Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo

The University of Texas at Arlington

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Germain Esquivel‐Hernández

Universidad Nacional

Christian Birkel

Universidad de Costa Rica

Jan Boll

Washington State University

Ana María Durán‐Quesada

Universidad de Costa Rica

Chris Soulsby

Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Lucía Ortega

International Atomic Energy Agency

Didier Gastmans

Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)

Vinícius dos Santos

Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)

Rolando Sánchez‐Gutiérrez

Universidad Nacional

Doerthe Tetzlaff

Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Cooperative Institutions

Universidad Nacional

Universidad de Costa Rica

Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)

International Atomic Energy Agency

Oregon State University

University of Cuenca

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

University of Idaho

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

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Water stable isotopes reveal a complex rainfall to groundwater connectivity in central Honduras

The Science of The Total Environment (2022)

Saúl García‐Santos Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Tania Peña‐Paz Marcio Chirinos-Escobar Junior O. Hernández‐Ortiz

Dry season

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156941

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Citations (7)

DOC Transport and Export in a Dynamic Tropical Catchment

Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences (2019)

Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Luis Romero Joaquín Jiménez-Antillón Jéssica Salas-Navarro Leonardo Corrales-Salazar

Abstract Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) transport and export from headwater forests into freshwaters in highly dynamic tropical catchments are still understudied. Here we present a DOC analysis (2017) in a pristine and small (~2.6 km 2 ) tropical catchment of Costa Rica. Storm flows governed a rapid surface and lateral allochthonous DOC transport (62.2% of the annual DOC export). Cross‐correlation analysis of rainfall and stream discharge indicated that DOC transport occurred on average ~1.25 hr after the rainfall maxima, with large contributions of event water, ranging from 42.4±0.3% up to 98.2±0.3% of the total discharge. Carbon export flux (annual mean=6.7±0.1 g C · m ‐2 · year ‐1 ) was greater than values reported in subtropical and temperate catchments. Specific ultraviolet absorbance indicated a mixture of hydrophobic humic and hydrophilic nonhumic matter during both baseflow and storm events. Our results highlight the rapid storm‐driven DOC transport and export as well as low biogeochemical attenuation during baseflow episodes in a climate sensitive hot spot. By understanding the key factors controlling the amount of organic carbon transported to streams in dynamic tropical landscapes, better global‐ and catchment‐scale model assessments, conservation practices, and water treatment innovations can be identified.

Base flow

Biogeochemical Cycle

Discharge

10.1029/2018jg004897

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Citations (21)

Distinguishing the Regional Atmospheric Controls on Precipitation Isotopic Variability in the Central-Southeast Portion of Brazil

Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2022)

Vinícius dos Santos Peter Marshall Fleming Luís Henrique Mancini Stela Dalva Santos Cota Graziele Beatriz de Lima

δ18O

Hydrometeorology

Isotopic signature

10.1007/s00376-022-1367-0

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Citations (5)

Moisture transport and seasonal variations in the stable isotopic composition of rainfall in Central American and Andean Páramo during El Niño conditions (2015–2016)

Hydrological Processes (2019)

Germain Esquivel‐Hernández Giovanny M. Mosquera Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Adolfo Quesada‐Román Christian Birkel

Abstract High‐elevation tropical grassland systems, called Páramo, provide essential ecosystem services such as water storage and supply for surrounding and lowland areas. Páramo systems are threatened by climate and land use changes. Rainfall generation processes and moisture transport pathways influencing precipitation in the Páramo are poorly understood but needed to estimate the impact of these changes, particularly during El Niño conditions, which largely affect hydrometeorological conditions in tropical regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we present a stable isotope analysis of rainfall samples collected on a daily to weekly basis between January 2015 and May 2016 during the strongest El Niño event recorded in history (2014–2016) in two Páramo regions of Central America (Chirripó, Costa Rica) and the northern Andes (Cajas, south Ecuador). Isotopic compositions were used to identify how rainfall generation processes (convective and orographic) change seasonally at each study site. Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) air mass back trajectory analysis was used to identify preferential moisture transport pathways to each Páramo site. Our results show the strong influence of north‐east trade winds to transport moisture from the Caribbean Sea to Chirripó and the South American low‐level jet to transport moisture from the Amazon forest to Cajas. These moisture contributions were also related to the formation of convective rainfall associated with the passage of the Intertropical Convergence Zone over Costa Rica and Ecuador during the wetter seasons and to orographic precipitation during the transition and drier seasons. Our findings provide essential baseline information for further research applications of water stable isotopes as tracers of rainfall generation processes and transport in the Páramo and other montane ecosystems in the tropics.

