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Capturing the influence of groundwater dynamics on land surface processes using an integrated, distributed watershed model
Author(s) -
Kollet Stefan J.,
Maxwell Reed M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2007wr006004
Subject(s) - water table , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , surface runoff , environmental science , watershed , water balance , surface water , groundwater model , groundwater flow , soil science , geology , aquifer , environmental engineering , geotechnical engineering , ecology , machine learning , computer science , biology
The influence of groundwater dynamics on the energy balance at the land surface is studied using an integrated, distributed watershed modeling platform. This model includes the mass and energy balance at the land surface; three‐dimensional variably saturated subsurface flow; explicit representation of the water table; and overland flow. The model is applied to the Little Washita watershed in Central Oklahoma, USA and compared to runoff, soil moisture and energy flux observations. The connection between groundwater dynamics and the land surface energy balance is studied using a variety of conventional and spatial statistical measures. For a number of energy variables a strong interconnection is demonstrated with water table depth. This connection varies seasonally and spatially depending on the spatial composition of water table depth. A theoretical critical water table depth range is presented where a strong sensitivity between groundwater and land‐surface processes may be observed. For this particular watershed, a critical depth range is established between 1 and 5 m in which the land surface energy budget is most sensitive to groundwater storage. Finally, concrete recommendations are put forth to characterize this interconnection in the field.