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The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes

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A special issue of Hydrology (ISSN 2306-5338). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology–Climate Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 9280

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Dr. Hao Chen

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Guest Editor

College of Soil and Water Conservation Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Interests: land restoration; urbanization; ecosystem services
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Dr. Linjing Qiu

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Guest Editor

Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: mechanism of ecosystem water and carbon cycle; large-scale land–air interaction based on earth system models
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Dr. Wenbin Ding

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Eco-Functional Polymer Materials of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Interests: hydrology; rainfall interception; soil moisture; eco-function materials applied
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Landscape disturbance—including land use change, deforestation, urban expansion, agricultural intensification, and climate-driven events—has increasingly altered the hydrological and ecological dynamics of catchment systems worldwide. These disturbances reshape surface runoff patterns, sediment transport, evapotranspiration rates, soil infiltration capacity, and groundwater recharge. Beyond physical hydrological shifts, they also impact ecosystem service provisioning, such as water purification, carbon storage, and flood regulation. In recent decades, ecological hydrology has emerged as a vital interdisciplinary field to understand how catchment-scale water processes interact with ecosystem functioning. However, key uncertainties remain regarding the thresholds, feedbacks, and spatial heterogeneity of disturbance effects. In response to global change and restoration initiatives (e.g., reforestation, ecological zoning), it becomes imperative to assess how different disturbance regimes influence the resilience and functionality of hydrological systems and their associated ecosystem services.

The aim of this Special Issue is to advance scientific understanding of how various forms of landscape disturbance influence catchment-scale hydrological processes and associated ecosystem services. By integrating insights from ecohydrology, landscape ecology, and watershed modeling, this issue seeks to uncover the mechanisms, patterns, and consequences of disturbances such as land use change, deforestation, and ecological restoration. The Special Issue will also highlight methodological innovations and practical applications that support sustainable catchment management under scenarios of environmental change. Through interdisciplinary contributions, it aims to build a comprehensive framework for assessing disturbance impacts and informing nature-based solutions for resilient watershed systems.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

Landscape disturbance effects on hydrological processes (e.g., runoff, infiltration, baseflow, evapotranspiration);
Interactions between land use/land cover change and ecosystem service dynamics in catchments;
Modeling approaches to assess watershed responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., using InVEST, SWAT, CA-Markov, machine learning);
Soil erosion, sediment transport, and water quality under disturbance scenarios;
Ecological restoration and its hydrological and ecosystem service impacts (e.g., reforestation, ecological zoning, slope management);
Climate change and its compound effects with land use disturbance on hydrological regimes;
Integration of hydrological modeling with ecosystem service valuation for policy and watershed planning;
Case studies on catchment-scale management under environmental stressors.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Land.

Dr. Hao Chen
Dr. Linjing Qiu
Dr. Wenbin Ding
Guest Editors

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Keywords

ecohydrology
landscape disturbance
watershed hydrology
ecosystem services
land use/land cover change
soil erosion and sediment dynamics
catchment modeling
ecological restoration
hydrological resilience
nature-based solutions

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3934 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Influence of Terracing Induced Modifications of Runoff Patterns on Soil Redistribution Using In Situ ¹³⁷Cs Measurements with a LaBr₃ Scintillation Detector

by Leticia Gaspar and Ana Navas

Hydrology 2026, 13(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13040118 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 179

