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Hydrogeochemical based mixing models have been successfully used to investigate the composition and source identification of streamflow. The applicability of these models is limited due to the high costs associated with data collection and the hydrogeochemical analysis of water samples. Fortunately, a variety of mixing models exist, requiting different amount of data as input, and in data scarce regions it is likely that preference will be given to models with the lowest requirement of input data. An unanswered question is if models with high or low input requirement are equally accurate. To this end, the performance of two mixing models with different input requirement, the mixing model analysis (MMA) and the end‐member mixing analysis (EMMA), were verified on a tropical montane headwater catchment (21.7 km2) in the Ecuadorian Andes. Nineteen hydrogeochemical tracers were measured on water samples collected weekly during three years in streamflow and eight potential water sources or end‐members (precipitation, lake water, soil water from different horizons and springs). Results based on 6 conservative tracers, revealed that EMMA (using all tracers) and MMA (using pair‐combinations out of the 6 conservative ones), identified the same end‐members: rainfall, soil water and spring water., as well as, similar contribution fractions to streamflow from rainfall 21.9% and 21.4%, soil water 52.7% and 52.3%, and spring water 26.1% and 28.7%, respectively. Our findings show that a hydrogeochemical mixing model requiring a few tracers can provide similar outcomes than models demanding more tracers as input data. This underlines the value of a preliminary detailed hydrogeochemical characterization as basis to derive the most cost‐efficient monitoring strategy.
Jorge Ramón; Alicia Correa; Edison Timbe; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Enma Mora; Patricio Crespo. Do mixing models with different input requirement yield similar streamflow source contributions? Case study: A tropical montane catchment. Hydrological Processes 2021, 35, 1 .
AMA StyleJorge Ramón, Alicia Correa, Edison Timbe, Giovanny M. Mosquera, Enma Mora, Patricio Crespo. Do mixing models with different input requirement yield similar streamflow source contributions? Case study: A tropical montane catchment. Hydrological Processes. 2021; 35 (6):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJorge Ramón; Alicia Correa; Edison Timbe; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Enma Mora; Patricio Crespo. 2021. "Do mixing models with different input requirement yield similar streamflow source contributions? Case study: A tropical montane catchment." Hydrological Processes 35, no. 6: 1.
In tropical highlands of the northern Andes, known as páramos, fog incidence is very frequent. Its quantification is not yet clear, mostly because of the complexity of distinguishing between fog and low‐intensity rainfall. Moreover, there is uncertainty about the performance of the various types of gauges used to capture fog in this ecosystem. This study was carried out at the Zhurucay Ecohydrological Observatory (3,800 m a.s.l.), in southern Ecuador, assessing two cylindrical (Juvik and Wire Harp types) and two flat‐screen fog collection gauges. A high‐resolution laser disdrometer was installed next to the fog gauges, to measure precipitation of very low intensities and isolate fog from rainfall. We collected data over a 12‐month period for four types of events—fog only, fog dominant, fog non‐dominant and fog negligible. We evaluated the performance of the gauges during each type of event as well as to estimate the amount, rate and duration of fog. Fog was present during 68% of the days of the study, predominantly in the early morning and at night, and the average daily contribution was 1.37 mm. Most of the events occurred at rates below 0.3 mm h−1. Measured rainfall was 1,200.1 mm, and fog estimations amounted to 340.1 mm. This fog contribution could bring total annual precipitation to about 1,540.2 mm, suggesting an extra 22% of water potentially available to the ecosystem—a very important asset for hydrological and ecological processes. This is the first study that has compared different types of fog gauges in the Andean páramo.
Gina Berrones; Patricio Crespo; Bradford P. Wilcox; Conrado Tobón; Rolando Célleri. Assessment of fog gauges and their effectiveness in quantifying fog in the Andean páramo. Ecohydrology 2021, e2300 .
AMA StyleGina Berrones, Patricio Crespo, Bradford P. Wilcox, Conrado Tobón, Rolando Célleri. Assessment of fog gauges and their effectiveness in quantifying fog in the Andean páramo. Ecohydrology. 2021; ():e2300.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGina Berrones; Patricio Crespo; Bradford P. Wilcox; Conrado Tobón; Rolando Célleri. 2021. "Assessment of fog gauges and their effectiveness in quantifying fog in the Andean páramo." Ecohydrology , no. : e2300.
