Hydrological signatures based on event runoff coefficients in rural catchments of the iberian peninsula

  1. Taguas, E.V. 1
  2. Nadal-Romero, E. 5
  3. Ayuso, J.L. 1
  4. Casalí, J. 6
  5. Cid, P. 14
  6. Dafonte, J. 7
  7. Canatário-Duarte, A. 8
  8. Ferreira, C.S.S. 3
  9. Giménez, R. 6
  10. Giráldez, J.V. 1
  11. Gómez-Macpherson, H. 12
  12. Gómez, J.A. 12
  13. González-Hidalgo, J.C. 5
  14. Lana-Renault, N. 4
  15. Lucía, A. 2
  16. Mateos, L. 12
  17. Pérez, R. 1
  18. Rodríguez-Blanco, M.L. 9
  19. Schnabel, S. 10
  20. Serrano-Muela, M.P. 13
  21. Taboada-Castro, M.M. 9
  22. Taboada-Castro, M.T. 9
  23. Zabaleta, A. 11
  1. 1 Universidad de Córdoba
    info

    Universidad de Córdoba

    Córdoba, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05yc77b46

  2. 2 University of Tübingen
    info

    University of Tübingen

    Tubinga, Alemania

    ROR https://ror.org/03a1kwz48

  3. 3 Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra
    info

    Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra

    Coímbra, Portugal

    ROR https://ror.org/01n8x4993

  4. 4 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

  5. 5 Universidad de Zaragoza
    info

    Universidad de Zaragoza

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/012a91z28

  6. 6 Universidad Pública de Navarra
    info

    Universidad Pública de Navarra

    Pamplona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02z0cah89

  7. 7 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

  8. 8 Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
    info

    Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

    Castelo Branco, Portugal

    ROR https://ror.org/004s18446

  9. 9 Universidade da Coruña
    info

    Universidade da Coruña

    La Coruña, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01qckj285

  10. 10 Universidad de Extremadura
    info

    Universidad de Extremadura

    Badajoz, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0174shg90

  11. 11 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

  12. 12 Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible
    info

    Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible

    Córdoba, España

    ROR https://ror.org/039vw4178

  13. 13 Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología
    info

    Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/039ssy097

  14. 14 Instituto Politécnico Nacional
    info

    Instituto Politécnico Nacional

    Ciudad de México, México

    ROR https://ror.org/059sp8j34

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Journal:
Soil Sciences

ISSN: 0038-075X

Year of publication: 2017

Volume: 185

Issue: 5

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1097/SS.0000000000000210 PMID: English SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-85035236399 WoS: WOS:000408510200001 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: Soil Sciences

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Hydrological signatures are indices that help to describe the behavior of catchments. These indices can also be used to transfer information from gauged to ungauged catchments. In this study, different approaches were evaluated to determine volumetric runoff coefficients in 18 small/ medium experimental gauged catchments of the Iberian Peninsula and to fit runoff calculations based on precipitation data for gauged and ungauged catchments. Using data derived from 1962 events, rainfall-runoff relationships were characterized and compared in order to evaluate the various hydrological response patterns. Volumetric run off coefficients and cumulative runoff and precipitation ratios of the events that generated runoff (Rcum) minimized the root mean square error. A linear fit for the estimation of Rcum in ungauged catchments was based on mean annual precipitation, rates of infiltration, the fraction of forest-land use, and the catchment channel length. Despite high catchment heterogeneity, Rcum resulted in a suitable parameter to evaluate hydrological variability in rural gauged and ungauged catchments. In 50% of the catchments, the precipitation accounted for less than 50% of the runoff variation. Annual precipitation, antecedent rainfall, and base flow did not have a high significance in rainfall-runoff relationships, which illustrates the heterogeneity of hydrological responses. Our results highlight the need for signature characterizations of small/medium rural catchments because they are the sources of runoff and sediment discharge into rivers, and it is more economical and efficient to take action to mitigate runoff in rural locations. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.