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Title: Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, we develop a watershed zonation approach for characterizing watershed organization and functions in a tractable manner by integrating multiple spatial data layers. We hypothesize that (1) a hillslope is an appropriate unit for capturing the watershed-scale heterogeneity of key bedrock-through-canopy properties and for quantifying the co-variability of these properties representing coupled ecohydrological and biogeochemical interactions, (2) remote sensing data layers and clustering methods can be used to identify watershed hillslope zones having the unique distributions of these properties relative to neighboring parcels, and (3) property suites associated with the identified zones can be used to understand zone-based functions, such as response to early snowmelt or drought and solute exports to the river. We demonstrate this concept using unsupervised clustering methods that synthesize airborne remote sensing data (lidar, hyperspectral, and electromagnetic surveys) along with satellite and streamflow data collected in the East River Watershed, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA. Results show that (1) we can define the scale of hillslopes at which the hillslope-averaged metrics can capture the majority of the overall variability in key properties (such as elevation, net potential annual radiation, and peak snow-water equivalent – SWE), (2) elevation and aspect are independent controls on plant and snow signatures, (3) near-surface bedrockmore » electrical resistivity (top 20 m) and geological structures are significantly correlated with surface topography and plan species distribution, and (4) K-means, hierarchical clustering, and Gaussian mixture clustering methods generate similar zonation patterns across the watershed. Using independently collected data, we show that the identified zones provide information about zone-based watershed functions, including foresummer drought sensitivity and river nitrogen exports. The approach is expected to be applicable to other sites and generally useful for guiding the selection of hillslope-experiment locations and informing model parameterization.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ; ; ; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ; ORCiD logo; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)
OSTI Identifier:
1842887
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1855363
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-05CH11231; Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program and Workforce Development and Education
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (Online) Journal Volume: 26 Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1607-7938
Publisher:
Copernicus GmbH
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Wainwright, Haruko M., Uhlemann, Sebastian, Franklin, Maya, Falco, Nicola, Bouskill, Nicholas J., Newcomer, Michelle E., Dafflon, Baptiste, Siirila-Woodburn, Erica R., Minsley, Burke J., Williams, Kenneth H., and Hubbard, Susan S. Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions. Germany: N. p., 2022. Web. doi:10.5194/hess-26-429-2022.
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Wainwright, Haruko M., Uhlemann, Sebastian, Franklin, Maya, Falco, Nicola, Bouskill, Nicholas J., Newcomer, Michelle E., Dafflon, Baptiste, Siirila-Woodburn, Erica R., Minsley, Burke J., Williams, Kenneth H., & Hubbard, Susan S. Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions. Germany. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-429-2022
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Wainwright, Haruko M., Uhlemann, Sebastian, Franklin, Maya, Falco, Nicola, Bouskill, Nicholas J., Newcomer, Michelle E., Dafflon, Baptiste, Siirila-Woodburn, Erica R., Minsley, Burke J., Williams, Kenneth H., and Hubbard, Susan S. Mon . "Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions". Germany. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-429-2022.
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@article{osti_1842887,
title = {Watershed zonation through hillslope clustering for tractably quantifying above- and below-ground watershed heterogeneity and functions},
author = {Wainwright, Haruko M. and Uhlemann, Sebastian and Franklin, Maya and Falco, Nicola and Bouskill, Nicholas J. and Newcomer, Michelle E. and Dafflon, Baptiste and Siirila-Woodburn, Erica R. and Minsley, Burke J. and Williams, Kenneth H. and Hubbard, Susan S.},
abstractNote = {Abstract. In this study, we develop a watershed zonation approach for characterizing watershed organization and functions in a tractable manner by integrating multiple spatial data layers. We hypothesize that (1) a hillslope is an appropriate unit for capturing the watershed-scale heterogeneity of key bedrock-through-canopy properties and for quantifying the co-variability of these properties representing coupled ecohydrological and biogeochemical interactions, (2) remote sensing data layers and clustering methods can be used to identify watershed hillslope zones having the unique distributions of these properties relative to neighboring parcels, and (3) property suites associated with the identified zones can be used to understand zone-based functions, such as response to early snowmelt or drought and solute exports to the river. We demonstrate this concept using unsupervised clustering methods that synthesize airborne remote sensing data (lidar, hyperspectral, and electromagnetic surveys) along with satellite and streamflow data collected in the East River Watershed, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA. Results show that (1) we can define the scale of hillslopes at which the hillslope-averaged metrics can capture the majority of the overall variability in key properties (such as elevation, net potential annual radiation, and peak snow-water equivalent – SWE), (2) elevation and aspect are independent controls on plant and snow signatures, (3) near-surface bedrock electrical resistivity (top 20 m) and geological structures are significantly correlated with surface topography and plan species distribution, and (4) K-means, hierarchical clustering, and Gaussian mixture clustering methods generate similar zonation patterns across the watershed. Using independently collected data, we show that the identified zones provide information about zone-based watershed functions, including foresummer drought sensitivity and river nitrogen exports. The approach is expected to be applicable to other sites and generally useful for guiding the selection of hillslope-experiment locations and informing model parameterization.},
doi = {10.5194/hess-26-429-2022},
journal = {Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (Online)},
number = 2,
volume = 26,
place = {Germany},
year = {Mon Jan 31 00:00:00 EST 2022},
month = {Mon Jan 31 00:00:00 EST 2022}
}
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