HR: 16:40h
AN: H24A-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Dynamics of Downslope Unsaturated Flow
AU: * Torres, R
EM: torres@geol.sc.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Ave, EWS617, Columbia, SC 29208 United States
AU: Dietrich, W E
EM: bill@geomorph.berkeley.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Planetary Science University of California, Berkeley, 301 McCone Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
AU: Tymchak, M P
EM: tymchak@geol.sc.edu
AF: Department of Geological Sciences University of South Carolina, 701 Sumter Ave, EWS617, Columbia, SC 29208 United States
AB: In 1961 Hewlett proposed that "an analysis of water yield based on negative hydraulic gradients" may provide a better framework for understanding baseflow and hydrograph characteristics. Hewlett went on to suggest that the downslope translation of soil moisture may help sustain base flow in steep headwater basins. Together these observations, and the seminal work of Hewlett and Hibbert (1963), laid the groundwork marking the importance of downslope unsaturated flow to hillslope hydrology. Subsequently, Zaslavsky, Sinai, and several others investigated the process and presented approaches for quantifying these fluxes. Few studies, however, have addressed the temporal variability and controls on the development and stability of downslope unsaturated flow. Here we present data and analyses from the Coos Bay experiments that document the dynamics of downslope unsaturated zone flow paths, we characterize the conditions necessary for its initiation, and we present estimates of annual downslope flux.
DE: 1860 Streamflow
DE: 1875 Vadose zone
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005