Accurate determination of the water retention curve (WRC) of a soil is essential for the understanding and modelling of the subsurface hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical processes. Volcanic ash soils with andic properties (Andosols) are recognized as important providers of ecological and hydrological services in mountainous regions worldwide due to their large fraction of small size particles (clay, silt, and organic matter) that gives them an outstanding water holding capacity. Previous comparative analyses of in situ (field) and standard laboratory methods for the determination of the WRC of Andosols showed contrasting results. Based on an extensive analysis of laboratory, experimental, and field measured WRCs of Andosols in combination with data extracted from the published literature we show that standard laboratory methods using small soil sample volumes (≤300 cm3) mimic the WRC of these soils only partially. The results obtained by the latter resemble only a small portion of the wet range of the Andosols’ WRC (from saturation up to ‐5 kPa, or pF 1.7), but overestimate substantially their water content for higher matric potentials. This discrepancy occurs irrespective of site‐specific land use and cover, soil properties, and applied method. The disagreement limits our capacity to infer correctly subsurface hydrological behavior, as illustrated through the analysis of long‐term soil moisture and matric potential data from an experimental site in the tropical Andes. These findings imply that results reported in past research should be used with caution and that future research should focus on determining laboratory methods that allow obtaining a correct characterization of the WRC of Andosols. For the latter, a set of recommendations and future directions to solve the identified methodological issues is proposed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Giovanny M. Mosquera; Marín Franklin; Feyen Jan; Célleri Rolando; Breuer Lutz; Windhorst David; Crespo Patricio. A field, laboratory, and literature review evaluation of the water retention curve of volcanic ash soils: How well do standard laboratory methods reflect field conditions? Hydrological Processes 2020, 35, 1 .
AMA StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera, Marín Franklin, Feyen Jan, Célleri Rolando, Breuer Lutz, Windhorst David, Crespo Patricio. A field, laboratory, and literature review evaluation of the water retention curve of volcanic ash soils: How well do standard laboratory methods reflect field conditions? Hydrological Processes. 2020; 35 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera; Marín Franklin; Feyen Jan; Célleri Rolando; Breuer Lutz; Windhorst David; Crespo Patricio. 2020. "A field, laboratory, and literature review evaluation of the water retention curve of volcanic ash soils: How well do standard laboratory methods reflect field conditions?" Hydrological Processes 35, no. 1: 1.
Efforts to correct precipitation measurements have been ongoing for decades, but are scarce for tropical highlands. Four tipping-bucket (TB) rain gauges with different resolution that are commonly used in the Andean mountain region were compared—one DAVIS-RC-II, one HOBO-RG3-M, and two TE525MM TB gauges (with and without an Alter-type wind screen). The relative performance of these rain gauges, installed side-by-side in the Zhurucay Ecohydrological Observatory, south Ecuador, at 3780 m a.s.l., was assessed using the TB with the highest resolution (0.1 mm) as reference, i.e. the TE525MM. The effect of rain intensity and wind conditions on gauge performance was estimated as well, using 2 years of data. Results reveal that (i) precipitation amount for the reference TB is on average 5.6 to 7.2% higher than rain gauges having a resolution ≥0.2 mm; (ii) relative underestimation of precipitation from the gauges with coarser resolution is higher during low-intensity rainfall—a maximum deviation of 11% was observed for rain intensities ≤1 mm h-1; (iii) precipitation intensities of 2 mm h-1 or less that occur 75% of the time cannot be determined accurately for timescales shorter than 30 minutes because of the gauges’ resolution, e.g. the absolute bias is >10%; and (iv) wind has a similar effect on all sensors. This analysis contributes to increased accuracy and homogeneity of precipitation measurements throughout the Andean highlands, by quantifying the key role of rain-gauge resolution.
Ryan Padrón; Jan Feyen; Mario Córdova; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri. Rain Gauge Inter-Comparison Quantifies Deficiencies in Precipitation Monitoring. La Granja 2020, 31, 7 -20.
AMA StyleRyan Padrón, Jan Feyen, Mario Córdova, Patricio Crespo, Rolando Célleri. Rain Gauge Inter-Comparison Quantifies Deficiencies in Precipitation Monitoring. La Granja. 2020; 31 (1):7-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRyan Padrón; Jan Feyen; Mario Córdova; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri. 2020. "Rain Gauge Inter-Comparison Quantifies Deficiencies in Precipitation Monitoring." La Granja 31, no. 1: 7-20.
The prediction of river discharge using hydrological models (HMs) is of utmost importance, especially in basins that provide drinking water or serve as recreation areas, to mitigate damage to civil structures and to prevent the loss of human lives. Therefore, different HMs must be tested to determine their accuracy and usefulness as early warning tools, especially for extreme precipitation events. This study simulated the river discharge in an Andean watershed, for which the distributed HM Runoff Prediction Model (RPM) and the semi-distributed HM Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) were applied. As precipitation input data for the RPM model, high-resolution radar observations were used, whereas the HEC-HMS model used the available meteorological station data. The obtained simulations were compared to measured discharges at the outlet of the watershed. The results highlighted the advantages of distributed HM (RPM) in combination with high-resolution radar images, which estimated accurately the discharges in magnitude and time. The statistical analysis showed good to very good accordance between observed and simulated discharge for the RPM model (R2: 0.85–0.92; NSE: 0.77–0.82), whereas for the HEC-HMS model accuracies were lower (R2: 0.68–0.86; NSE: 0.26–0.78). This was not only due to the application of means values for the watershed (HEC-HMS), but also to limited rain gauge information. Generally, station network density in tropical mountain regions is poor, for which reason the high spatiotemporal precipitation variability cannot be detected. For hydrological simulation and forecasting flash floods, as well as for environmental investigations and water resource management, meteorological radars are the better choice. The greater availability of cost-effective systems at the present time also reduces implementation and maintenance costs of dense meteorological station networks.
