Ce travail de thèse propose une méthodologie d’instrumentation reposant sur plusieurs outils hydrologiques, géophysiques et géochimiques afin de quantifier l’apport nival dans les débits du Lignon. Cette instrumentation consiste en un suivi des échanges aux différents compartiments/interfaces hydrologiques que forment l’atmosphère, la neige, le sol et les cours d’eau au cours des saisons. La neige, et surtout l’équivalent en eau liquide qu’elle représente, est fondamentale pour la compréhension du fonctionnement des sources du Lignon, situées à l’aval direct d’une congère de grand volume. Ce volume d’eau est stocké durant la saison froide pour être restitué lors de la fonte printanière. Cette restitution est loin d’être homogène dans le Haut Lignon, en raison de la forte variabilité spatio-temporelle des paramètres qui la pilotent.L’infiltration de l’eau alors produite est une étape clef dans le comportement hydrologique du Lignon au printemps. La structure du sol à proximité des sources explique également la forte dépendance des sources du Lignon par rapport aux précipitations neigeuses. Cette dépendance est particulièrement visible lors de la fonte de la neige, qui modifie à très court terme les débits aux sources. Cette relation neige-pluie-débit met en évidence une alimentation superficielle pluvio-neigeuse prépondérante par rapport aux débits issus d’eau plus profonde, mais variable au cours de l’année.La méthode d’instrumentation employée, adaptée à l’hydrologie locale employée, permet de corroborer les résultats obtenus avec une précision appréciable, tout en ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives d’application à d’autres bassins versants d’altitude. / This work proposes a methodology for an instrumentation based on several hydrological, geophysical and geochemical tools, to quantify the contribution of snowmelting proportions in the Lignon. This instrumentation is a monitoring of the different compartments / hydrological interfaces made up by atmosphere, snow, soil and rivers throughout the seasons.Snow, and especially the snow water equivalent, is fundamental to a better hydrological understanding of the sources of the Lignon, located directly downstream of a large snowdrift. This amount of water is stored during the cold season, to be returned during the spring melting. This return is heterogeneous in the top of the Lignon, due to the high spatial and temporal variability of parameters leading the melting.The infiltration of water therefore produced is a key step in the hydrological behavior of the Lignon during the spring time, which can be potentially more affected by the freezing of the ground, which significantly increases surface runoff.Soil structure near sources also explains the strong dependence of the sources of the Lignon towards snowfalls and rains. This dependence is especially noticeable at the snow melting that changes with very short term the flows at the sources.This snow-rainfall-runoff relationship highlights a predominant rain-snow surface supply, in comparison with the deeper water flows, and variable during the year.This instrumentation method, adapted to the local scale hydrology, allows corroborating the results obtained with a good accuracy, while opening new opportunities for application to other altitude watersheds.

