@phdthesis{Schroen2016,
  author    = {Schr{\"o}n, Martin},
  title     = {Cosmic-ray neutron sensing and its applications to soil and land surface hydrology},
  publisher = {Verlag Dr. Hut GmbH},
  address   = {M{\"u}nchen},
  isbn      = {978-3-8439-3139-7},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-395433},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {223},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Water scarcity, adaption on climate change, and risk assessment of droughts and floods are critical topics for science and society these days. Monitoring and modeling of the hydrological cycle are a prerequisite to understand and predict the consequences for weather and agriculture. As soil water storage plays a key role for partitioning of water fluxes between the atmosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere, measurement techniques are required to estimate soil moisture states from small to large scales. The method of cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) promises to close the gap between point-scale and remote-sensing observations, as its footprint was reported to be 30 ha. However, the methodology is rather young and requires highly interdisciplinary research to understand and interpret the response of neutrons to soil moisture. In this work, the signal of nine detectors has been systematically compared, and correction approaches have been revised to account for meteorological and geomagnetic variations. Neutron transport simulations have been consulted to precisely characterize the sensitive footprint area, which turned out to be 6--18 ha, highly local, and temporally dynamic. These results have been experimentally confirmed by the significant influence of water bodies and dry roads. Furthermore, mobile measurements on agricultural fields and across different land use types were able to accurately capture the various soil moisture states. It has been further demonstrated that the corresponding spatial and temporal neutron data can be beneficial for mesoscale hydrological modeling. Finally, first tests with a gyrocopter have proven the concept of airborne neutron sensing, where increased footprints are able to overcome local effects. This dissertation not only bridges the gap between scales of soil moisture measurements. It also establishes a close connection between the two worlds of observers and modelers, and further aims to combine the disciplines of particle physics, geophysics, and soil hydrology to thoroughly explore the potential and limits of the CRNS method.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reich2023,
  author    = {Reich, Marvin},
  title     = {Advances in hydrogravimetry},
  doi       = {10.25932/publishup-60479},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-604794},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {ix, 142},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The interest of the hydrological community in the gravimetric method has steadily increased within the last decade. This is reflected by numerous studies from many different groups with a broad range of approaches and foci. Many of those are traditionally rather hydrology-oriented groups who recognized gravimetry as a potential added value for their hydrological investigations. While this resulted in a variety of interesting and useful findings, contributing to extend the respective knowledge and confirming the methodological potential, on the other hand, many interesting and unresolved questions emerged. This thesis manifests efforts, analyses and solutions carried out in this regard. Addressing and evaluating many of those unresolved questions, the research contributes to advancing hydrogravimetry, the combination of gravimetric and hydrological methods, in showing how gravimeters are a highly useful tool for applied hydrological field research. In the first part of the thesis, traditional setups of stationary terrestrial superconducting gravimeters are addressed. They are commonly installed within a dedicated building, the impermeable structure of which shields the underlying soil from natural exchange of water masses (infiltration, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge). As gravimeters are most sensitive to mass changes directly beneath the meter, this could impede their suitability for local hydrological process investigations, especially for near-surface water storage changes (WSC). By studying temporal local hydrological dynamics at a dedicated site equipped with traditional hydrological measurement devices, both below and next to the building, the impact of these absent natural dynamics on the gravity observations were quantified. A comprehensive analysis with both a data-based and model-based approach led to the development of an alternative method for dealing with this limitation. Based on determinable parameters, this approach can be