Diego Mejía-Veintimilla; Pablo Ochoa-Cueva; Natalia Samaniego-Rojas; Ricardo Félix; Juan Arteaga; Patricio Crespo; Fernando Oñate-Valdivieso; Andreas Fries. River Discharge Simulation in the High Andes of Southern Ecuador Using High-Resolution Radar Observations and Meteorological Station Data. Remote Sensing 2019, 11, 2804 .
AMA StyleDiego Mejía-Veintimilla, Pablo Ochoa-Cueva, Natalia Samaniego-Rojas, Ricardo Félix, Juan Arteaga, Patricio Crespo, Fernando Oñate-Valdivieso, Andreas Fries. River Discharge Simulation in the High Andes of Southern Ecuador Using High-Resolution Radar Observations and Meteorological Station Data. Remote Sensing. 2019; 11 (23):2804.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDiego Mejía-Veintimilla; Pablo Ochoa-Cueva; Natalia Samaniego-Rojas; Ricardo Félix; Juan Arteaga; Patricio Crespo; Fernando Oñate-Valdivieso; Andreas Fries. 2019. "River Discharge Simulation in the High Andes of Southern Ecuador Using High-Resolution Radar Observations and Meteorological Station Data." Remote Sensing 11, no. 23: 2804.
During the 1980s, reforestation programs using exotic species (Pinus spp.) were established in the páramo ecosystem of Ecuador. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the natural regeneration between pine plantations (Pi) and natural grassland (NG) across an elevational gradient and (2) to identify the attributes of Pi and soil properties that were influencing herbaceous and woody plant composition and their plant cover. In total, six independent Pinus patula (Schltdl. & Cham. plantations (two per each elevation) were selected and distributed in an elevational range (3200–3400, 3400–3600, 3600–3800 m a.s.l.). Adjacent to Pi, plots in NG were established for recording natural regeneration. Both, namely the attributes and the soil samples, were measured in Pi. The results showed that natural regeneration differs significantly between both types of vegetation. As expected, NG holds more plant diversity than Pi; the elevational range showed a clear tendency that there was more herbaceous richness when elevation range increases, while the opposite was found for woody species. Moreover, attributes of Pi influenced herbaceous and woody vegetation, when saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) in the soil, basal area (BA) and canopy density (CD) increased, herbaceous species richness and its cover decreseased; and when Ksat and the acidity in the soil increased, woody plants richness and its cover decreased. The plantations have facilitated the establishment of shade tolerant species. More studies are needed to evaluate if removal with adequate management of pine plantations can improve the restoration and conservation of the native vegetation of the páramo ecosystem.
Carlos Quiroz Dahik; Franklin Marín; Ruth Arias; Patricio Crespo; Michael Weber; Ximena Palomeque. Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador. Forests 2019, 10, 745 .
AMA StyleCarlos Quiroz Dahik, Franklin Marín, Ruth Arias, Patricio Crespo, Michael Weber, Ximena Palomeque. Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador. Forests. 2019; 10 (9):745.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlos Quiroz Dahik; Franklin Marín; Ruth Arias; Patricio Crespo; Michael Weber; Ximena Palomeque. 2019. "Comparison of Natural Regeneration in Natural Grassland and Pine Plantations across an Elevational Gradient in the Páramo Ecosystem of Southern Ecuador." Forests 10, no. 9: 745.
In this study, the performance of the HEC-HMS model was evaluated for the simulation of rain-runoff processes in a paramo basin of approximately 21. 8 km2, south of Ecuador. The calibration and validation comprises the period of July-2013 to June-2016 with daily data. The Soil Moisture Accounting (SMA) method was used to compute the water flow in the soil. For the rainfall distribution, the Thiessen method was used, while the Evapotranspiration was calculated with the Penman-Monteith equation. The results revealed that (1) 83% of the water infiltrates the soil while only 17% is retained in plants and the soil surface, (2) the water is retained for approximately 42 days before reaching the river and (3) that more than 60% of the flow corresponds to sub-surface flow.
Luis Manuel Timbe Castro; Patricio Javier Crespo Sánchez; Juan José Cabrera-Balarezo. Evaluation of the HEC-HMS model for the hydrological simulation of a paramo basin. DYNA 2019, 86, 338 -344.
AMA StyleLuis Manuel Timbe Castro, Patricio Javier Crespo Sánchez, Juan José Cabrera-Balarezo. Evaluation of the HEC-HMS model for the hydrological simulation of a paramo basin. DYNA. 2019; 86 (210):338-344.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Manuel Timbe Castro; Patricio Javier Crespo Sánchez; Juan José Cabrera-Balarezo. 2019. "Evaluation of the HEC-HMS model for the hydrological simulation of a paramo basin." DYNA 86, no. 210: 338-344.
