Large Scale Evaluation of Relationships Between Hydrologic Signatures and Processes

Dominant processes in a watershed are those that most strongly control hydrologic function and response. Estimating dominant enables hydrologists to design physically realistic streamflow generation models, management interventions, understand how climate landscape features function. A recent approach estimating is through their link signatures, which metrics characterize the timeseries. Previous authors have used results from experimental watersheds signature values underlying processes, but these links not been tested on large scales. This paper fills gap by testing signatures sample data sets U.S., Great Britain, Australia, Brazil, Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) watersheds. We found inter-signature correlations consistent with process interpretations, is, supposed represent same correlated, knowledge CZO Some exceptions occurred, such as infiltration saturation excess were often misidentified signatures. Signature distributions vary country, emphasizing importance of regional context understanding signature-process classifying “high” or “low.” Not all easily transferable single, small studies, showing visual process-based assessment important before large-scale use. provide summary table information reliability each for identification. Overall, our reference future studies seek use identify hydrological processes.