Regional estimation of catchment-scale soil properties by means of streamflow recession analysis for use in distributed hydrological models

A new indicator, the Drainable Storage Capacity Index (DSCI), reveals significant underestimation of soil storage capacities in existing databases for the Cévennes-Vivarais region. By comparing cumulative streamflow and precipitation, DSCI effectively identifies gaps in documented deep-weathered rock horizons—critical for water transfer and storage. The study also applies streamflow recession analysis to estimate water storage capacities and hydraulic conductivities, uncovering distinct hierarchies among geologies: hard crystalline rocks exhibit the thickest but least conductive deep soil layers, while sedimentary rocks and alluvium are thinner yet more conductive. These findings provide essential data for developing distributed hydrological models in the region, addressing a critical need for accurate soil property assessments beyond conventional agronomic databases.

Vannier, O., Braud, I., & Anquetin, S. (2013). Regional estimation of catchment-scale soil properties by means of streamflow recession analysis for use in distributed hydrological models. Hydrological Processes, 28(26), 6276–6291. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10101