Characteristics of soil and hillslope responses in humid tropical forests in Sumatra, Indonesia

Extensive deforestation in tropical regions may significantly influence the hydrological cycle. However, subsurface runoff processes thick soil layers humid forests are poorly understood; thus, impact of land-use changes such remains unclear. To understand generation mechanisms tropics, we monitored groundwater and moisture dynamics a forested hillslope Sumatra, Indonesia. We also conducted field laboratory experiments to determine hydraulic characteristics used results simulate vertical infiltration recharge. Although is categorized as silty clay loam, high infiltrability water retention capacity enabled during storm events recharge groundwater. Within 4–5 m layer at foot hillslope, shallow table quickly responded rainfall did not drop below depth 2–3 m, possibly due continuous flow contributions from upslope. Overall, this study demonstrates importance regions.