Andean ecosystems provide important ecosystem services including streamflow regulation and carbon sequestration, services that are controlled by the water retention properties of the soils. Even though these soils have been historically altered by pine afforestation and grazing, little research has been dedicated to the assessment of such impacts at local or regional scales. To partially fill this knowledge gap, we present an evaluation of the impacts of pine plantations and grazing on the soil hydro-physical properties and soil organic matter (SOM) of high montane forests and páramo in southern Ecuador, at elevations varying between 2705 and 3766 m a.s.l. In total, seven study sites were selected and each one was parceled into undisturbed and altered plots with pine plantation and grazing. Soil properties were characterized at two depths, 0–10 and 10–25 cm, and differences in soil parameters between undisturbed and disturbed plots were analyzed versus factors such as ecosystem type, sampling depth, soil type, elevation, and past/present land management. The main soil properties affected by land use change are the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), the water retention capacity (pF 0 to 2.52), and SOM. The impacts of pine afforestation are dependent on sampling depth, ecosystem type, plantation characteristics, and previous land use, while the impacts of grazing are primarily dependent on sampling depth and land use management (grazing intensity and tilling activities). The site-specific nature of the found relations suggests that extension of findings in response to changes in land use in montane Andean ecosystems is risky; therefore, future evaluations of the impact of land use change on soil parameters should take into consideration that responses are or can be site specific.
Franklin Marín; Carlos Quiroz Dahik; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Jan Feyen; Pedro Cisneros; Patricio Crespo. Changes in Soil Hydro-Physical Properties and SOM Due to Pine Afforestation and Grazing in Andean Environments Cannot Be Generalized. Forests 2018, 10, 17 .
AMA StyleFranklin Marín, Carlos Quiroz Dahik, Giovanny M. Mosquera, Jan Feyen, Pedro Cisneros, Patricio Crespo. Changes in Soil Hydro-Physical Properties and SOM Due to Pine Afforestation and Grazing in Andean Environments Cannot Be Generalized. Forests. 2018; 10 (1):17.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFranklin Marín; Carlos Quiroz Dahik; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Jan Feyen; Pedro Cisneros; Patricio Crespo. 2018. "Changes in Soil Hydro-Physical Properties and SOM Due to Pine Afforestation and Grazing in Andean Environments Cannot Be Generalized." Forests 10, no. 1: 17.
Daniel Tenelanda-Patiño; Patricio Crespo-Sánchez; Giovanny Mosquera-Rojas. Umbrales en la respuesta de humedad del suelo a condiciones meteorológicas en una ladera Altoandina. MASKANA 2018, 9, 53 -65.
AMA StyleDaniel Tenelanda-Patiño, Patricio Crespo-Sánchez, Giovanny Mosquera-Rojas. Umbrales en la respuesta de humedad del suelo a condiciones meteorológicas en una ladera Altoandina. MASKANA. 2018; 9 (2):53-65.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Tenelanda-Patiño; Patricio Crespo-Sánchez; Giovanny Mosquera-Rojas. 2018. "Umbrales en la respuesta de humedad del suelo a condiciones meteorológicas en una ladera Altoandina." MASKANA 9, no. 2: 53-65.
Water-stable isotopic (WSI) data are widely used in hydrological modelling investigations. However, the long-term monitoring of these tracers at high-temporal resolution (sub-hourly) remains challenging due to technical and financial limitations. Thus, alternative tracers that allow continuous high-frequency monitoring for identifying fast-occurring hydrological processes via numerical simulations are needed. We used a flexible numerical flow-partitioning model (TraSPAN) that simulates tracer mass balance and water flux response to investigate the relative contributions of event (new) and pre-event (old) water fractions to total runoff. We tested four TraSPAN structures that represent different hydrological functioning to simulate storm flow partitioning for an event in a headwater forested temperate catchment in Western, Oregon, USA using four-hour WSI and 0.25-h electrical conductivity (EC) data. Our results showed strong fits of the water flux and tracer signals and a remarkable level of agreement of flow partitioning proportions and overall process-based hydrological understanding when the model was calibrated using either tracer. In both cases, the best model of the rainstorm event indicated that the proportion of effective precipitation routed as event water varies over time and that water is stored and routed through two reservoir pairs for event and pre-event. Our results provide great promise for the use of sub-hourly monitored EC as an alternative tracer to WSI in hydrological modelling applications that require long-term high-resolution data to investigate non-stationarities in hydrological systems.
Giovanny M. Mosquera; Catalina Segura; Patricio Crespo. Flow Partitioning Modelling Using High-Resolution Isotopic and Electrical Conductivity Data. Water 2018, 10, 904 .
AMA StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera, Catalina Segura, Patricio Crespo. Flow Partitioning Modelling Using High-Resolution Isotopic and Electrical Conductivity Data. Water. 2018; 10 (7):904.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera; Catalina Segura; Patricio Crespo. 2018. "Flow Partitioning Modelling Using High-Resolution Isotopic and Electrical Conductivity Data." Water 10, no. 7: 904.