La télédétection par satellite est aujourd'hui une composante à part entière de l'océanographie. Elle permet d'effectuer des mesures de vents, de température de surface (SST), de couleur de l'eau, de topographie, ... avec des couvertures spatiales et temporelles bien supérieures à celles obtenues par des méthodes in situ. Cependant, il n'existe pas à l'heure actuelle de mesure satellitaire de salinité de surface des océans (SSS), et celle-ci reste sous échantillonnée à la fois spatialement et temporellement. La salinité étant un paramètre important pour la circulation des masses d'eau océaniques, son observation globale et régulière constituerait un apport conséquent à l'océanographie physique. C'est pourquoi de nombreuses équipes scientifiques à travers le monde relèvent actuellement le défi technologique de la télédétection de la SSS par satellite, et particulièrement en Europe grâce à la mission de l'Agence Spatiale Européenne « Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity » (SMOS). Au cours de ma thèse, j'ai étudié la faisabilité de la mesure de la SSS à l'aide d'un radiomètre hyperfréquence en bande L (i.e. fréquence = 1.4 GHz <=> longueur d'onde = 21 cm), en estimant les sources d'incertitude sur la SSS qui sera restituée dans le cadre de la mission SMOS. Pour cela, j'ai codé un modèle direct, qui simule les processus physiques intervenant depuis la surface océanique jusqu'à l'antenne du radiomètre. Ce modèle est constitué d'un modèle d'émissivité de la mer à « deux échelles » (i.e. on distingue les vagues selon qu'elles soient « grandes » ou « petites » par rapport à la longueur d'onde du radiomètre), et d'un modèle de transfert radiatif à travers l'atmosphère. Le modèle d'émissivité m'a permis d'estimer la sensibilité de la température de brillance (Tb) de l'océan aux paramètres géophysique océanique (i.e. SSS, SST, et rugosité de surface induite par le vent ou la houle), ainsi que l'incertitude sur cette sensibilité en comparant les résultats obtenus à partir de paramétrisations différentes. J'ai conclu de ces études que la sensibilité de la Tb à la SSS est relativement bien connue (de l'ordre de quelques dixièmes de Kelvin par psu) mais que l'effet de la rugosité est très incertain à cause de l'imprécision des modèles de spectre des vagues, alors que cet effet ne semble pas être négligeable (la sensibilité de la Tb au vent étant comprise entre 0.12 à 0.25 K/(m/s) selon le modèle de spectre). Le modèle de transfert radiatif m'a permis d'estimer les différentes contributions de l'atmosphère (atténuation des rayonnements la traversant et émission propre), ainsi que la sensibilité de ces contributions aux paramètres atmosphériques (i.e. profils de température, pression et humidité relative). En bande L, l'atmosphère est quasiment transparente (épaisseur optique ~ 0.01 néper) et sa température de brillance est de l'ordre de 2 K. Ces effets sont peu sensibles aux paramètres atmosphériques, particulièrement à la vapeur d'eau. Je présente aussi dans la thèse des comparaisons du modèle avec des mesures radiométriques en bande L récentes (campagnes WISE 2000, WISE 2001 et EuroSTARRS) ainsi que les conclusions sur la validité des différents modèles de spectre de mer étudiés.

Achieving and maintaining sustainability in irrigated agriculture production in the era of rapidly increasing stress on our natural resources require, among other essential actions, optimum control and management of the applied water. Thus, a significant upgrade of the currently available soil water monitoring technologies is needed. The primary goal of this work was to reduce the uncertainties of spatially variable soil water in the field. Two approaches are suggested: 1) The Bayesian decision model that implicitly accounts for spatial variability at minimal cost based on limited field data, and 2) The Actively Heated Fiber Optic (AHFO) method that explicitly accounts for spatial variability with high sampling density at relatively low cost per measurement point. The Bayesian decision model uses an algorithm to integrate information embodied in independent estimates of soil water depletion to derive a posterior estimation of soil water status that has the potential to reduce the risk of costly errors in irrigation scheduling decisions. The sources of information are obtained from an ET based water balance model, soil water measurements, and expert opinion. The algorithm was tested in a numerical example based on a field experiment where soil water depletion measurements were made at 43 sites in an agricultural field under center pivot irrigation. The results showed that the estimates of the average soil water depletion in the field obtained from the posterior distributions of soil water depletion proved to outperform simple averaging of n soil water depletion measurements, up to n = 35 measurements. For n< 3, the model also provided a 39% average reduction in risk of error derived from non-representative measurements. The AHFO method observes the heating and cooling of a buried fiber optic (FO) cable through the course of a pulse application of energy as monitored by a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system to reveal soil water content simultaneously at sub-meter scale along the FO cable that can potentially exceeds kilometers in length. A new and simple interpretation of heat data that takes advantage of the characteristics of FO temperature measurements is presented. The results demonstrate the feasibility of AHFO method application to obtain <0.05 m³m⁻³ error distributed measurements of soil water content under laboratory controlled conditions. The AHFO method was then tested under field conditions using 750 m of FO cables buried at 30, 60, and 90 cm depths in agricultural field. The calibration curve relating soil water content to the thermal response of the soil to a heat pulse was developed in the lab. It was successively applied to the 30 and 60 cm depths cables, while the 90 cm depth cable illustrated the challenges of soil heterogeneity for this technique. The method was used to map with high spatial (1m) and temporal (1hr) resolution the spatial variability of soil water content and fluxes induced by the non-uniformity of water application at the surface. / Graduation date: 2012

