Subsurface flow generation in an experimental plot during applied rainfalls in the Ouachita mountains of Arkansas
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Abstract
This paper addresses the relative importance of rainfall intensity and pre-storm soil water potentials in macropore flow processes at short spatial scales in forested watersheds in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Soil water potentials, soil moisture contents, lateral subsurface flow, and runoff bromide concentrations were monitored in an experimental forest soil block in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas for 17 applied rain storms. Rainfalls were of durations of 0.82 to 4.25 hours in length with intensities from 75 to 10 mm h·l and were applied with bromide concentrations during July 17 to October 10 of 1991. Pre-storm soil water potentials ranged from -90 to -10 and from -29 to + 19 em of water above 50 and 85 em of soil depth, respectively. Pre-storm soil moisture contents ranged from 0.23 to 0.36 cm3 cm·3 above 50 and 85 em of soil depth, respectively. The results showed that total subsurface flow averaged from 82% to 24% of total applied rainfall. Even though soil saturation was observed at the bottom of the soil block for 11 experimental runs, most runoff occurred as shallow subsurface flow for most applied storms. Hydrograph parameters were statistically related to the rate of rainfall input and to pre-storm soil water potential. Bromide concentrations in subsurface flow indicated that most lateral subsurface flow was composed of new water, indicating that preferential flow was a common process in the experimental plot.
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