Jarecke, Karla M.; Bladon, Kevin D.; Wondzell, Steven M. 2021. The Influence of Local and Nonlocal Factors on Soil Water Content in a Steep Forested Catchment. Water Resources Research. 57(5): e2020WR028343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028343
Surface topography can influence flow pathways and the location of runoff source areas and water transport in steep headwater catchments. However, the influence of topography on spatial patterns of residual soil moisture is less well understood. We measured soil volumetric water content (VWC) on 14 dates at 0–30 and 30–60 cm depth at 54 sites on a steep, 10 ha north-facing forested slope in the west-central Cascades Mountains of Oregon, USA. Spatial patterns in VWC were persistent over time, and contrary to expectations VWC at 30–60 cm depth was greater on divergent than convergent slopes, especially during wet periods (R2 = 0.27, p