Páramo soils store high amounts of organic carbon. However, the effects of climate change and changes in land cover and use (LC/LU) in this high‐elevation tropical ecosystem may cause a decrease in their carbon storage capacity. Therefore, better understanding of the factors influencing the Páramo soils’ carbon storage and export is urgently needed. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the differences in dissolved organic carbon content (DOC) in the soil water of four LC/LU types (tussock grass, natural forest, pine plantations, and pasture) and the factors controlling its variability in the Quinuas Ecohydrological Observatory in South Ecuador. Weekly measurements of soil water DOC concentrations, meteorological variables, soil water content and temperature from various depths and slope positions were monitored within the soils’ organic and mineral horizons between October 2014 and January 2017. These data were used to generate regression trees and random forest statistical models to identify the factors controlling soil water DOC concentrations. From high to low concentrations, natural forest depict the highest DOC concentrations followed by pasture, tussock grass, and pine forest. For all LC/LU types, DOC concentrations increase with decreasing soil moisture. Our results also show that LC/LU is the most important predictor of soil water DOC concentrations, followed by sampling depth and soil moisture. Interestingly, atmospheric variables and antecedent evapotranspiration and precipitation conditions show only little influence on DOC concentrations during the monitoring period. Our findings provide unique information that can help improve the management of soil and water resources in the Páramo and other peat dominated ecosystems elsewhere.
Juan Pesántez; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Patricio Crespo; Lutz Breuer; David Windhorst. Effect of land cover and hydro-meteorological controls on soil water DOC concentrations in a high-elevation tropical environment. Hydrological Processes 2018, 32, 2624 -2635.
AMA StyleJuan Pesántez, Giovanny M. Mosquera, Patricio Crespo, Lutz Breuer, David Windhorst. Effect of land cover and hydro-meteorological controls on soil water DOC concentrations in a high-elevation tropical environment. Hydrological Processes. 2018; 32 (17):2624-2635.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJuan Pesántez; Giovanny M. Mosquera; Patricio Crespo; Lutz Breuer; David Windhorst. 2018. "Effect of land cover and hydro-meteorological controls on soil water DOC concentrations in a high-elevation tropical environment." Hydrological Processes 32, no. 17: 2624-2635.
The páramo, a collection of Neotropical alpine ecosystems, plays a prominent role in ecosystem services (ESs), providing water supply and regulation, conservation of biodiversity, and carbon storage in soil. The establishment of pine plantations for carbon sequestration and wood production has recently raised questions concerning the possible impact on the páramo’s ES. This study identifies the main stakeholders in this field and compares and contrasts their perceptions of the impact of pine plantations on the páramo’s ES, because the disparity among stakeholders’ perceptions must be addressed to achieve sustainable management. The data were gathered using 56 semi-structured interviews and were qualitatively analyzed. The results show that the main stakeholder groups (landowners, local government officials, foresters, and nature conservationists) acknowledge the important ES of the plantations. The perception of plantation impact varies among and within stakeholder groups, however, on specific functions, such as water provision, carbon storage, erosion prevention, and habitat function for wildlife and natural vegetation. Consideration and integration of these perceptions can help policy makers and organizations develop sustainable policies for the future management of the páramo ecosystem.
Carlos Quiroz Dahik; Patricio Crespo; Bernd Stimm; Felipe Murtinho; Michael Weber; Patrick Hildebrandt. Contrasting Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Pine Plantations in the Páramo Ecosystem of Ecuador. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1707 .
AMA StyleCarlos Quiroz Dahik, Patricio Crespo, Bernd Stimm, Felipe Murtinho, Michael Weber, Patrick Hildebrandt. Contrasting Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Pine Plantations in the Páramo Ecosystem of Ecuador. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (6):1707.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarlos Quiroz Dahik; Patricio Crespo; Bernd Stimm; Felipe Murtinho; Michael Weber; Patrick Hildebrandt. 2018. "Contrasting Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Pine Plantations in the Páramo Ecosystem of Ecuador." Sustainability 10, no. 6: 1707.
The páramo ecosystem provides most of the water for the tropical Andean highlands in South America. Although the comprehension of this environment has increased lately, there remains an urgent need to quantify the processes involved in the hydrological cycle. Interception loss (IL) is one of the least studied processes in the páramo, and more generally, in grasslands globally. The main objective of this study was to quantify IL at event scale by estimating it indirectly from precipitation (P) and effective rainfall (ER). Furthermore, the following questions were assessed: (a) how much of the P becomes ER? (b) what is the impact on IL calculations of using a rain gauge instead of a disdrometer? (c) which meteorological variables are related to the IL process? and (d) is it possible to estimate IL from meteorological variables? High percentages of IL in relation to P were found (10–100%). The canopy storage capacity of tussock grasses was approximately 2 mm. The disdrometer observations led to more accurate results than the rain gauge observations because only the disdrometer registers light precipitation, horizontal precipitation, and drizzle that increases the amount of P, ER, and IL estimates. Also, we found that IL is more strongly correlated with P; and IL can be estimated with a multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.9) from P and relative humidity for events where 1.7 < P < 8.5 mm. These findings show the important role of IL in the páramo and provide a stepping stone to modelling of water resources.
A. Ochoa-Sánchez; P. Crespo; R. Célleri. Quantification of rainfall interception in the high Andean tussock grasslands. Ecohydrology 2018, 11, e1946 .
