Critical Zone Exploration Network

Please see attached announcement for a tenure-track, Asst. Professor of Pedology position at the University of Georgia.

Applications are due in July 2008.

See http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/dept_info/pedology.php for more details.

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to draw your attention to the upcoming 1st International Conference on Hydropedology to be held July 28-31, 2008 at Penn State University Park campus. The goal of this meeting is to advance the emerging interdisciplinary field of hydropedology and to promote exciting collaborations among soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, and other related bio- and geosciences communities, aiming at synergistic strategies for advancing one another. Abstract deadline: March 31, 2008.

Read more: http://hydropedology.psu.edu/ or

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=618b0d67-41d2-4859-ad35-5699d13e687d

Keywords:

Abstract:

To connect pedon and landscape scales of soil moisture, a key lies in the distribution of different soils over the landscape.
Mapping the fabric of soils over a watershed helps optimal sampling design and appropriate modeling of landscape hydrology.
Such a hydropedological perspective is examined in a 7.9-ha forested catchment in central Pennsylvania in order to understand
the spatio-temporal organization of soil moisture and its relationships with soil-landscape features. Soil moisture changes at four
depth intervals (0–0.06, 0.11–0.29, 0.51–0.69, and 0.91–1.09 m) were monitored at 30 sites in the catchment for over 3 months in
2004. In addition, a reconnaissance campaign was conducted at 189 points on ten days during a 2.5-month period in 2003. Soil
distribution and topographic metrics were correlated with the observed soil moisture patterns to reveal their relationships with soil
type, depth to bedrock, topographic wetness index, slope, precipitation, and stream discharge. Among the five soil series
identified in the catchment, the Ernest soil series (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Fragiudults) remained the wettest
throughout the monitoring periods, which was consistent with its morphology and topographic position (e.g., many redox
features and a fragipan-like layer starting at 0.3–0.5 m depth). TheWeikert soil series (loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Lithic
Dystrudepts) had the driest condition because of its shallow depth to bedrock and steep slopes. Cluster analysis based on soil
depth, topographic wetness index, and local slope showed that the 30 monitoring sites could be grouped into wet, moderately wet,
moderately dry, and dry locations that exhibited different spatio-temporal patterns of subsurface soil moisture. Such a grouping
correlated with the soil series plus local slopes. Because of complex interplays between soils and topography, the individual
contributions from soils and topography to the soil moisture grouping were hard to separate. Time series data showed a quick
stream flow response to precipitation forcing, indicating the rapid movement of water within the catchment into the stream
channel. A conceptual model of hillslope hydrology in this catchment was developed to elaborate the patterns of soil moisture
distribution along the hillslope and within soil profiles, their relations to the soil series, and four main flow pathways downslope
(i.e., subsurface macropore flow, subsurface lateral flow at A–B horizon interface, return flow at footslope and toeslope, and flow
at the soil–bedrock interface). This conceptualization enhances the understanding and modeling of preferential flow dynamics at
the small catchment scale, particularly with regard to the role of detailed soil mapping and lateral flow in hillslope hydrology.
D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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