Malalcahuello Catchment

The Malalcahuello Catchment is sometimes also called the catchment of the Tres Arroyos.

Location

On the southern slope of the volcano Lonquimay, IXth Region, Southern Chile

Catchment size

ca. 6 km²

Climate

humid-temperate with altitudinal effects, snow in higher altitudes during winter

Geology

volcanic ashes, andesite

Topography

steep slopes, elevations range from 1120 m to 1856 m above sea level

Vegetation/Land use

old growth forest, no anthropogenic intervention

Context of investigation

several studies have been carried out in this catchment. Research topics include:

• Runoff generation processes
• Sediment transport
• Debris flow
• Large woody debris
• Interception

Measurements/Equipment

• water level
• rainfall
• groundwater levels
• soil moisture
• interception
• tracer experiments
• bedload transport
• ...

Links to project webpages

• Investigation of runoff generation processes in a pristine, poorly gauged catchment in the Chilean Andes

• Epic Force: Evidence-based policy for integrated control of forested river catchments in extreme rainfall and snowmelt

References

Blume T., Zehe E., Bronstert A. (2007): Rainfall runoff response, event-based runoff coefficients and hydrograph separation. Hydrological Sciences Journal. 52: 843-862.

Blume T., Zehe E., Bronstert A. ((2009): Use of soil moisture dynamics and patterns at different spatio-temporal scales for the investigation of subsurface flow processes. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 13(7), 1215-1233.

Blume T., Zehe E., Reusser D.E., Iroumé A., Bronstert A. (2008): Investigation of runoff generation in a pristine, poorly gauged catchment in the Chilean Andes. I: A multi-method experimental study. Hydrological Processes, 22(18), 3661-3675, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6971.

Blume T., Zehe E., Bronstert, A. (2008): Investigation of runoff generation in a pristine, poorly gauged catchment in the Chilean Andes. II: Qualitative and quantitative use of tracers at three spatial scales. Hydrological Processes, 22(18), 3676-3688, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6970.

Blume T., Zehe E., Bronstert A. ((2008): Field observations of persistent preferential flowpaths in volcanic ash soils as a result of hydrophobicity. ysopp poster 2008 EGU.

Blume T., Zehe E., Bronstert A. ((2009): Use of soil moisture dynamics and patterns at different spatio-temporal scales for the investigation of subsurface flow processes. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 13(7), 1215-1233.

Blume, T. (2008): Hydrological processes in volcanic ash soils - Measuring, modelling and understanding runoff generation in an undisturbed catchment, Dissertation, University of Potsdam, Germany.

Zehe, E., Blume, T., Blöschel, G. (2010): The principle of 'maximum energy dissipation': a novel thermodynamic perspective on rapid water flow in connected soil structures. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 365(1545), 1377-1386, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0308.

Zehe, E., Blume, T., Kleidon, A., Ehret, U., Scherer, U., Westhoff, M.(2012): Connected flow paths as first order control on critical zone water flows: coincidence or self-organized optimality? Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 9, 10595-10655, DOI: 10.5194/hessd-9-10595-2012.