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Ecohydrological response to a geomorphically significant flood event in a semiarid catchment with contrasting ecosystems
Author(s) -
GutiérrezJurado Hugo A.,
Vivoni Enrique R.,
Istanbulluoglu Erkan,
Bras Rafael L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl030994
Subject(s) - surface runoff , landform , hydrology (agriculture) , vegetation (pathology) , ecohydrology , environmental science , terrain , flood myth , ecosystem , geology , geomorphology , ecology , geography , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , pathology , biology , medicine
Climate and topographic conditions in a first‐order semiarid catchment in central New Mexico have given rise to opposing hillslopes characterized by different soil profile, vegetation and landform characteristics. In this study, we present the differential response of these two hillslope ecosystems to a geomorphically significant (GS) flood event based upon field observations of rainfall, soil moisture and peak channel discharge. We illustrate the role played by slope position, soil properties and vegetation on soil moisture dynamics and runoff production. Furthermore, we document observed geomorphic changes in the opposing slopes. Analysis of the hillslope and channel response to this exceptional event provides insights on the terrain‐soil‐vegetation interactions acting on the movement of water and sediments through the semiarid system.