Abstract

In subhumid Mediterranean agroecosystems, runoff drives soil erosion by controlling particle detachment and transport, with its generation and connectivity strongly influenced by land use. In areas affected by land abandonment and reforestation, terracing modifies hillslope morphology and flow pathways, thereby altering soil redistribution patterns. Fallout ¹³⁷Cs has been widely used to assess medium term soil redistribution, and in situ gamma ray spectrometry using scintillation detectors provides an alternative for improving spatial coverage, yet the influence of factors specific to the site on measurements remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates how ¹³⁷Cs counts obtained in situ with a LaBr₃ detector can be used to interpret soil redistribution patterns in two paired catchments that experienced land abandonment since the mid-1960s. Following abandonment, catchment A underwent natural revegetation, whereas catchment B was terraced for reforestation, allowing the effects of water erosion and terracing on soil mobilisation to be analyzed through the spatial distribution of ¹³⁷Cs. By linking ¹³⁷Cs counts with catchment physiography, land use, flow pathways, and NDVI, the study aims to identify the main controls on soil redistribution in both catchments. ¹³⁷Cs counts were significantly higher in catchment A (156.8 ± 108.2 counts) than in catchment B (53.2 ± 68.1), with coefficients of variation of 69% and 128%, respectively. The in situ ¹³⁷Cs measurements provide reliable indicators of soil redistribution patterns controlled not only by runoff but also by anthropogenic modifications of hillslope morphology that alter flow pathways and hydrological connectivity following terracing. The paired catchment approach, combined with in situ ¹³⁷Cs measurements, provides valuable insights into the key controls on soil redistribution, which is essential for effective land management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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19 pages, 5093 KB

Open AccessArticle

Extreme Hydrological Events and Land Cover Impacts on Water Resources in Haiti: Remote Sensing and Modeling Tools Can Improve Adaptation Planning

by Jeldane Joseph, Suranjana Chatterjee, Joseph J. Molnar and Frances O’Donnell

Hydrology 2026, 13(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13030079 - 3 Mar 2026

Viewed by 433

Abstract

Populations in areas with limited hydrological data face ongoing challenges related to water supply and management, with climate change increasing the risks of floods and droughts. New remote sensing and modeling tools can improve land and water management in these regions, especially when combined with limited ground measurements and local knowledge of extreme events. This study examined hydrological extremes and land cover change impacts in the Grande Rivière du Nord watershed, Haiti, using satellite and model-based data. Precipitation extremes were obtained from the Global Precipitation Measurement Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (GPM IMERG; 2000–2025), and streamflow data were sourced from the Group on Earth Observation Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS) system and bias-corrected with a small historical hydrologic database. Annual maximum series were created and fitted with Gumbel, Lognormal, and Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions using the L-moment method. Goodness-of-fit tests identified the best models, and precipitation amounts for return periods of 2–100 years were estimated. The precipitation maxima aligned with locally reported extreme events, and GEV provided the best overall fit. Using the bias-corrected streamflow, a hydrologic model was calibrated and validated and then applied to land cover change scenarios. Simulations suggest that moderate land-use change can increase peak flows beyond channel capacity, raising flood risk and informing adaptation planning in northern Haiti, which has limited data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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27 pages, 14919 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Water Management in a Complex Watershed: A Case Study in Tulancingo Valley, Mexico

by Georgina Itandehui Ávila-Castañeda, Elena María Otazo-Sánchez, Silvia Chamizo-Checa, Gabriela Marisol Vázquez-Cuevas and Alma Delia Román-Gutiérrez

Hydrology 2026, 13(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13030077 - 28 Feb 2026

Viewed by 378

Abstract

This research analyzes water availability in the Tulancingo Valley (Hidalgo State, Mexico), a representative region with notable industrial and agricultural activities, over the period from 2013 to 2050. A conceptual model was developed and calculated with the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) simulation platform, calibrated with 2014 data, to estimate future water demand under mitigation scenarios that incorporate inertial population and industrial growth, as well as projected climate change trends. The simulation identifies the key actions that support sustainable water-resource management. Results show that agricultural groundwater demand is the dominant pressure on the aquifer, which is projected to become overexploited by 2050 (−185.65 hm³). The most effective mitigation strategies involve increasing the use of available surface water in both industrial and agricultural sectors; under these measures, the aquifer could recover and reach an annual availability of 231.7 hm³, ensuring long-term water sustainability of the valley. The modeling approach applied here offers a useful framework for similar assessments in other complex areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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33 pages, 8706 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of River Channel Structural Modifications on High-Flow Characteristics Using 2D Rain-on-Grid HEC-RAS Modelling: A Case of Chongwe River Catchment in Zambia

by Frank Mudenda, Hosea M. Mwangi, John M. Gathenya and Caroline W. Maina

Hydrology 2026, 13(2), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13020065 - 6 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1169