transferred to a broad range of measurement sites where gravimeters are deployed in similar structures. Furthermore, the extensive considerations on this topic enabled a more profound understanding of this so called umbrella effect. The second part of the thesis is a pilot study about the field deployment of a superconducting gravimeter. A newly developed field enclosure for this gravimeter was tested in an outdoor installation adjacent to the building used to investigate the umbrella effect. Analyzing and comparing the gravity observations from both indoor and outdoor gravimeters showed performance with respect to noise and stable environmental conditions was equivalent while the sensitivity to near-surface WSC was highly increased for the field deployed instrument. Furthermore it was demonstrated that the latter setup showed gravity changes independent of the depth where mass changes occurred, given their sufficiently wide horizontal extent. As a consequence, the field setup suits monitoring of WSC for both short and longer time periods much better. Based on a coupled data-modeling approach, its gravity time series was successfully used to infer and quantify local water budget components (evapotranspiration, lateral subsurface discharge) on the daily to annual time scale. The third part of the thesis applies data from a gravimeter field deployment for applied hydrological process investigations. To this end, again at the same site, a sprinkling experiment was conducted in a 15 x 15 m area around the gravimeter. A simple hydro-gravimetric model was developed for calculating the gravity response resulting from water redistribution in the subsurface. It was found that, from a theoretical point of view, different subsurface water distribution processes (macro pore flow, preferential flow, wetting front advancement, bypass flow and perched water table rise) lead to a characteristic shape of their resulting gravity response curve. Although by using this approach it was possible to identify a dominating subsurface water distribution process for this site, some clear limitations stood out. Despite the advantage for field installations that gravimetry is a non-invasive and integral method, the problem of non-uniqueness could only be overcome by additional measurements (soil moisture, electric resistivity tomography) within a joint evaluation. Furthermore, the simple hydrological model was efficient for theoretical considerations but lacked the capability to resolve some heterogeneous spatial structures of water distribution up to a needed scale. Nevertheless, this unique setup for plot to small scale hydrological process research underlines the high potential of gravimetery and the benefit of a field deployment. The fourth and last part is dedicated to the evaluation of potential uncertainties arising from the processing of gravity observations. The gravimeter senses all mass variations in an integral way, with the gravitational attraction being directly proportional to the magnitude of the change and inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the change. Consequently, all gravity effects (for example, tides, atmosphere, non-tidal ocean loading, polar motion, global hydrology and local hydrology) are included in an aggregated manner. To isolate the signal components of interest for a particular investigation, all non-desired effects have to be removed from the observations. This process is called reduction. The large-scale effects (tides, atmosphere, non-tidal ocean loading and global hydrology) cannot be measured directly and global model data is used to describe and quantify each effect. Within the reduction process, model errors and uncertainties propagate into the residual, the result of the reduction. The focus of this part of the thesis is quantifying the resulting, propagated uncertainty for each individual correction. Different superconducting gravimeter installations were evaluated with respect to their topography, distance to the ocean and the climate regime. Furthermore, different time periods of aggregated gravity observation data were assessed, ranging from 1 hour up to 12 months. It was found that uncertainties were highest for a frequency of 6 months and smallest for hourly frequencies. Distance to the ocean influences the uncertainty of the non-tidal ocean loading component, while geographical latitude affects uncertainties of the global hydrological component. It is important to highlight that the resulting correction-induced uncertainties in the residual have the potential to mask the signal of interest, depending on the signal magnitude and its frequency. These findings can be used to assess the value of gravity data across a range of applications and geographic settings. In an overarching synthesis all results and findings are discussed with a general focus on their added value for bringing hydrogravimetric field research to a new level. The conceptual and applied methodological benefits for hydrological studies are highlighted. Within an outlook for future setups and study designs, it was once again shown what enormous potential is offered by gravimeters as hydrological field tools.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mohr2013,
