<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The need for a better understanding of factors controlling the variability of soil water content (θ) in space and time to adequately predict the movement of water in the soil and in the interphase soil-atmosphere is widely recognised. In this paper, we analyse how soil properties, surface cover and topography influence soil moisture (θ) over karstic lithology in a sub-humid Mediterranean mountain environment. For this analysis we have used 17 months of θ measurements with a high temporal resolution from different positions on a hillslope at the main recharge area of the Campo de Dalías aquifer, in Sierra de Gádor (Almería, SE Spain). Soil properties and surface cover vary depending on the position at the hillslope, and this variability has an important effect on θ. The higher clay content towards the lower position of the hillslope explains the increase of θ downslope at the subsurface horizon throughout the entire period studied. In the surface horizon (0-0.1 m), θ patterns coincide with those found at the subsurface horizon (0.1-0.35 m) during dry periods when the main control is also exerted by the higher percentage of clay that increases downslope and limits water depletion through evaporation. However, in wet periods, the wettest regime is found in the surface horizon at the upper position of the hillslope where plant cover, soil organic matter content, available water, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K<sub>unsat</sub>) and infiltration rates are higher than in the lower positions. The presence of rock outcrops upslope the θ sampling area, acts as runoff sources, and subsurface flow generation between surface and subsurface horizons also may increase the differences between the upper and the lower positions of the hillslope during wet periods. Both rock and soil cracks and fissures act disconnecting surface water fluxes and reducing run-on to the lower position of the hillslope and thus they affect θ pattern as well as groundwater recharge. Understanding how terrain attributes, ground cover and soil factors interact for controlling θ pattern on karst hillslope is crucial to understand water fluxes in the vadose zone and dominant percolation mechanisms which also contribute to estimate groundwater recharge rates. Therefore, understanding of soil moisture dynamics provides very valuable information for designing rational strategies for the use and management of water resources, which is especially urgent in regions where groundwater supports human consume or key economic activities.</p></abstract>

The need for a better understanding of factors controlling the variability of soil water content (θ) in space and time to adequately predict the movement of water in the soil and in the interphase soil-atmosphere is widely recognised. In this paper, we analyse how soil properties, surface cover and topography influence soil moisture (θ) over karstic lithology in a sub-humid Mediterranean mountain environment. For this analysis we have used 17 months of θ measurements with a high temporal resolution from different positions on a hillslope at the main recharge area of the Campo de Dalías aquifer, in Sierra de Gádor (Almería, SE Spain). Soil properties and surface cover vary depending on the position at the hillslope, and this variability has an important effect on θ. The higher clay content towards the lower position of the hillslope explains the increase of θ downslope at the subsurface horizon throughout the entire period studied. In the surface horizon (0-0.1 m), θ patterns coincide with those found at the subsurface horizon (0.1-0.35 m) during dry periods when the main control is also exerted by the higher percentage of clay that increases downslope and limits water depletion through evaporation. However, in wet periods, the wettest regime is found in the surface horizon at the upper position of the hillslope where plant cover, soil organic matter content, available water, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kunsat) and infiltration rates are higher than in the lower positions. The presence of rock outcrops upslope the θ sampling area, acts as runoff sources, and subsurface flow generation between surface and subsurface horizons also may increase the differences between the upper and the lower positions of the hillslope during wet periods. Both rock and soil cracks and fissures act disconnecting surface water fluxes and reducing run-on to the lower position of the hillslope and thus they affect θ pattern as well as groundwater recharge. Understanding how terrain attributes, ground cover and soil factors interact for controlling θ pattern on karst hillslope is crucial to understand water fluxes in the vadose zone and dominant percolation mechanisms which also contribute to estimate groundwater recharge rates. Therefore, understanding of soil moisture dynamics provides very valuable information for designing rational strategies for the use and management of water resources, which is especially urgent in regions where groundwater supports human consume or key economic activities.

Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope

Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Almería, La Cañada de San Urbano S/N, 04120 Almería, Spain

Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Multiphase Chemistry Department, Multiphase Chemistry, Mainz, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany. Tel.: +49-(0)6131-305-6502

FutureWater, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain

Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo Olavide, Sevilla, Spain

College of Resources Science & Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, La Cañada de San Urbano S/N, 04120 Almería, Spain

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope"}

The need for a better understanding of factors controlling the variability of soil water content (θ) in space and time to adequately predict the movement of...

Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope

Publicado en línea: 08 jul 2016

Páginas: 209 - 217

Recibido: 07 ene 2016

Aceptado: 16 may 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/johh-2016-0030

Palabras clave
Soil moisture, Soil water content, Hillslope, Soil properties, Runoff, Karstic, Mediterranean

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope

Publicado en línea: 08 jul 2016

Páginas: 209 - 217

Recibido: 07 ene 2016

Aceptado: 16 may 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/johh-2016-0030

Palabras claveSoil moisture, Soil water content, Hillslope, Soil properties, Runoff, Karstic, Mediterranean

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Palabras clave
Soil moisture, Soil water content, Hillslope, Soil properties, Runoff, Karstic, Mediterranean