Measuring and Modeling Hydrologic Fluxes and States from Aquifer to Atmosphere at Multiple Scales

Abstract

This project made advances in data assimilation and modeling capabilities for predicting soil moisture states and fluxes at the sub-watershed scale by using calibration information from a network of high-quality observation sources at a range of scales including remote sensing data and field sites. The sub-watershed is the semiarid mountain front above Boise, Idaho which has two well-characterized field sites (Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site, BHRS, a riparian setting at the base river boundary of the block, and Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, DCEW, spanning open to forested slopes to the crest of the block). We have added instrumentation and monitored saturated and partially saturated moisture behavior between river, aquifer, vadose zone, and atmosphere at the BHRS to quantify fluxes and support direct and noninvasive geophysical (especially radar and electrical) method development for measuring moisture and physical properties and their spatiotemporal variations at high resolution. Similar activities have taken place at the DCEW as well as model developments and assessments of DCEW data on the ground and from satellites for validation and verification in data assimilation including downscaling of fractional snow cover and slope-aspect moisture regimes. Students and collaborators (within Boise State and extramural) are involved in all aspects of this project.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 30, 2013
Accession Number
AD1053409

Entities

People

  • Alejandro Flores
  • James Mcnamara
  • John B. Bradford
  • Warren Barrash

Organizations

  • Boise State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Antenna Radiation Patterns
  • Computational Science
  • Drainage Basins
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Electrical Properties
  • Frequency
  • Groundwater
  • High Resolution
  • Measurement
  • Moisture Content
  • Radiation Patterns
  • Remote Sensing
  • Students
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Water Resources

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Wetland-Land-Environmental Management.

Technology Areas

  • Space