  author    = {Mohr, Christian Heinrich},
  title     = {Hydrological and erosion responses to man-made and natural disturbances : insights from forested catchments in South-central Chile},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-70146},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Logging and large earthquakes are disturbances that may significantly affect hydrological and erosional processes and process rates, although in decisively different ways. Despite numerous studies that have documented the impacts of both deforestation and earthquakes on water and sediment fluxes, a number of details regarding the timing and type of de- and reforestation; seismic impacts on subsurface water fluxes; or the overall geomorphic work involved have remained unresolved. The main objective of this thesis is to address these shortcomings and to better understand and compare the hydrological and erosional process responses to such natural and man-made disturbances. To this end, south-central Chile provides an excellent natural laboratory owing to its high seismicity and the ongoing conversion of land into highly productive plantation forests. In this dissertation I combine paired catchment experiments, data analysis techniques, and physics-based modelling to investigate: 1) the effect of plantation forests on water resources, 2) the source and sink behavior of timber harvest areas in terms of overland flow generation and sediment fluxes, 3) geomorphic work and its efficiency as a function of seasonal logging, 4) possible hydrologic responses of the saturated zone to the 2010 Maule earthquake and 5) responses of the vadose zone to this earthquake. Re 1) In order to quantify the hydrologic impact of plantation forests, it is fundamental to first establish their water balances. I show that tree species is not significant in this regard, i.e. Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus do not trigger any decisive different hydrologic response. Instead, water consumption is more sensitive to soil-water supply for the local hydro-climatic conditions. Re 2) Contradictory opinions exist about whether timber harvest areas (THA) generate or capture overland flow and sediment. Although THAs contribute significantly to hydrology and sediment transport because of their spatial extent, little is known about the hydrological and erosional processes occurring on them. I show that THAs may act as both sources and sinks for overland flow, which in turn intensifies surface erosion. Above a rainfall intensity of ~20 mm/h, which corresponds to <10\% of all rainfall, THAs may generate runoff whereas below that threshold they remain sinks. The overall contribution of Hortonian runoff is thus secondary considering the local rainfall regime. The bulk of both runoff and sediment is generated by Dunne, saturation excess, overland flow. I also show that logging may increase infiltrability on THAs which may cause an initial decrease in streamflow followed by an increase after the groundwater storage has been refilled. Re 3) I present changes in frequency-magnitude distributions following seasonal logging by applying Quantile Regression Forests at hitherto unprecedented detail. It is clearly the season that controls the hydro-geomorphic work efficiency of clear cutting. Logging, particularly dry seasonal logging, caused a shift of work efficiency towards less flashy and mere but more frequent moderate rainfall-runoff events. The sediment transport is dominated by Dunne overland flow which is consistent with physics-based modelling using WASA-SED. Re 4) It is well accepted that earthquakes may affect hydrological processes in the saturated zone. Assuming such flow conditions, consolidation of saturated saprolitic material is one possible response. Consolidation raises the hydraulic gradients which may explain the observed increase in discharge following earthquakes. By doing so, squeezed water saturates the soil which in turn increases the water accessible for plant transpiration. Post-seismic enhanced transpiration is reflected in the intensification of diurnal cycling. Re 5) Assuming unsaturated conditions, I present the first evidence that the vadose zone may also respond to seismic waves by releasing pore water which in turn feeds groundwater reservoirs. By doing so, water tables along the valley bottoms are elevated thus providing additional water resources to the riparian vegetation. By inverse modelling, the transient increase in transpiration is found to be 30-60\%. Based on the data available, both hypotheses, are not testable. Finally, when comparing the hydrological and erosional effects of the Maule earthquake with the impact of planting exotic plantation forests, the overall observed earthquake effects are comparably small, and limited to short time scales.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Baese2016,