Ziel der Arbeit ist es, ein genaueres Prozessverständnis zur Abflussbildung an Hängen auf der Basis der räumlichen Verbreitung periglazialer Deckschichten zu erhalten. Das Untersuchungsgebiet ist ein 6 ha großes, forstlich bewirtschaftetes Quelleinzugsgebiet im Osterzgebirge. Das anstehende Gestein ist Gneis. Der oberflächennahe Untergrund ist aus zwei- und dreigliedrigen Deckschichten zusammengesetzt. Auf der Punkt-, Hang- und Kleineinzugsgebietsskala werden hydrometrische, hydrochemische und geoelektrische Methoden sowie Färbeversuche eingesetzt, um auf die dominierenden Abflussbildungsprozesse schließen zu können. Aus der Synthese der Teilergebnisse werden drei typische Prozessabläufe in Abhängigkeit von der Gebietsvorfeuchte abgeleitet. Diese verdeutlichen, dass bei geringer Vorfeuchte Sättigungsoberflächenabfluss im Quellsumpf vorherrscht, bei mittlerer bis hoher Vorfeuchte dagegen Zwischenabfluss der dominierende Abflussprozess ist. Die Abflusswirksamkeit der Niederschläge steigt zudem mit zunehmender Vorfeuchte nichtlinear an. Es wird herausgestellt, dass die hydraulisch anisotropen Eigenschaften der Basislage entscheidend die oberflächennahen Fließwege des Wassers beeinflussen. Sie besitzt durch ihre hohe Lagerungsdichte einerseits vertikal wasserstauende Eigenschaften. Andererseits kann Wasser, begünstigt durch das dominant sandige Substrat und das hangparallel eingeregelte Bodenskelett innerhalb der Schicht bevorzugt lateral geleitet werden. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse verdeutlichen die Bedeutung der Eigenschaften der periglazialen Deckschichten für die Abflussbildung an Mittelgebirgshängen. / The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of runoff processes on slopes based on the spatial distribution of periglacial cover beds. The study area is a 6 ha large forested spring catchment in the Eastern Ore Mountains, Saxony. Bedrock is gneiss overlain by periglacial cover beds comprising two or three layers. On plot, hillslope and small-catchment scales hydrometrical, hydrochemical and geoelectrical methods as well as tracer experiments are used to determine the constitutive runoff processes. From the synthesis of partial results, three pre-moisture controlled process cycles are derived. With low pre-moisture, saturation overland flow dominates in the spring bog. In contrast, with medium or high pre-moisture interflow occurs. Besides, with rising pre-moisture runoff coefficients increase in a non-linear manner. It is emphasised that the hydraulic anisotropic structure of the Basal Layer is the major control factor for subsurface water-flow paths. On the one hand, this layer acts as an aquitard for seeping water because of its high bulk density. On the other hand, water within the layer is able to flow laterally because of the sandy texture and the coarse clasts oriented parallel to the slope. These findings highlight the importance of relic periglacial cover beds for runoff generation in subdued mountains.

Work presented in this dissertation was performed in the salt-desert environment of the Owens Valley of California. The area experiences low-rainfall, hot summers, but has a high water table, seldom more than 5 meters from the surface. To test differences in plant species wateruse, a steady-state porometer was used for transpiration measurements while a 2-meter point-frame was used to estimate leaf area index on each species studied. The five species studied (Atriplex torreyi, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Distichlis stricta, Sporobolus airoides, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus) varied with regard to photosynthetic pathways and leaf morphology. Water-use differences among species are hypothesized to be related to the differing physiological and morphological characteristics observed in the different species studied. This work focuses upon methods for integrating porometric transpiration rates and point-frame measured leaf area to estimate daily plant water-use. Daily water-use values are correlated with environmental growth conditions. A computer program was developed for scenario testing so that conclusions could be drawn concerning how given plants respond to different conditions of soil moisture and atmospheric evaporative demand. The computer-aided calculations led to conclusions that low water-use behavior characterizes A. torreyi, and high water-use behavior characterizes C. nauseosus. C4 photosynthesis and low leaf conductance may contribute to the success of A. torreyi on fine-textured soils when water transfer rates to roots are limiting to transpiration. Fine-textured soils may inhibit production in C. nauseosus because the species requires higher rates of transpiration to achieve optimal growth than soil hydraulic conductivity allows. These conclusions have implications for land managers who should recognize that climax plant communities in saltdesert regions are better at conserving water and stabilizing soil than is colonizing vegetation. Management should seek to maintain climax vegetation cover because restoration is difficult once vegetation disturbance occurs.

