Field Investigations of Spatial Organisation of Soil Moisture in a Small Catchment

A. W. Western 1
G. Bloschl 2
G. R. Willgoose 3
T. A. McMahon 1
R. B. Grayson 1

Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, Hobart, 21-24 May, 1996, Hobart, IE Aust, Nat. Conf. Pub. 96-05, pp. 547-553

Abstract: Partial area saturation excess runoff has been observed to be an important runoff producing process in many catchments. Such runoff is believed to be associated with organised spatial variations in soil moisture associated with catchment topography and other controlling variables and processes. Research into the applicability and implications of the concept of spatial organisation of soil moisture in small catchments is described. Field experiments designed to provide spatial patterns required to analyse the spatial organisation of soil moisture are being conducted. Preliminary data collected from a catchment with duplex soils and a typical A horizon depth of 30-35cm are presented. Spatial trends which depend on topographic convergence/divergence and aspect are evident in the mean soil moisture from the top 30cm of the soil profile. Spatial trends are also evident in the shape of the soil moisture profile. These trends are consistent with those observed in the upper 30cm of the soil profile.

1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Melbourne , Australia

2 Institut fuer Hydraulik, Gewaesserkunde und Wasserwirtschaft Technische Universitaet Wien, AUSTRIA

3 Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, The University of Newcastle, Australia


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