This document discusses the role of ecohydrology in desert restoration. It outlines four realms of ecohydrology in drylands: 1) soil water, 2) hillslopes, 3) ephemeral rivers, and 4) groundwater. For each realm, it provides examples of key topics and case studies that examine water flow and availability. It also introduces the working group on soils and hydrology for the Desert Restoration Hub initiative, which aims to connect scientific research with practical restoration efforts through cooperation and outreach.

1. The Eco-hydrological
Perspective on Desert
Restoration
WG 2 EU COST Action ES1104, Desert Restoration Hub
C. Kuells, S. Berkovicz, E. Constantini, C. Ritsema,
V. Geissen, J. Hooke, I. Stavi, O. Yildiz

2. The Desert Restoration Hub
Working group on soil and hydrology
The role of ecohydrology
in Desert Restoration - Realms
Working group ‚soils and
hydrology‘ for the Desert
Restoration Hub - Topics
Participation and outreach
From practice to science to practice –
Cooperation
11.04.2013 2

3. Study Sites
Focus on Europe – open to desert hydrology world-wide

4. Ecohydrology in Drylands
From concept models to process realms

5. Realms of Ecohydrology
4 terrestrial zones
Soil water ecohydrology
The role of carbon in soil hydrology ‚enable WCM‘
Biochar – production and potential use in drylands
Hillslope hydrology
Are hillslopes the key to unlocking dryland‘s potential?
Yair & Lavee 1974; Garvelmann et al. 2012
Ephemeral rivers in drylands
Water availability from in drylands ephemeral rivers – functioning
and role. Abdulrazzak & Morel-Seytoux 1983; Külls et al. 1994;
Dahan et al. 2008
Groundwater ecohydrology in drylands

6. 4 Realms of Ecohydrology
Interfaces: springs, rivers, wetlands, coasts
The 4 realms of
dryland ecohydrology
form a system of
redistribution and
storage
Their interfaces are
important system
boundaries for
D
balances of water
and matter
Disciplinary dissection

7. Groundwater Recharge of a Desert Soil
Recharge at Mafraq/Jordan
Zagana et al. 2007: Hydrol. Proc. 21: 2112-2123

8. Soils as Biogeochemical Reactors
Response depends on system state
Zagana et al. 2007: Hydrol. Proc. 21: 2112-2123

9. Realms of Ecohydrology
Hillslopes, topo-sequences, hillflow
Soil water ecohydrology
The role of carbon in soil hydrology ‚enable WCM‘
Biochar – production and potential use in drylands
Hillslope hydrology
Are hillslopes the key to unlocking dryland‘s potential?
Yair & Lavee 1974; Garvelmann et al. 2012
Ephemeral rivers in drylands
Water availability from in drylands ephemeral rivers – functioning
and role. Abdulrazzak & Morel-Seytoux 1983; Külls et al. 1994;
Dahan et al. 2008
Groundwater ecohydrology in drylands

10. Hillslopes in Drylands
Accumulators and concentrators
Case study Namibia
How does Welwitschia
Mirabilis survive in a
hyper-arid desert?
Fog, groundwater, pla
nt physiology or
hillslopes

11. Hillslopes in Drylands
New methods for unveiling soil water flow

12. Hillslope Hydrology
Snapshot of the hydrology of the past 1-100 years

13. Hillslope Hydrology
Spatial variability of vertical and lateral flows
Hillslopes
• Concentrate water
at the surface and
at the subsurface
• Create a variety of
eco-hydro-logical
conditions
• Are key structural
components of
dryland basins
Garvelmann et al. 2012: HESS 16: 631-649

14. Realms of Ecohydrology
Ephemeral rivers
Soil water ecohydrology
The role of carbon in soil hydrology ‚enable WCM‘
Biochar – production and potential use in drylands
Hillslope hydrology
Are hillslopes the key to unlocking dryland‘s potential?
Yair & Lavee 1974; Garvelmann et al. 2012
Ephemeral rivers in drylands
Water availability from in drylands ephemeral rivers – functioning
and role. Abdulrazzak & Morel-Seytoux 1983; Külls et al. 1994;
Dahan et al. 2008
Groundwater ecohydrology in drylands

15. Kuiseb
17.2.2009

16. Ephemeral Rivers in Drylands
Role for desert ecohydrology and as water source
Ephemeral rivers
Concentrate runoff
Abdulrazzak & Morel-
Seytoux 1983
Are important landscape
elements for groundwater
recharge
Külls et al. 1994
But how do they function?
Dahan et al. 2008: Ground Water, 46(3): 450-469

17. 4 Months after Installation
… data revealed functioning of recharge process
70 years of debate
about groundwater
recharge from
ephemeral rivers in
arid regions
Models, hypotheses
and assumptions
First direct
measurement of
groundwater recharge
process in arid zone

18. Ephemeral Rivers
Floods – vadose zone response - recharge
Dahan et al. 2008: Ground Water, 46(3): 450-469

19. Realms of Ecohydrology
Groundwater systems
Soil water ecohydrology
The role of carbon in soil hydrology ‚enable WCM‘
Biochar – production and potential use in drylands
Hillslope hydrology
Are hillslopes the key to unlocking dryland‘s potential?
Yair & Lavee 1974; Garvelmann et al. 2012
Ephemeral rivers in drylands
Water availability from in drylands ephemeral rivers – functioning
and role. Abdulrazzak & Morel-Seytoux 1983; Külls et al. 1994;
Dahan et al. 2008
Groundwater ecohydrology in drylands
The black matter of the desert eco-hydrology universe

20. Groundwater in Drylands
Jordan GREM project
Zagana et al. 2007: Hydrol. Proc. 21: 2112-2123

21. Groundwater in Drylands
Direct recharge (soil realm)…
Zagana et al. 2007: Hydrol. Proc. 21: 2112-2123

22. Groundwater in Drylands
Water resources of the Jordan valley 3D
Möller et al. 2007: Chemical Geology, 239 (1-2); 27-49

23. The Desert Restoration Hub
Working group on soil and hydrology
The Role of Ecohydrology
in Desert Restoration - Realms
Working group ‚soils and
hydrology‘ for the Desert
Restoration Hub - Topics
Participation and outreach
From practice to science to practice –
Cooperation
11.04.2013 23

24. The Desert Restoration Hub
Working group on soil and hydrology
S. Berkovicz Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel Physical
Geography
E. Constantini Centre for Research for Agrobiology, Soil Science
Florence, Italy Soil hydrology
V. Geissen Waageningen Univesity, Netherlands Agronomy, Hydrology
J. Hooke University of Liverpool, Geography
Planning
C. Külls University of Freiburg, Germany Hydrology
C. Ritsema Waageningen University Agronomy, Hydrology
I. Stavi Dead Sea and Arava Science Centre, Bioengineering
Israel
O. Yildiz Düzce University Forestry School, Duzce, Soil & ecology
Turkey
11.04.2013 24

25. The Desert Restoration Hub
Working group on soil and hydrology
11.04.2013 25

26. The Desert Restoration Hub
Working group on soil and hydrology
The Role of Ecohydrology
in Desert Restoration - Realms
Working group ‚soils and
hydrology‘ for the Desert
Restoration Hub - Topics
Participation and outreach
From practice to science to practice –
Cooperation
11.04.2013 26

27. Umgang mit Wasserressourcen
We are looking for cooperation and plan to extend our
network
• Science Support for UNCCD, EC and other initiatives
• Connect with projects and practitioners
• Exchange with other working groups
• Involve young scientists via STSM and Training
Schools
Thank you for your attention
info@uhydro.de