Controls of Catchment Properties and Groundwater Level on Spatial Distribution of Soil Water Storage Capacity

Abstract:

Soil water storage capacity at the catchment scale and its spatial variability have been recognized as crucial factors on controlling runoff generation during rainfall events and further play roles on long-term water balance. Distribution functions have been widely used for representing the spatial variability of soil water storage capacity. However, few studies have explored the temporal dynamics of the effective storage capacity and its spatial distribution under different wetness conditions. In this presentation, the controls of land surface topography, bedrock topography, soil properties as well as the groundwater levels on the soil water storage capacity are systematically evaluated based on numerical simulations.