SOIL, WATER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS ACROSS SCALES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1005790
• Project No.: WYO-543-15
• Multistate No.: W-3188
• Project Start Date: Jan 15, 2015
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2019

Project Director
Kelleners, TH.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000

Performing Department
Ecosystem Science and Management

Non Technical Summary
The exchange of water, heat, and carbon between soils, plants, and the atmosphere is important for understanding agricultural productivity, natural ecosystem health, water management, and climate change. Automated sensor networks and computer simulation models are used to better understand terrestrial ecosystems and to assist with management decisions.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

50%

Applied

50%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0320	2050	50%
102	0110	2010	50%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0320 - Watersheds; 0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
2010 - Physics; 2050 - Hydrology;

Keywords

agricultural productivity

ecosystem functioning

snow hydrology

water management

Goals / Objectives
To improve our fundamental understanding of soil physical properties and processes, and how they interact with other environmental and biogeochemical processes across various spatial and temporal scales. To develop and evaluate new instruments and analytical methods to connect our understanding of mass and energy transport in soil at different scales to environmental transformations. To extend our knowledge of scale-appropriate methodologies to improve stakeholder-management of soil and water resources that benefit agricultural, natural resource and environmental sustainability.

Project Methods
Water, heat, and CO2 parameters in the soil-plant-atmosphere system are collected mainly through the use of automated sensor networks. These networks allow for the collection of time series at high temporal resolution (generally every 2 hours). These systems are deployed mainly in rangeland and forest ecosystems. The sensor measurements will be supplemented with targeted field sampling to characterize the soils and the vegetation. Soil samples will be analyzed in the laboratory to determine the soil texture (Hydrometer method) and the soil hydraulic properties (dew point potentiometer, pressure-outflow method, pressure chamber, hanging water column). The field data will be analyzed within the framework of two computer simulation models. The first model, developed by the PI, describes 1-D vertical water, heat, and carbon fluxes in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. This model has recently been upgraded to include coupled water flow and heat transport in soil and snow, describing all three water phases: vapor, liquid, and ice. The second model is an open-source integrated model called GEOtop that has been developed at the University of Trento in Italy. The GEOtop model is 3-D and describes water flow in snow-dominated complex mountainous terrain. The models will be used to study the impact of global change (i.e. climate change and land use change) on the water balance in a variety of ecosystems. The GEOtop model will also be used to investigate the optimum model complexity, especially with regard to parameterization of the sub-surface. Results will be presented during conferences and published in peer-reviewed journal papers.

Progress 01/15/15 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Automated monitoring and numerical modeling are used to quantify soil water dynamics in rangeland and forest ecosystems in cold regions. The forward and inverse modeling techniques used will benefit fellow scientists who are interested in understanding soil-plant-atmosphere and soil-groundwater-stream interactions. The results will also benefit land and water managers who are interested in root water uptake, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and streamflow generation. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The ability to attend the annual multi-state soil physics meeting each January has been extremely helpful in developing relationships and exchanging ideas with fellow scientists who are also working on the monitoring and modeling of terrestrial ecosystems. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are mainly dissiminated through journal papers and oral presentations targeting the scientific community. Results have also been shared with undergraduate and graduate students through courses on (1) soil physics, (2) numerical modeling, and (3) forest and range soils. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Automated monitoring and numerical modeling were used to quantify snow melt, soil water dynamics, groundwater recharge, and streamflow generation in rangelands and mountain forest ecosystems. Novel model parameter estimation techniques were developed and applied to calibrate the snow-soil-groundwater-streamflow models. A bulk density optimization method was developed to efficiently estimate layer-wise soil hydraulic properties. The ability of current soil-plant-atmosphere water and heat exchange algorithms was tested against below- and above- canopy eddy covariance-derived sensible and latent heat fluxes in forest ecosystems.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fullhart, A.T., T.J. Kelleners, H.N. Speckman, D. Beverly, B.E. Ewers, J.M. Frank, and W.J. Massman. 2019. Measured and modeled above- and below-canopy turbulent fluxes for a snow-dominated mountain forest using GEOtop. Hydrological Processes 33:2464-2480.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Fullhart, A.T., T.J. Kelleners, D.G. Chandler, J.P. McNamara, and M.S. Seyfried. 2019. Bulk density optimization to determine subsurface hydraulic properties in Rocky Mountain catchments using the GEOtop model. Hydrological Processes 33:2323-2336.

