Hydrological response of Mediterranean gorse shrubland under extreme rainfall simulation event

摘要

Hydrological response of Mediterranean gorse shrubland under extreme rainfall simulation event. We have researched into the hydrological response and soil erosion of semiarid Mediterranean shrub plant cover to extreme rainfall events on 12-year-old, mainly gorse (Ulex parviflorus) scrubland. Three experiments with simulated long duration rainfall (4 hours) were performed in three 2 x 2 in field plots. The rainfall volume applied was that which could be expected once in every 100 years. Soil moisture records were taken simultaneously with Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) at different depths. The hydrological response of soil covered by semiarid shrubs to extreme events seems to be controlled by complex processes of soil saturation that are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. These seem to be regulated by the accumulation of water in some areas and by deep flows through preferential paths. Although the run-off was variable and relatively high locally, this Mediterranean gorse scrubland was very efficient in retaining sediment, even under this extreme disturbance.