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Detecting and attributing drought-induced changes in catchment hydrological behaviors using data assimilation method
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  • Yanghe Liu,
  • Pan Liu,
  • Lu Zhang,
  • Xiaojing Zhang,
  • Yunfan Zhang,
  • Lei Cheng
Yanghe Liu
Wuhan University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Pan Liu
Wuhan University
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Lu Zhang
CSIRO Land and Water
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Xiaojing Zhang
Wuhan University
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Yunfan Zhang
Wuhan University
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Lei Cheng
Wuhan University
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Abstract

It is widely recognized that multi-year drought can induce changes in catchment hydrological behaviors. However, at present, our understanding about multi-year, drought-induced changes in catchment hydrological behaviors and its driving factors at the process level is still very limited. This study proposed a new approach using a data assimilation technique with a process-based hydrological model to detect multi-year drought-induced changes in catchment hydrological behaviors and to identify driving factors for the changes in an unimpaired Australian catchment (Wee Jasper) which experienced prolonged drought from 1997 to 2009. Modelling experiments demonstrated that the multi-year drought caused a significant change in the catchment rainfall-runoff relationship, indicated by significant step changes in the estimated time-variant hydrological parameters SC (indicating catchment active water storage capacity) and C (reflecting catchment evapotranspiration dynamics), whose average values increased 23.4% and 10.2%, respectively, due to drought. The change in the rainfall-runoff relationship identified by the data assimilation method is consistent with that arrived at by a statistical examination. The proposed method provides insights about the drivers of the changes in the rainfall-runoff relationship at the processes level. Declining groundwater and deep soil moisture depleted by persistent evapotranspiration of deep-rooted woody vegetation during drought are the main driving factors for the catchment behaviors change in the Wee Jasper catchment. The new method proposed in this study was found to be an effective technique for detecting both the change of hydrological behaviors induced by prolonged drought and its driving factors at the process level.
30 Jul 2020Submitted to Hydrological Processes
31 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
31 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
31 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Jan 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Jan 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
23 Mar 20211st Revision Received
23 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
23 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 May 20212nd Revision Received
25 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
25 May 2021Assigned to Editor
25 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Accept