SSF Patterns and Proxies - Combining static landscape patterns, dynamic proxies and an uncalibrated process-based modeling framework to identify SSF response units

• Applicants: Dr. Theresa Blume; Professor Dr. Markus Weiler
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 453746323

The occurrence and impact of subsurface stormflow is largely controlled by surface characteristics, subsurface structures, antecedent wetness conditions and rainfall characteristics. To investigate patterns and proxies (i.e. measurements that can substitute trench flow measurements) linked to SSF, we will move beyond the scale of the trenched hillslopes or individual wells to the scale of the research catchments. Assuming that there is a close relation between the landscape patterns in soil properties and patterns of response, our approach will be three-fold: a) Identifying patterns of structures: "static" structural response units linked to SSF based on soil-landcape evolution modeling coupled with AI for pattern and similarity analyses, incorporating both readily available GIS data and soil data collected in Phase 1 of the research unit. b) Identifying patterns of responses: "dynamic" response units and thresholds will be identified based on the distributed time series of various state variables and fluxes (infrastructure installed and instrumented in Phase 1). c) Identifying indicators and proxies of SSF from both structural and response patterns to further improve process representation in the RoGeR model and to assess minimum data needs (in collaboration with Projects Transform and Connect). After an initial test for the four research catchments, the data-based analyses of static and response patterns, proxy identification, and the model will be transferred and evaluated for other research catchments worldwide.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 5288: Fast and invisible: Conquering Subsurface Stormflow through an Interdisciplinary Multi-Site Approach
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Partner Organisation: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Ilja van Meerveld, Ph.D.
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Peter Chifflard; Professor Dr. Stefan Hergarten