Topographic, pedologic and climatic interactions influencing streamflow generation at multiple catchment scales

摘要: Dominant flow pathways (DFPs) in mesoscale watersheds are poorly characterized and understood. Here, we make use of a conservative tracer (Gran alkalinity) detailed information about climatic conditions physical properties to examine how temporally spatially variable factors interact determine DFPs 12 catchments draining areas from 3.4 1829.5 km² (Cairngorms, Scotland). After end-member mixing was applied discriminate between near surface deep groundwater pathways, variation partitioning, canonical redundancy analyses regression models were used resolve: (i) What is the temporal variability each catchment?; (ii) How do change across spatial scales what control differences hydrological responses?; (iii) Can conceptual model be developed explain spatiotemporal as function climatic, topographic soil characteristics? Overall, catchment characteristics only useful but not their scale. The influenced most by prevailing hydroclimatic secondarily drainability. predictability active better with soils supporting fast runoff generation on basis such cumulative precipitation seven previous days, mean daily air temperature fractional area covered Rankers. best R2 0.54, thus suggesting that catchments’ internal complexity fully captured included analysis. Nevertheless, this study highlights utility combining studies digital landscape analysis multivariate statistical techniques gain insights into (climatic) (topographic pedologic) controls DFPs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.