The multiple-scale hydrological processes observations at mountainous areas and its preliminary results

High spatial heterogeneity, difficulty in monitoring and lack of soil hydrological processes have resulted in poor understanding of the key hydrological processes in topographically complex, high elevation mountainous areas, impeding the advancement and applications of mountainous hydrology and hydrological models. This research aims to understand the mechanism of key hydrological processes at multiple spatial scales (soil profile, hillslope, watershed, and region) in the Qilian Mountain ranges, Northwest China. To this end, an in-situ observation network has been set up to monitor the hydrological processes, including precipitation, infiltration, soil moisture, subsurface flow, evapotranspiration and runoff at the multiple spatial scales. The in-situ observations has been applied to: 1) quantify the soil moisture dynamics about infiltration, 2) gain a better understanding of the underlying hydrological mechanisms of preferential flow; and 3) understand the relationship between rainfall, soil moisture dynamics and evapotranspiration.