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Approximating Soil‐Moisture Storage in Experimental Watersheds by Means of Precipitation and Streamflow Records
Author(s) -
Reinhart K. G.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1964.03615995002800040036x
Subject(s) - streamflow , water content , environmental science , watershed , precipitation , hydrology (agriculture) , surface runoff , water storage , soil science , moisture , soil texture , soil water , geology , drainage basin , meteorology , geography , geotechnical engineering , ecology , cartography , geomorphology , machine learning , computer science , inlet , biology
An estimate of total soil‐moisture storage capacity of an experimental watershed is needed to understand its hydrology. A reliable estimate may be very difficult to obtain, particularly in a forested watershed, because of variations in and difficulties of measuring soil depth, root depth, texture, bulk density, stone content, and moisture content. A method is suggested for approximating storage from precipitation and streamflow records. Precipitation minus runoff—in selected periods when ample precipitation follows a dry spell—provides the estimate of soil‐moisture storage capacity. The method is illustrated with data from the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia and is applied to two other watersheds in the Northeast. Limitations of the method are also discussed.