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Theoretical work on soil-plant-atmosphere exchange in cold regions, where soils are subject to snow accumulation and freeze/thaw, benefits mostly other scientists in the agricultural, hydrological, climate, and meteorology fields. Monitoring of snowpack in the mountains and soil moisture in the basins benefits ranchers, irrigators, and water managers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One PhD student, Andrew Fullhart, graduated with a degree in hydrology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fivejournal articles were published andone presentation was given. Two more journal articles were submitted. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Increasingly, we are integrating near-surface geophysics, hydrological monitoring, and hydrological modeling to gain better insight into the role of the subsurface into translating snowmelt into streamflow.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? (1) We developed a new methodology to quantifythe impactof coarse fragments on soil electrical and soil hydraulic properties in forest and range soils. (2) We included soil solute transport in our soil-plant-atmosphere simulation model that describes coupled water flow and heat transport in soils. (3) We continue to monitor mountain snowpack and basin soil moisture to facilitate management decisions by ranchers, irrigators, and water managers.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Fullhart, A.T., T.J. Kelleners, D.G. Chandler, J.P. McNamara, and M.S. Seyfried. 2018. Water flow modeling with dry bulk density optimization to determine hydraulic properties in mountain soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 82:31-44.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Day, S.J., J.B. Norton, C.F. Strom, T.J. Kelleners, and E.F. Aboukila. 2018. Gypsum, langbeinite, sulfur, and compost for reclamation of drastically disturbed calcareous saline-sodic soils. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology doi 10.1007/s13762-018-1671-5.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cude, S.M., M.D. Ankeny, J.B. Norton, T.J. Kelleners, and C.F. Strom. 2018. Capillary barriers improve reclamation in drastically disturbed semiarid shrubland. Arid Land Research and Management 32:259-276.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Henry, C.J., J.A. Brant, and T.J. Kelleners. 2018. Water transport mechanisms for salt-rejecting membranes driven by soil-water potentials. Journal of Membrane Science 563:107-114.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Thayer, D., A. Parsekian, K. Hyde, H. Speckman, D. Beverly, B. Ewers, M. Covalt, N. Fantello, T. Kelleners, N. Ohara, T. Rogers, W. Holbrook. 2018. Geophysical measurements to determine the hydrologic partitioning of snowmelt on a snow-dominated subalpine hillslope. Water Resources Research 54, doi: 10.1029/2017WR021324.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Snowmelt from snow-dominated mountainous regions is an important source of water for urban centers, agriculture, and industry. Information on the amount and timing of streamflow is used for reservoir management, flood control, irrigation water availability, and drought predictions. This is of benefit to allinhabitants and water users located in river basins thatreceive water from mountainous regions. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Soil Science MS student Mark Pleasants successfully defended his thesis entitled: Hydrologic flow paths for a snowmelt dominated, forested hillslope in southeastern Wyoming: Linking snow and subsurface hydrology. One paper was published from this work in Hydrological Processes. Mark is currently a hydrologist at the Ohio Geological Survey. One other MS student Matt Covalt (hillslope modeling) and a PhD student Andrew Fullhart (watershed modeling) are scheduled to graduate Spring semester 2018. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have mainly been disseminated to scientific audiences through journal articles and presentations. One meeting, the water interest group meeting in Laramie, WY, was attended by several state water management professionals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continued monitoring of the snow-soil environment in forest and rangeland Continued development of a 1D soil-plant-atmosphere model to calculate vertical exchange of water, heat, and carbon Further application of thewatershed modelGEOtop to better understand and predict streamflow generation in snow-dominated mountainous catchments

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Above and below canopy eddy covariance data were obtained from collaborators to validate the calculated canopy and energy balances of plot and watershed-scale numerical models Progress was made towards determining hillslope subsurface hydraulic parameters using time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography data The integrated watershed model GEOtop was applied to determine the annual water balances for snow-dominated mountainous catchments in Idaho and Wyoming

