Zhang et al. (2026) Characterising Rainfall‐Induced Soil Water Dynamics in Soil Profiles and Quantifying the Influencing Factors Over Mainland China

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Hydrological Processes
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-04-01
• Authors: LanHui Zhang, Yanzhao Xu, Wenli Zhao, Jiewen Gou, Qi An, Yong Wang, Chansheng He
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.70496

Research Groups

Not specified in the abstract.

Short Summary

This study characterizes rainfall-induced soil water dynamics (SWD) and preferential flow (PF) patterns across soil profiles and spatial scales using in situ hourly data. It reveals novel profile patterns of SWD and PF, identifies scale-dependent environmental impacts, and elucidates complex controlling factors, providing insights for improving Earth System Models.

Objective

• To characterize the profile distribution patterns of rainfall-induced soil water dynamics (SWD).
• To examine the environmental impacts and their scale effects on rainfall-induced SWD.
• To analyze the occurrence and controlling factors of preferential flow (PF).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional to continental (mainland China, Changjiang river plain), with specific analyses at scales below 90 km × 90 km.
• Temporal Scale: Hourly.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified in the abstract.
• Data sources: Hourly data from 594 in situ stations.

Main Results

• Three distinct soil water response patterns to rainfall were identified in the soil profile: a predominant shallow-decline pattern, a uniform pattern in barren land, and a multi-phase pattern in areas with shallow groundwater.
• The influence of rainfall and clay on soil water response amplitude decreases with decreasing spatial scale, while antecedent soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) have increasing effects. These changes exhibit significant, stepwise shifts at critical scales.
• The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) affects the maximum rate of the soil-wetting curve (Smax) in a bimodal fashion, with stronger impacts observed at regional scales and below 90 km × 90 km.
• Two distinct PF frequency distribution patterns emerge across soil layers: a consistent decrease with depth in the Changjiang river plain (CJ) region (corresponding with decreasing root density and microporosity), and a predominant mid-depth increase (caused by uneven grass root distribution, gravel content, cracks, and soil fauna in deeper soils).
• Soil texture exhibits complex, nonlinear effects on PF frequency, varying with antecedent SWC in fine-textured areas.
• Bulk density has a threshold effect on PF frequency in mainland China: it negatively impacts PF frequency below 1.33 g/cm³ and positively impacts it above 1.41 g/cm³.

Contributions

• Reveals novel profile patterns of rainfall-induced soil water dynamics (SWD) and preferential flow (PF).
• Provides fresh insights into the soil wetting process and its scale-dependent controls.
• Offers understanding beneficial for effective model parameterization and validation, enhancing the simulation of soil water dynamics in Earth System Models.

Funding

Not specified in the abstract.

Citation

@article{Zhang2026Characterising,
  author = {Zhang, LanHui and Xu, Yanzhao and Zhao, Wenli and Gou, Jiewen and An, Qi and Wang, Yong and He, Chansheng},
  title = {Characterising Rainfall‐Induced Soil Water Dynamics in Soil Profiles and Quantifying the Influencing Factors Over Mainland China},
  journal = {Hydrological Processes},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1002/hyp.70496},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70496}
}