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has led to increasing structural modification of river catchments through dam construction and concrete-lining of natural channels as flood management measures. These interventions can alter the natural hydrology. This necessitates assessment of their influence on hydrology at a catchment scale. However, such evaluations are particularly challenging in data-scarce regions such as the Chongwe River Catchment, where hydrometric records capturing conditions before and after structural modifications are limited. Therefore, we applied a 2D rain-on-grid approach in HEC-RAS to evaluate changes in high-flow responses to short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events in the Chongwe River Catchment in Zambia, where structural interventions have been implemented. The terrain was modified in HEC-RAS to represent 21 km of concrete drains and ten dams. Sensitivity analysis conducted on five key model parameters showed that parameters controlling surface runoff generation, particularly curve number, exerted the strongest influence on simulated peak flows, while routing-related parameters had a secondary effect. Model calibration and validation showed strong performance with R² = 0.99, NSE = 0.75 and PBIAS = −0.68% during calibration and R² = 0.95, NSE = 0.75, PBIAS = −2.49% during validation. Four scenarios were simulated to determine the hydrological effects of channel concrete-lining and dams. The results showed that concrete-lining of natural channels in the urban area increased high flows at the main outlet by approximately 4.6%, generated localized instantaneous maximum channel velocities of up to 20 m/s, increased flood depths by up to 11%, decreased lag times and expanded flood inundation widths by up to 15%. The existing dams reduced peak flows by about 28%, increased lag times, reduced flood depths by about 11%, and reduced flood inundation widths by up to 8% across the catchment. The findings demonstrate that enhancing stormwater conveyance through concrete-lining must be complemented by storage to manage high flows, while future work should explore nature-based solutions to reduce channel velocities and improve sustainable flood mitigation. Therefore, the study provides event-scale insights to support flood-risk management and infrastructure planning in rapidly urbanizing, data-scarce catchments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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12 pages, 1760 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanisms of Multi-Path Runoff Leakage Induced by Cracks at the Rock–Soil Interface on Bedrock-Exposed Slopes in Karst Critical Zones

by Xingya Chen, Xudong Peng, Longpei Cen, Wenping Meng, Quanhou Dai and Yanyi Huang

Hydrology 2026, 13(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13010024 - 8 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1319

Abstract

As exposed bedrocks commonly interface with the soil directly, lacking a transition layer, cracks at rock–soil interface cracks (RSI-Cracks), are well-developed, particularly following wet–dry alternation in karst critical zones. However, inadequate understanding of the influence of RSI-Cracks on multi-path runoff generation around bedrocks has hindered an in-depth comprehension of subsurface-dominated hydrological processes in karst areas. To address this gap, we developed micro-slope models replicating rock–soil interfacial configurations by building upon field investigations. Two conditions, namely, the presence and absence of RSI-Cracks, were incorporated, with rain intensity and rock surface inclination as experimental conditions. Our results indicate that RSI-Cracks significantly alter the runoff output (p < 0.05), exacerbating subsurface water leakage. Compared with that on slopes without RSI-Cracks, the proportion of surface runoff on slopes with RSI-Cracks is reduced, with a reduction range of 4 to 46%. Conversely, RSI-Cracks promote an increase in the proportion of outflow at the rock–soil interface (RSI flow), with an increase range of 7 to 38%. This is an important reason for the aggravation of subsurface water leakage through RSI-Cracks. However, there is no significant change in the water loss caused by internal soil seepage on slopes with or without RSI-Cracks. These findings provide novel insights into underground water loss, with valuable implications for the construction and improvement of hydrological models in karst areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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26 pages, 12574 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Urbanization on Flooding and Risk Based on Hydrologic–Hydraulic Modeling and Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case of Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

by Badri Bhakta Shrestha, Mohamed Rasmy, Katsunori Tamakawa, Sauhardra Joshi and Daisuke Kuribayashi

Hydrology 2025, 12(11), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12110283 - 30 Oct 2025