AMA StyleA. Ochoa-Sánchez, P. Crespo, R. Célleri. Quantification of rainfall interception in the high Andean tussock grasslands. Ecohydrology. 2018; 11 (3):e1946.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Ochoa-Sánchez; P. Crespo; R. Célleri. 2018. "Quantification of rainfall interception in the high Andean tussock grasslands." Ecohydrology 11, no. 3: e1946.
The relative importance of catchment's water provenance and flow paths varies in space and time, complicating the conceptualization of the rainfall‐runoff responses. We assessed the temporal dynamics in source areas, flow paths, and age by End Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA), hydrograph separation, and Inverse Transit Time Proxies (ITTPs) estimation within a headwater catchment in the Ecuadorian Andes. Twenty‐two solutes, stable isotopes, pH, and electrical conductivity from a stream and 12 potential sources were analyzed. Four end‐members were required to satisfactorily represent the hydrological system, i.e., rainfall, spring water, and water from the bottom layers of Histosols and Andosols. Water from Histosols in and near the riparian zone was the highest source contributor to runoff throughout the year (39% for the drier season, 45% for the wetter season), highlighting the importance of the water that is stored in the riparian zone. Spring water contributions to streamflow tripled during the drier season, as evidenced by geochemical signatures that are consistent with deeper flow paths rather than shallow interflow through Andosols. Rainfall exhibited low seasonal variation in this contribution. Hydrograph separation revealed that 94% and 84% is preevent water in the drier and wetter seasons, respectively. From low‐flow to high‐flow conditions, all the sources increased their contribution except spring water. The relative age of stream water decreased during wetter periods, when the contributing area of the riparian zone expands. The multimethod and multitracer approach enabled to closely study the interchanging importance of flow processes and water source dynamics from an interannual perspective.
Alicia Correa; David Windhorst; Doerthe Tetzlaff; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; Jan Feyen; Lutz Breuer. Temporal dynamics in dominant runoff sources and flow paths in the Andean Páramo. Water Resources Research 2017, 53, 5998 -6017.
AMA StyleAlicia Correa, David Windhorst, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Patricio Crespo, Rolando Célleri, Jan Feyen, Lutz Breuer. Temporal dynamics in dominant runoff sources and flow paths in the Andean Páramo. Water Resources Research. 2017; 53 (7):5998-6017.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Correa; David Windhorst; Doerthe Tetzlaff; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; Jan Feyen; Lutz Breuer. 2017. "Temporal dynamics in dominant runoff sources and flow paths in the Andean Páramo." Water Resources Research 53, no. 7: 5998-6017.
To improve the current knowledge of the rainfall–runoff phenomena of tropical montane catchments, we explored the usefulness of several hydrological indicators on a nested cloud forest catchment (76.9 km2). The used metrics belong to 5 categories: baseflow mean transit time, physicochemical properties of stream water, land cover, topographic, and hydrometric parameters. We applied diverse statistical techniques for data analysis and to contrast findings. Multiple regression analysis showed that mean transit times of base flow could be efficiently predicted by sodium concentrations (higher during baseflows) and temperatures of stream water, indicating a major influence of geomorphology rather than topographic or land cover characteristics. Principal component analysis revealed that no specific subset of catchment indicators could be identified as prevailing descriptors for all catchments. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis provided concomitant results, implying larger levels of dissimilarity between smaller subcatchments than between larger ones. Overall, results point out an intricate interdependence of diverse processes at surface and subsurface level indicating a high level of heterogeneity. Disregarding heterogeneity of nested or paired catchments could lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions, especially in tropical mountain regions where pronounced spatial and temporal gradients are present.
Edison Timbe; Jan Feyen; Luis Timbe; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; David Windhorst; Hans-Georg Frede; Lutz Breuer. Multicriteria assessment of water dynamics reveals subcatchment variability in a seemingly homogeneous tropical cloud forest catchment. Hydrological Processes 2017, 31, 1456 -1468.
AMA StyleEdison Timbe, Jan Feyen, Luis Timbe, Patricio Crespo, Rolando Célleri, David Windhorst, Hans-Georg Frede, Lutz Breuer. Multicriteria assessment of water dynamics reveals subcatchment variability in a seemingly homogeneous tropical cloud forest catchment. Hydrological Processes. 2017; 31 (7):1456-1468.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdison Timbe; Jan Feyen; Luis Timbe; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; David Windhorst; Hans-Georg Frede; Lutz Breuer. 2017. "Multicriteria assessment of water dynamics reveals subcatchment variability in a seemingly homogeneous tropical cloud forest catchment." Hydrological Processes 31, no. 7: 1456-1468.