From the Proceedings of the 1971 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 22-23, 1971, Tempe, Arizona / A study was made to determine how the evaporation rate from a bare Adelanto loam soil in Phoenix changes with season and with time since the last irrigation. The evaporation rates were determined by precision lysimeters in a bare field, with measurements being taken in every month of the year for at least a week after irrigation. The data exhibited a cosine-shaped curve, with a maximum evaporation rate of about 5 mm/day in summer and a minimum rate of about 2 mm/day in winter. By the seventh day, seasonal effects virtually disappear, and the evaporation rate is the same in both summer and winter, being about 2 mm/day after the 7th day and about 0.75 mm/day after the 21st day. It is generally accepted that soil dries in 3 stages, and the transition between the 1st and 2nd stages occurs when atmospheric conditions are no longer critical. In previous laboratory studies of soil drying, with constant atmospheric conditions, stage 1 was easily distinguished from stage II, and these results correlated closely with the equations of Gardner and Hillel. The individual drying curves of this field study were qualitatively different from the laboratory studies and did not confirm the predictions of the equations, suggesting that diurnal variations in temperature and other meteorological parameters have caused the difference.

From the Proceedings of the 1972 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 5-6, 1972, Prescott, Arizona / Sewage effluent for irrigation is well established. This study determines the capacity of selective turfgrass-soil systems to purify municipal sewage effluent and to measure the degree of utilization of nitrogen in the effluent by turfgrass. Chlorinated secondarily treated sewage effluent from the city of Tucson was applied to turfgrass grown on sandy loam, silt and loam, under three levels of irrigation under laboratory conditions of duplicate pots. Each pot had 2 suction probes to estimate soil moisture tensions and to allow soil water sampling. The study operated from September to March, 1972, for 30 weeks. Purification efficiency, nitrogen utilization and percent recharge were calculated. Turfgrass can be irrigated with sewage effluent at common rates without hazard of nitrogen pollution to groundwater. Purification efficiency exceeded 90 percent for all irrigation levels on sandy loam and silt. Nitrogen utilization was greater over sandy loam. Turfgrass-soil systems can utilize nitrogen and purify waste water.

From the Proceedings of the 1972 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 5-6, 1972, Prescott, Arizona / Numerous reports from the southwest claim that soil moisture prior to rainfall-runoff event has no influence on the resulting flow volumes and peak rates. Runoff occurs from many storms that would not be expected to produce runoff, and an explanation lies in the occurrence of antecedent rains. This hypothesis is tested by dividing runoff events into 2 subsets--one with no rain within the preceding 120 hours, and the other with some rain within the preceding 24 hours--and to test the null hypothesis. The hypothesis was tested with rainfall and runoff data from a 40-acre agricultural research service watershed west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, using the Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Various levels of statistical significance are discussed, and shown graphically, to conclude conclusively that antecedent rainfall influences runoff from a semiarid watershed.

From the Proceedings of the 1973 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 4-5, 1973, Tucson, Arizona / An infiltration- wetting agent study, using the wetting agent "WATER-IN", was conducted in the ponderosa pine forest type of east central Arizona. An application rate of 10 gallons of wetting agent per acre was used on bare mineral soil and on ponderosa pine litter. The infiltration rate was measured by a modified North Fork infiltrometer. It was found that "WATER-IN" significantly increased water runoff when applied to litter, but, when applied to bare mineral soil, "WATER-IN" caused a significant increase in water infiltration. The wetting agent did not significantly affect antecedent moisture, soil particle distribution, litter water holding capacity, or litter bulk density. It is presently hypothesized that the increase in water infiltration on treated bare mineral soil is due to a decrease in the average bulk density of the surface inch of soil. The increase in runoff when litter is treated is probably due to an interaction, either physical, chemical, or both, between the humus layer and "WATER-IN ", creating a hydrophobic condition where one did not exist before.

From the Proceedings of the 1975 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 11-12, 1975, Tempe, Arizona / Evaporation of water from bare soils is an important consideration in the scheduling of many farming operations in both irrigated and dryland agriculture. Accurate predictions of bare soil evaporation can serve as the basis for decisions to increase the acreage planted with a given crop. An alternative is presented to previous approaches to bare soil evaporation estimation by empirically correlating the ratio of daily totals of actual to potential evaporation and the amplitude of the diurnal surface soil temperature wave. Since evaporation is directly related to the surface soil water pressure, the soil thermal inertia technique might be capable of prescribing relative bare soil evaporation rates which, combined with potential evaporation calculations, could allow determination of actual evaporation rates over the entire range of soil drying.