  author    = {B{\"a}se, Frank},
  title     = {Interception loss of changing land covers in the humid tropical lowland of Latin America},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {ix, 85 Seiten},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Das Gebiet der feuchten Tropen ist die am st{\"a}rksten durch den Landnutzungswandel betroffene Region der Erde. Vor allem die Rodung tropischer W{\"a}lder, um Platz f{\"u}r Rinderweiden oder den Anbau von Soja zu schaffen, aber auch seit j{\"u}ngster Zeit die Bem{\"u}hungen um Wiederaufforstungen pr{\"a}gen diesen Landnutzungswandel. Dabei beeinflusst die {\"A}nderung der Vegetationsbedeckung den regionalen Wasserhaushalt auf vielf{\"a}ltige Weise. Betroffen ist unter anderem die Verdunstung von feuchten Oberfl{\"a}chen. Die so genannte Interzeptionsverdunstung bzw. der Interzeptionsverlust tr{\"a}gt erheblich zum Wasserdampfgehalt in der unteren Atmosph{\"a}re und schließlich zur Niederschlagsbildung bei. Ziele dieser Dissertation waren (1) die experimentelle Untersuchung der Interzeptionsverlustunterschiede zwischen einem nat{\"u}rlichen, tropischen Wald und einer Sojaplantage im s{\"u}dlichen Amazonasgebiet, (2) die Modellierung des Interzeptionsverlustes dieser beiden Vegetationsformen im Vergleich zu einem jungen Sekund{\"a}rwald unter dem Aspekt der Unsicherheiten bei der Ableitung notwendiger Modellparameter sowohl im S{\"u}damazonas als auch im Einzugsgebietes des Panamakanals sowie (3) die Wasserhaushaltsanalyse eines vom Landnutzungswandel gepr{\"a}gten Teileinzugsgebietes des Panamakanals in Hinblick auf die Ver{\"a}nderung der Interzeptionsverdunstung durch sich ver{\"a}ndernde Landnutzung und der {\"A}nderung der klimatischen Bedingungen. Die Messung des Interzeptionsverlustes zeigte, dass in der Hauptwachstumsphase vom Soja von dessen Oberfl{\"a}che mehr Wasserverdunstet als von der Oberfl{\"a}che des Waldes. Allerdings ist in der Jahresbilanz der Interzeptionsverlust vom Wald h{\"o}her, da diese Studie nur eine Momentaufnahme zur Zeit der vollen Vegetationsentwicklung des Sojas mit einem Zeitfenster von zwei Monaten widerspiegelt. Durch die geringere ganzj{\"a}hrige Verdunstung von den mit Soja bestandenen Fl{\"a}chen, wird hier der Niederschlag schneller dem Abfluss zugef{\"u}hrt und schell aus der Region ausgetragen. Somit tr{\"a}gt der Landnutzungswandel von Wald zu Soja zu einer mittelfristigen Reduktion des in der Region verf{\"u}gbaren Wassers bei. Die anschließende Modellierung des Interzeptionsverlustes zeigte Einerseits einen starken Einfluss der Datenqualit{\"a}t auf die Plausibilit{\"a}t der Ergebnisse und Andererseits, dass die Sensitivit{\"a}t der einzelnen Parameter zwischen den Untersuchungsgebieten variiert. Eine Schl{\"u}sselrolle nimmt die Wasserspeicherkapazit{\"a}t der Vegetationskrone ein. Dennoch ist die Evaporationsrate die treibende Gr{\"o}ße im Interzeptionsprozess, so dass von ihr die gr{\"o}ßte Unsicherheit ausgeht. Je nach verwendeter Methode zur Ableitung dieses Parameters unterscheiden sich die gewonnenen Parameterwerte erheblich. Die Wirkungsanalyse der Interzeptionsverdunstung auf den Wasserhaushalt im Wirkungsgeflecht der {\"A}nderungen von Temperatur, Niederschlag und Landnutzung im Landschaftsmosaik eines Flusseinzugsgebiets mit Hilfe eines Wasserhaushaltsmodels zeigte den Einfluss der Landnutzungs{\"a}nderung auf die Abflussbildung mittels verschiedener Landnutzungsszenarien. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass die Landnutzungs{\"a}nderung im Gebiet nur einen geringen Einfluss auf den Jahresabfluss hat. St{\"a}rker scheint sich der gemessene Temperaturanstieg auf die Verdunstung auszuwirken. Der mit einer h{\"o}heren Temperatur einhergehende Anstieg der Transpiration und Interzeptionsverdunstung gleicht die gemessene Zunahme des Gebietsniederschlages aus, sodass keine signifikanten {\"A}nderungen im Jahresabfluss nachgewiesen werden konnten. Die Ergebnisse der drei Studien verdeutlichen den Einfluss der Landnutzung auf die Interzeptionsverdunstung. Allerdings veranschaulichten die Resultate der Wasserhaushalts-modellierung, wie sehr dieser Einfluss durch die Ver{\"a}nderung der {\"a}ußeren Rahmenbedingungen, vor allem durch den Anstieg der Temperatur, {\"u}berpr{\"a}gt werden kann. Dies belegt, dass eine einfache {\"U}bertragung der Ergebnisse zwischen den Untersuchungsgebiet nicht m{\"o}glich ist. Somit bleibt die experimentelle Erhebung von Vegetationsparametern sowie des Interzeptionsverlustes an den jeweils zu untersuchenden Standort f{\"u}r die Anwendung von Modellen unerl{\"a}sslich.},
  language  = {en}
}