Overland flow and shallow subsurface flow generation in a small pre-Alpine catchment: insights from tracer experiments

Near-surface flow pathways are important runoff processes in humid catchments with low permeability soils and provide fast transport of water and solutes from the hillslopes to the stream network. To improve our understanding of the spatial variability in solute transport and mixing in overland flow and shallow subsurface flow, we conducted tracer experiments on trenched runoff plots in a small headwater catchment underlain by Gleysols in the Swiss pre-Alps.

We applied a line of NaCl tracer to the surface of 14 small (3 m²) runoff plots and continuously measured flow rates and electrical conductivity in overland flow and shallow subsurface flow during natural rainfall events. In addition, we conducted tracer experiments during artificial rainfall on two large (>80 m²) trenched plots. Uranine and NaCl were applied as a line tracer at various distances from the trench after overland flow and subsurface flow had reached a steady state. NaBr was applied into the subsurface (at ~20 cm depth) and deuterium-enriched water was applied via the sprinklers. Samples of overland flow and shallow subsurface flow were collected at intervals ranging from 1 minute to 1 hour during several hours. We also continuously measured the rainfall rate, flow rates and electrical conductivity of overland flow and shallow subsurface flow, and soil moisture content.

The breakthrough curves from the small-scale experiments highlight the high spatial variation in overland flow and subsurface flow generation across the catchment, and the importance of mixing with shallow soil water for both overland flow and shallow subsurface flow. The results of the big plot experiments confirm the significant mixing of overland flow and subsurface flow. Maximum velocities, calculated from the first arrival of the tracers, were very high and ranged from 6x10^-3 to 2x10^-2 m s^-1 for overland flow and 3x10^-3 to 1x10^-2 m s^-1 for subsurface flow. Runoff generation in the large mixed forest plot was faster than for the large grassland plot and occurred primarily via macropores and soil pipes. In contrast, at the large meadow plot solute transport appears to be dominated by flow through the soil matrix.