HYSPLIT

Orographic lift

Hydrometeorology

Intertropical Convergence Zone

10.1002/hyp.13438

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Citations (61)

Day-night differences in δ18O and d-excess of convective rainfall in the inland tropics of Brazil

Research Square (Research Square) (2023)

Vinícius dos Santos Didier Gastmans Ana María Durán‐Quesada Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Kazimierz Różański

Abstract The tropical central-southern part of Brazil (CSB) is characterized by strong convective systems that bring generous water supply for agro-industrial activities but also pose flood risks for large cities. Here, we present high-frequency (5-10 minutes) rainfall isotopic compositions to better understand those systems. In total, 260 intra-event samples representing 18 rainfall events were collected during the period 2019-2021. In summer, convective rainfall activity modulates regional and local isotopic characteristics, revealing a novel perspective on day-night contrast in δ18O and d-excess values. During the daytime, enhanced sub-cloud effects are related to high δ18O and low d-excess, while at night-time, continuous regional rainout results in more depleted δ18O and high d-excess values. Our results offer a new framework of key drivers controlling the isotopic variability of rainfall across the tropics.

δ18O

10.21203/rs.3.rs-2409508/v1

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The residence time of water vapour in the atmosphere

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2021)

Luís Gimeno Jorge Eiras‐Barca Ana María Durán‐Quesada Francina Domínguez Ruud van der Ent

Water cycle

10.1038/s43017-021-00181-9

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Citations (92)

Spatially distributed tracer‐aided modelling to explore water and isotope transport, storage and mixing in a pristine, humid tropical catchment

Hydrological Processes (2018)

Joni Dehaspe Christian Birkel Doerthe Tetzlaff Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Ana María Durán‐Quesada

Abstract Rapidly transforming headwater catchments in the humid tropics provide important resources for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and ecosystem connectivity. However, such resources for downstream use remain unstudied. To improve understanding of the behaviour and influence of pristine rainforests on water and tracer fluxes, we adapted the relatively parsimonious, spatially distributed tracer‐aided rainfall–runoff (STARR) model using event‐based stable isotope data for the 3.2‐km 2 San Lorencito catchment in Costa Rica. STARR was used to simulate rainforest interception of water and stable isotopes, which showed a significant isotopic enrichment in throughfall compared with gross rainfall. Acceptable concurrent simulations of discharge (Kling–Gupta efficiency [KGE] ~0.8) and stable isotopes in stream water (KGE ~0.6) at high spatial (10 m) and temporal (hourly) resolution indicated a rapidly responding system. Around 90% of average annual streamflow (2,099 mm) was composed of quick, near‐surface runoff components, whereas only ~10% originated from groundwater in deeper layers. Simulated actual evapotranspiration (ET) from interception and soil storage were low (~420 mm/year) due to high relative humidity (average 96%) and cloud cover limiting radiation inputs. Modelling suggested a highly variable groundwater storage (~10 to 500 mm) in this steep, fractured volcanic catchment that sustains dry season baseflows. This groundwater is concentrated in riparian areas as an alluvial–colluvial aquifer connected to the stream. This was supported by rainfall–runoff isotope simulations, showing a “flashy” stream response to rainfall with only a moderate damping effect and a constant isotope signature from deeper groundwater (~400‐mm additional mixing volume) during baseflow. The work serves as a first attempt to apply a spatially distributed tracer‐aided model to a tropical rainforest environment exploring the hydrological functioning of a steep, fractured‐volcanic catchment. We also highlight limitations and propose a roadmap for future data collection and spatially distributed tracer‐aided model development in tropical headwater catchments.