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kelleners, T.J. Modeling of water flow at the plot, hillslope, and watershed scales. Oral presentation at the W3188 Soil Physics Multi-State Technical Committee Annual Meeting, Jan. 2-4, 2017, Las Vegas, NV.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kelleners, T.J. and A. Parsekian. Measurement and modeling of water flow at the plot, hillslope, and watershed scales. Oral presentation at the Wyoming Center for Environmental Hydrology & Geophysics Water Interest Group Meeting. Oct. 30, 2017, Laramie, WY.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pleasants, M.S., T.J. Kelleners, and N. Ohara. 2017. Analysis of snowpack dynamics during the spring melt season using point measurements and numerical modeling. Hydrological Processes 31:4568-4585.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fullhart, A.T., T.J. Kelleners, D.G. Chandler, J.P. McNamara, and M.S. Seyfried. Water flow modeling with dry bulk density optimization to determine hydraulic properties in mountain soils. Accepted by Soil Science Society of America Journal.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience are hydrologists and climate scientists as well as water managers that are continuously trying to improve their ability to understand and predict runoff from mountainous regions in response to land use and climate change. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three graduate students (2MS+1PhD) are supported by the project How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? 5 journal articles and 4 conference abstracts were published in 2016 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue the development of new modeling strategies to more efficiently describe runoff processes in mountainous regions.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A seismic survey at an experimental hillslope was completed A second snow lysimeter was installed at an experimental hillslope The SNOWPACK model was calibrated to simulate snow pack dynamics at an experimental hillslope An inverse modeling procedure was developed to estimate subsurface hydraulic parameters using time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography data The integrated watershed model GEOtop was tested in watersheds in Wyoming and Idaho

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Engda, T.A., T.J. Kelleners, and G.B. Paige. 2016. Soil water monitoring and numerical flow modeling to quantify drought conditions in a rangeland ecosystem. Vadose Zone J. doi:10.2136/vzj2016.04.0036. Engda, T.A., T.J. Kelleners, G.B. Paige, and A.L. Hild. 2016. Rainfall, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture as biomass predictors for Wyoming rangelands. Arid Land Research and Management 30: 445-459. Kelleners, T.J., J. Koonce, R. Shillito, J. Dijkema, M. Berli, M.H. Young, J.M. Frank, and W.J. Massman. 2016. Numerical modeling of coupled water flow and heat transport in soil and snow. Soil Science Society of America Journal 80:247-263. Poudyal, S., V.D. Zheljazkov, C.L. Cantrell, and T.J. Kelleners. 2016. Coal-bed methane water effects on Dill and its essential oils. Journal of Environmental Quality 45:728-733. Engda, T.A. and T.J. Kelleners. 2016. Soil moisture-based drought monitoring at different time scales: A case study for the US Great Plains. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 52:77-88.

Progress 01/15/15 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is mainly the soil, hydrology, and climate science communities. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Collaborated with Desert Research Institute scientists in Las Vegas, NV on the modeling of coupled water flow and heat transport in a bare soil lysimeter. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two papers were published. Three other papers are in press. Two papers are in review. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to focus on the modeling of soil-plant-atmosphere interactions at the field and watershed scale with special emphasis on cold region processes such as frozen soils and snow accumulation.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? (1) A numerical model for coupled water flow and heat transport in soil and snow was developed and tested on a bare desert soil, a rangeland soil, and a mountainous forest soil. The model includes the effect of water vaporization/condensation and freeze/thaw and is especially suitable for studying cold region hydrology. (2) A soil moisture-based drought index was developed and tested on four rangeland sites in the US Great Plains. The index facilitates the use of soil moisture data from the USDA SCAN Network and from the NCDC US Climate Reference Network for agricultural and hydrological drought monitoring.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Day, S.J., J.B. Norton, T.J. Kelleners, and C.F. Strom. 2015. Drastic disturbance of salt-affected soils in a semi-arid cool desert shrubland. Arid Land Research and Management 29:306-320.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kaur, G. A. Garcia y Garcia, U. Norton, T. Persson, and T. Kelleners. 2015. Effects of cropping practices on water-use and water productivity of dryland winter wheat in the high plains ecoregion of Wyoming. Journal of Crop Improvement 29(5):491-517.