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Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bergstrom, A; McGlynn, B; Mallard, J; Covino, T
Published in: Hydrological Processes
July 15, 2016

Watershed structure influences the timing, magnitude, and spatial location of water and solute entry to stream networks. In turn, stream reach transport velocities and stream network geometry (travel distances) further influence the timing of export from watersheds. Here, we examine how watershed and stream network organization can affect travel times of water from delivery to the stream network to arrival at the watershed outlet. We analysed watershed structure and network geometry and quantified the relationship between stream discharge and solute velocity across six study watersheds (11.4 to 62.8 km2) located in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, USA. Based on these analyses, we developed stream network travel time functions for each watershed. We found that watershed structure, stream network geometry, and the variable magnitude of inputs across the network can have a pronounced affect on water travel distances and velocities within a stream network. Accordingly, a sample taken at the watershed outlet is composed of water and solutes sourced from across the watershed that experienced a range of travel times in the stream network. We suggest that understanding and quantifying stream network travel time distributions are valuable for deconvolving signals observed at watershed outlets into their spatial and temporal sources, and separating terrestrial and in-channel hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological influences on in-stream observations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Hydrological Processes

DOI

EISSN

1099-1085

ISSN

0885-6087

Publication Date

July 15, 2016

Volume

30

Issue

15

Start / End Page

2671 / 2685

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
 

Citation

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Bergstrom, A., McGlynn, B., Mallard, J., & Covino, T. (2016). Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions. Hydrological Processes, 30(15), 2671–2685. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10792
Bergstrom, A., B. McGlynn, J. Mallard, and T. Covino. “Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions.” Hydrological Processes 30, no. 15 (July 15, 2016): 2671–85. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10792.
Bergstrom A, McGlynn B, Mallard J, Covino T. Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions. Hydrological Processes. 2016 Jul 15;30(15):2671–85.
Bergstrom, A., et al. “Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions.” Hydrological Processes, vol. 30, no. 15, July 2016, pp. 2671–85. Scopus, doi:10.1002/hyp.10792.
Bergstrom A, McGlynn B, Mallard J, Covino T. Watershed structural influences on the distributions of stream network water and solute travel times under baseflow conditions. Hydrological Processes. 2016 Jul 15;30(15):2671–2685.
Journal cover image

Published In

Hydrological Processes

DOI

EISSN

1099-1085

ISSN

0885-6087

Publication Date

July 15, 2016

Volume

30

Issue

15

Start / End Page

2671 / 2685

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3707 Hydrology
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience