Modelling hyporheic exchange: From the boundary layer to the basin

Abstract

Hydrological connections in streams occur longitudinally along the stream channel, laterally with the floodplain and vertically with the hyporheic zone. These connections are an important control on freshwater ecosystem processes at the basin-scale including nutrient cycling and retention; movements of organisms to complete life stages; and the provision of refugia during high and low flow periods. They also influence human and farm health by creating pathways for the sequestration and mobilization of microbial communities including human and animal pathogens. Methods are available to observe and model lateral and longitudinal hydrological connectivity at the basin-scale but this is not true..