Interception

Water storage

10.1002/hyp.13258

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Citations (35)

Tracing isotope precipitation patterns across Mexico

PLOS Water (2023)

Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Luis González‐Hita Miguel A. Mejía-González Blanca Carteño-Martinez Juan C. Aparicio-González

Mexico encompasses a large spectrum of landscapes with topographic, geographic, and climatic factors interacting in a complex ecohydrological setting. For decades, isotope hydrogeological tools have been applied in Mexico using short-term or seasonal local meteoric water lines as valid input functions. Yet, a systematic evaluation of meteoric isotope characteristics is still lacking. Here we report on the spatial and temporal isotope variations of 21 precipitation monitoring stations across Mexico. Our database includes 608 monthly samples collected from 2018 to 2021 over four regions (between 5 and 2,365 m asl): the Pacific coast, the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea region, and the Central and Northern plateaus. Precipitation δ 18 O seasonality from the dry (winter) to the wet season (summer) was characterized by a notable W-shaped variability. Monthly precipitation amounts and δ 18 O compositions exhibited poor to strong linear regressions ( Adj . r 2 <0.01 to 0.75), with inverse (positive) relationships over the northern monsoon-affected region. Low d -excess (5.1 to 9.7‰) corresponded with greater terrestrial moisture contributions (20.5%) over the arid northern regions. Moisture inputs from the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean were associated with near-equilibrium or greater d -excess values (8.8 to 14.3‰), respectively. The best-fit linear models for δ 18 O ( Adj . r 2 = 0.85) and δ 2 H ( Adj . r 2 = 0.88) were determined for topographic and geographical predictors, resulting in an updated high-resolution precipitation isoscape (100 m 2 grid) for Mexico. Orographic barriers (-2.10‰ in δ 18 O/km) coupled with the interaction of tropical cyclones and cold fronts, the evolution of the North American Monsoon system, and the passage of easterly trade winds play a remarkable role in controlling the spatial isotope rainfall variability. Our findings provide a robust baseline for ecohydrological, climatic, forensic, archeological, and paleoclimate studies in North America.

Seasonality

Orographic lift

10.1371/journal.pwat.0000136

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Citations (3)

End member and Bayesian mixing models consistently indicate near‐surface flowpath dominance in a pristine humid tropical rainforest

Hydrological Processes (2021)

Christian Birkel Alicia Correa Clément Duvert Sebastián Granados Bolaños Andres Chavarría Palma

Abstract The impacts of forest conversion on runoff generation in the tropics have received much interest, but scientific progress is still hampered by challenging fieldwork conditions and limited knowledge about runoff mechanisms. Here, we assessed the runoff generation, flow paths and water source dynamics of a pristine rainforest catchment in Costa Rica using end member mixing analysis (EMMA) and a Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR). Geochemical tracer data collected over a 4‐week field campaign were combined with tritium data used to assess potential deeper groundwater flow pathways to the perennial stream. The streamflow composition was best captured using three end‐members, namely throughfall, shallow (5–15 cm) and deeper (15–50 cm) soil water. We estimated the end‐member contributions to the main stream and two tributaries using the two mixing approaches and found good agreement between results obtained from EMMA and MixSIAR. The system was overwhelmingly dominated by near‐surface sources, with little evidence for deeper and older groundwater as tritium‐derived baseflow mean transit time was between 2.0 and 4.4 years. The shallow soil flow pathway dominated streamflow contributions in the main stream (median 39% and 49% based on EMMA and MixSIAR, respectively), followed by the deeper soil (32% and 31%) and throughfall (25% and 19%). The two tributaries had even greater shallow soil water contributions relative to the main stream (83% and 74% for tributary A and 42% and 63% for tributary B). Tributary B had no detectable deep soil water contribution, reflecting the morphology of the hillslope (steeper slopes, shallower soils and lower vegetation density compared to hillslope A). Despite the short sampling campaign and associated uncertainties, this study allowed to thoroughly assess runoff generation mechanisms in a humid tropical catchment. Our results also provide a first comparison of two increasingly used mixing models and suggest that EMMA and MixSIAR yield comparable estimates of water source partitioning in this tropical, volcanic rainforest environment.

Base flow

Dominance (genetics)

Perennial stream

10.1002/hyp.14153

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Citations (24)

Water stable isotopes database in Central Honduras

HydroShare Resources (2021)

Saúl García‐Santos Ricardo Sánchez‐Murillo Tania Peña‐Paz

10.4211/hs.99b6f970a56740be9b7d6204aeca0553

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Citations (1)