Viewed by 3078

Abstract

Understanding urbanization and its impact on flooding and flood risk is crucial to better manage flood risk in the future. This study analyzed land use/land cover changes and how urbanization would impact flooding and flood risk in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, and assessed flood risk by integrating flood hazards based on hydrologic–hydraulic modeling with the Analytic Hierarchy Process-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (AHP-MCDA) approach. Land cover maps for past years were generated using Landsat satellite images, and land use/land cover maps for future years were projected based on machine learning techniques. Flood simulations were conducted using a rainfall runoff inundation model with land cover maps for different flood scales to analyze the impact of urbanization and land cover changes on flood runoff, flood inundation extent, and flood inundation volume. Then, we comprehensively assessed flood risk by integrating hazard conditions simulated under different land cover conditions using a hydrologic–hydraulic model and the AHP-MCDA approach. The results showed that the flood inundation extent and the peak inundation volume for a 200-year flood may increase in the future by 10.66% and 15.04%, respectively, as a result of urbanization. The results also highlighted that urbanization may lead to an expansion of high-risk and very-high-risk areas in the future by 3.2% and 9.4%, respectively, indicating an increase in the valley’s flood vulnerability and greater severity of flood hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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22 pages, 4204 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Integrative Runoff Infiltration Modeling of Mountainous Urban Karstic Terrain

by Yaakov Anker, Nitzan Ne’eman, Alexander Gimburg and Itzhak Benenson

Hydrology 2025, 12(9), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12090222 - 22 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1437

Abstract

Global climate change, combined with the construction of impermeable urban elements, tends to increase runoff, which might cause flooding and reduce groundwater recharge. Moreover, the first flash of these areas might accumulate pollutants that might deteriorate groundwater quality. A digital elevation model (DEM) describes urban landscapes by representing the watershed relief at any given location. While, in concept, finer DEMs and land use classification (LUC) are yielding better hydrological models, it is suggested that over-accuracy overestimates minor tributaries that might be redundant. Optimal DEM resolution with integrated spectral and feature-based LUC was found to reflect the hydrological network’s significant tributaries. To cope with the karstic urban watershed complexity, ModClark Transform and SCS Curve Number methods were integrated over a GIS-HEC-HMS platform to a nominal urban watershed sub-basin analysis procedure, allowing for detailed urban runoff modeling. This precise urban karstic terrain modeling procedure can predict runoff volume and discharge in urban, mountainous karstic watersheds, and may be used for water-sensitive design or in such cities to control runoff and prevent its negative impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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Review

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36 pages, 67306 KB

Open AccessReview

Fluvial Characteristics of the Magdalena River (Colombia) and a Nature-Based Solution for Navigation Conditions

by Allen Bateman Pinzón and Raúl Sosa Pérez

Hydrology 2026, 13(3), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13030080 - 3 Mar 2026

Viewed by 576

Abstract

This study analyzes the hydro-morphological dynamics of the lower 40 km of the Magdalena River (Colombia), with particular emphasis on the reach between Malambo and the river mouth at Bocas de Ceniza. Bathymetric profiles obtained from three field campaigns conducted between 2017 and 2018 were used to characterize riverbed morphology and to quantify the evolution of subaqueous bedforms (dunes) under different flow conditions. The results reveal a systematic increase in dune height and wavelength with increasing discharge. The dominant discharge during the observation period was approximately 7400 m³/s, associated with a total measured sediment load of about 2000 kton/day, corresponding to a volumetric concentration of 0.12%. Variations in the Manning roughness coefficient were identified, ranging from 0.020 to 0.037, primarily driven by changes in discharge and, to a lesser extent, by spatial variability in hydraulic roughness, particularly in port areas. Bedforms exhibit significant growth during high-flow periods, consistent with findings reported in the literature. Analysis of mean velocity profiles indicates that the von Kármán coefficient varies with sediment concentration and turbulence intensity. Finally, a nature-based solution is proposed for the river mouth, consisting of reconfiguring the Thalweg in the final kilometers of the channel to replicate the meandering pattern of the adjacent bend. This intervention aims to enhance Thalweg stability, reduce saline wedge intrusion, promote sediment and flow dispersion toward the natural submarine canyon, and improve navigability at the river mouth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Influence of Landscape Disturbance on Catchment Processes)

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