Changes in land use and land cover are major drivers of hydrological alteration in the tropical Andes. However, quantifying their impacts is fraught with difficulties because of the extreme diversity in meteorological boundary conditions, which contrasts strongly with the lack of knowledge about local hydrological processes. Although local studies have reduced data scarcity in certain regions, the complexity of the tropical Andes poses a big challenge to regional hydrological prediction. This study analyses data generated from a participatory monitoring network of 25 headwater catchments covering three of the major Andean biomes (páramo, jalca and puna) and links their hydrological responses to main types of human interventions (cultivation, afforestation and grazing). A paired catchment setup was implemented to evaluate the impacts of change using a ‘trading space-for-time’ approach. Catchments were selected based on regional representativeness and contrasting land use types. Precipitation and discharge have been monitored and analysed at high temporal resolution for a time period between 1 and 5 years. The observed catchment responses clearly reflect the extraordinarily wide spectrum of hydrological processes of the tropical Andes. They range from perennially humid páramos in Ecuador and northern Peru with extremely large specific discharge and baseflows, to highly seasonal, flashy catchments in the drier punas of southern Peru and Bolivia. The impacts of land use are similarly diverse and their magnitudes are a function of catchment properties, original and replacement vegetation and management type. Cultivation and afforestation consistently affect the entire range of discharges, particularly low flows. The impacts of grazing are more variable but have the largest effect on the catchment hydrological regulation. Overall, anthropogenic interventions result in increased streamflow variability and significant reductions in catchment regulation capacity and water yield, irrespective of the hydrological properties of the original biome. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Hydrological Processes. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Boris F. Ochoa‐Tocachi; Wouter Buytaert; Bert De Bièvre; Rolando Célleri; Patricio Crespo; Marcos Villacis; Carlos Llerena; Luis Acosta; Mauricio Villazón; Mario Guallpa; Junior Gil-Ríos; Paola Fuentes; Dimas Olaya; Paúl Viñas; Gerver Rojas; Sandro Arias. Impacts of land use on the hydrological response of tropical Andean catchments. Hydrological Processes 2016, 30, 4074 -4089.
AMA StyleBoris F. Ochoa‐Tocachi, Wouter Buytaert, Bert De Bièvre, Rolando Célleri, Patricio Crespo, Marcos Villacis, Carlos Llerena, Luis Acosta, Mauricio Villazón, Mario Guallpa, Junior Gil-Ríos, Paola Fuentes, Dimas Olaya, Paúl Viñas, Gerver Rojas, Sandro Arias. Impacts of land use on the hydrological response of tropical Andean catchments. Hydrological Processes. 2016; 30 (22):4074-4089.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoris F. Ochoa‐Tocachi; Wouter Buytaert; Bert De Bièvre; Rolando Célleri; Patricio Crespo; Marcos Villacis; Carlos Llerena; Luis Acosta; Mauricio Villazón; Mario Guallpa; Junior Gil-Ríos; Paola Fuentes; Dimas Olaya; Paúl Viñas; Gerver Rojas; Sandro Arias. 2016. "Impacts of land use on the hydrological response of tropical Andean catchments." Hydrological Processes 30, no. 22: 4074-4089.
As a consequence of the remote location of the Andean páramo, knowledge on their hydrologic functioning is limited; notwithstanding, these alpine tundra ecosystems act as water towers for a large fraction of the society. Given the harsh environmental conditions in this region, year‐round monitoring is cumbersome, and it would be beneficial if the monitoring needed for the understanding of the rainfall–runoff response could be limited in time. To identify the hydrological response and the effect of temporal monitoring, a nested (n = 7) hydrological monitoring network was set up in the Zhurucay catchment (7.53 km2), south Ecuador. The research questions were as follows: (1) Can event sampling provide similar information in comparison with continuous monitoring, and (2) if so, how many events are needed to achieve a similar degree of information? A subset of 34 rainfall–runoff events was compared with monthly values derived from a continuous monitoring scheme from December 2010 to November 2013. Land cover and physiographic characteristics were correlated with 11 hydrological indices. Results show that despite some distinct differences between event and continuous sampling, both data sets reveal similar information; more in particular, the monitoring of a single event in the rainy season provides the same information as continuous monitoring, while during the dry season, ten events ought to be monitored. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alicia Correa; David Windhorst; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; Jan Feyen; Lutz Breuer. Continuousversusevent-based sampling: how many samples are required for deriving general hydrological understanding on Ecuador's páramo region? Hydrological Processes 2016, 30, 4059 -4073.
AMA StyleAlicia Correa, David Windhorst, Patricio Crespo, Rolando Célleri, Jan Feyen, Lutz Breuer. Continuousversusevent-based sampling: how many samples are required for deriving general hydrological understanding on Ecuador's páramo region? Hydrological Processes. 2016; 30 (22):4059-4073.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlicia Correa; David Windhorst; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri; Jan Feyen; Lutz Breuer. 2016. "Continuousversusevent-based sampling: how many samples are required for deriving general hydrological understanding on Ecuador's páramo region?" Hydrological Processes 30, no. 22: 4059-4073.
