Temporal stability of soil moisture spatial variability at two scales and its implication for optimal field monitoring
Résumé
Soil moisture spatial distribution is a key component in characterizing and modeling water movement at multiple scales. The temporal stability of soil moisture spatial distribution at multiple depths was investigated at the 7.9-ha Shale Hills Catchment in central Pennsylvania with a year-round monitoring of 77 sites distributed across the catchment. For this catchment with heterogeneous soils and landforms, integration of soils information into the temporal stability assessment provided a more accurate location of representative monitoring sites for capturing mean soil moisture. The temporal stability pattern of soil moisture at the swale scale was similar to that at the catchment scale, suggesting that the swale could be used as a representative unit in the catchment study in terms of mean soil moisture dynamics. The temporal stability of soil moisture variability in this catchment varied over space and seasons. Temporally stable sites were found in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the catchment, while the areas near the stream and some swale areas had lower temporal stability. The spatial distribution of soil moisture was more stable over time during wet seasons, but less stable during transitional periods (i.e. drying or recharging periods). The temporal stability concept helps the optimal design of field monitoring sites and sampling strategies. On the other hand, the temporally unstable sites provide insights regarding the hydrological processes behind the spatial variability of soil moisture.
Origine : Accord explicite pour ce dépôt
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