Runoff generation in an intensively disturbed, abandoned farmland catchment, Central Spanish Pyrenees

Runoff generation in an intensively disturbed, abandoned farmland catchment, Central Spanish Pyrenees

This paper studies the hydrological response to rainstorm events of a small experimental catchment in the Central Spanish Pyrenees. The Arnás catchment was cultivated until 40 years ago, and then abandoned and affected by plant recolonisation, especially shrubs. A rainfall of a few mm is enough to produce a sudden increase in discharge, due most probably to the steep gradients and the small siz...

Assessing the potential effect of different land cover management practices on sediment yield from an abandoned farmland catchment in the Spanish Pyrenees

Purpose: Sediment delivery from headwater catchments to reservoirs is a serious threat to reservoir sustainability, and is a critical issue in Mediterranean environments where water resources are scarce. In this study we assessed the consequences of two landscape management scenarios (natural vegetation recovery and scrub clearance) on soil erosion and sediment yield. The results were analyzed ...

Stratified Scree in the Central Spanish Pyrenees: Paleoenvironmental Implications

Recent Variations of Snowpack Depth in the Central Spanish Pyrenees

The evolution of snow depth in the central Spanish Pyrenees was analyzed using measurements from 106 snow stakes over a period of 14 yr (1985–1999). Relationships were considered between the regional series of snow depths at the end of winter and in the middle of spring with respect to precipitation and temperature in previous months. Both variables explained a large percentage of the interannu...

The influence of soil moisture on threshold runoff generation processes in an alpine headwater catchment

This study investigates the role of soil moisture on the threshold runoff response in a small headwater catchment in the Italian Alps that is characterised by steep hillslopes and a distinct riparian zone. This study focuses on: (i) the threshold soil moisture-runoff relationship and the influence of catchment topography on this relation; (ii) the temporal dynamics of soil moisture, streamflow ...