fragments and initial soil water content in the potential subsurface runoff formation

Abstract Stony soils are composed of fractions (rock fragments and fine soil) with different hydrophysical characteristics. Although they are abundant in many catchments, their properties are still not well understood. This article presents basic characteristics (texture, stoniness, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil water retention) of stony soils from a mountain catchment located in the highest part of the Carpathian Mountains and summarizes results of water flow modeling through a hypothetical stony soil profile. Numerical simulations indicate the highest vertical outflow from the bottom of the profile in soils without rock fragments under ponding infiltration condition. Simulation of a more realistic case in a mountain catchment, i.e. infiltration of intensive rainfall, shows that when rainfall intensity is lower than the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the stony soil, the highest outflow is predicted in a soil with the highest stoniness and high initial water content of soil matrix. Relatively low available retention capacity in a stony soil profile and consequently higher unsaturated hydraulic conductivity leads to faster movement of the infiltration front during rainfall.

Basin-Wide Water Balance in the Danube River Basin

This paper briefly describes the result of mutual work of the IHP UNESCO National Committees of the Danube countries and experts and scientists nominated by their countries. It represents part of the second phase of the co-operation of Danube countries within the frame of the IHP UNESCO in the field of hydrology. This project in fact represents a continuation, improvement and enlargement of the first Danube Monograph (Stancik et al. 1988, Hydrology of the River Danube, Publishing House Priroda, Bratislava). The main objectives of the work were estimation of water balance components on the basis of mathematical modelling and preparation of maps of water balance components for the Danube Basin. Maps of the mean annual precipitation, actual evapotranspiration and runoff were prepared. Difficulties in data collection in individual countries resulted in the obligatory period for data analysis of 1961–1990.