Few high-elevation tropical catchments worldwide are gauged and even fewer are studied using combined hydrometric and isotopic data. Consequently, we lack information needed to understand processes governing rainfall-runoff dynamics and to predict their influence on downstream ecosystem functioning. To address this need, we present a combination of hydrometric and water stable isotopic observations in the wet Andean páramo ecosystem of the Zhurucay Ecohydrological Observatory (7.53 km2). The catchment is located in the Andes of south Ecuador between 3400 and 3900 m a.s.l. Water samples for stable isotopic analysis were collected during 2 years (May 2011 – May 2013), while rainfall and runoff measurements were continuously recorded since late 2010. The isotopic data reveal that Andosol soils predominantly situated on hillslopes drain laterally to Histosols (Andean páramo wetlands) mainly located at the valley bottom. Histosols, in turn, feed water to creeks and small rivers throughout the year, establishing hydrologic connectivity between wetlands and the drainage network. Runoff is primarily comprised of pre-event water stored in the Histosols, which is replenished by rainfall that infiltrates through the Andosols. Contributions from the mineral horizon and the top of the fractured bedrock are small and only seem to influence discharge in small catchments during low flow generation (non-exceedance flows < Q35). Variations in source contributions are controlled by antecedent soil moisture, rainfall intensity, and duration of rainy periods. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soils, higher than the year-round low precipitation intensity, indicates that Hortonian overland flow rarely occurs during high intensity precipitation events. Deep groundwater contributions to discharge seem to be minimal. These results suggest that, in this high-elevation tropical ecosystem: 1) subsurface flow is a dominant hydrological process and 2) (Histosols) wetlands are the major source of stream runoff. Our study highlights that detailed isotopic characterization during short time periods provides valuable information about ecohydrological processes in regions where very few basins are gauged.
Giovanny M. Mosquera; Rolando Célleri; Patricio X. Lazo; Kellie B. Vaché; Steven S. Perakis; Patricio Crespo. Combined use of isotopic and hydrometric data to conceptualize ecohydrological processes in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem. Hydrological Processes 2016, 30, 2930 -2947.
AMA StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera, Rolando Célleri, Patricio X. Lazo, Kellie B. Vaché, Steven S. Perakis, Patricio Crespo. Combined use of isotopic and hydrometric data to conceptualize ecohydrological processes in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem. Hydrological Processes. 2016; 30 (17):2930-2947.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera; Rolando Célleri; Patricio X. Lazo; Kellie B. Vaché; Steven S. Perakis; Patricio Crespo. 2016. "Combined use of isotopic and hydrometric data to conceptualize ecohydrological processes in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem." Hydrological Processes 30, no. 17: 2930-2947.
This study focuses on the investigation of the yet unknown mean transit time (MTT) of stream waters and its spatial variability in tropical alpine ecosystems (wet Andean páramo). The study site is the Zhurucay River Ecohydrological Observatory (7.53 km2) located in south Ecuador. A lumped parameter model considering five transit time distribution (TTD) functions was used to estimate MTTs. We used a unique data set of δ18O and δ2H isotopic composition of rainfall and streamflow water samples collected for three years (May 2011-May 2014) in a nested monitoring system of streams. Linear regression between MTT and landscape (soil and vegetation cover, geology, and topography) and hydrometric (runoff coefficient and specific discharge rates) variables was used to determine controls on MTT variability, as well as mean electrical conductivity (MEC) as a possible proxy for MTT. Results revealed that the exponential TTD function best describes the hydrology of the site, indicating a relatively simple transition from rainfall water to the streams through the organic horizon of the wet páramo soils. MTT of the streams is relatively short (0.15-0.73 yr, 53-264 days). Regression analysis revealed negative correlation between the catchment’s average slope and MTT (R2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). MTT showed no significant correlation with hydrometric variables whereas MEC increases with MTT (R2 = 0.89 p < 0.001). Overall, we conclude that: 1) MTT of streams confirms that the hydrology of the ecosystem is dominated by shallow subsurface flow; 2) the interplay between the high storage capacity of the wet páramo soils and the slope of the catchments provides the ecosystem with high regulation capacity; and 3) MEC is an efficient predictor of MTT variability in this system of catchments with relatively homogeneous geology.
Giovanny M. Mosquera; Catalina Segura; Kellie B. Vaché; David Windhorst; Lutz Breuer; Patricio Crespo. Insights on the water mean transit time in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem. 2016, 20, 2987 -3004.
AMA StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera, Catalina Segura, Kellie B. Vaché, David Windhorst, Lutz Breuer, Patricio Crespo. Insights on the water mean transit time in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem. . 2016; 20 (7):2987-3004.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanny M. Mosquera; Catalina Segura; Kellie B. Vaché; David Windhorst; Lutz Breuer; Patricio Crespo. 2016. "Insights on the water mean transit time in a high-elevation tropical ecosystem." 20, no. 7: 2987-3004.
Jan Feyen; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri. Mining from a conflicting to a collaborative activity: Review of literature. MASKANA 2015, 6, 79 -87.
AMA StyleJan Feyen, Patricio Crespo, Rolando Célleri. Mining from a conflicting to a collaborative activity: Review of literature. MASKANA. 2015; 6 (2):79-87.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJan Feyen; Patricio Crespo; Rolando Célleri. 2015. "Mining from a conflicting to a collaborative activity: Review of literature." MASKANA 6, no. 2: 79-87.