Influence of spatial variations of microtopography and infiltration on surface runoff and field scale hydrological connectivity

Willemijn M. Appels, Patrick W. Bogaart, Sjoerd E.A.T.M. van der Zee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

128 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Surface runoff on agricultural fields arises when rainfall exceeds infiltration. Excess water ponding in and flowing through local microtopography increases the hydrological connectivity of fields. In turn, an increased level of hydrological connectivity leads to a higher surface runoff flux at the field boundaries. We investigated the functional hydrological connectivity of synthetical elevation fields with varying statistical properties. For this purpose, we developed an object-oriented ponding and redistribution model to which Philip's infiltration model was coupled. The connectivity behaviour is determined by the presence of depressions with a large area and spatial organization of microtopography in rills or channels. The presence of microdepressions suppresses the effect of the spatial variation of infiltration properties. Connectivity behaviour of a field with a varying spatial distribution of infiltration properties can be predicted by transforming the unique connectivity function that was defined for a designated microtopography.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)303-313
Number of pages11
JournalAdvances in Water Resources
Volume34
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Connectivity
  • Infiltration
  • Microtopography
  • Numerical experiments
  • Surface runoff

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