Responses of evapotranspiration at different topographic positions and catchment water balance following a pronounced drought in a mixed species eucalypt forest, Australia

Abstract

Across southern Australia, a large proportion of urban water supply is sourced from mountainous catchments forested with native eucalypts. Mixed species eucalypt forest (MSEF) is the most common forest type in this region and occurs on relatively dry, fire prone sites, yet factors controlling forest water use and stream flow in response to topography, disturbance and drought are poorly understood. This study investigated the patterns and drivers of water balance over a 4year period in a 1.36km 2, MSEF catchment by: quantifying spatial and temporal variability in evapotranspiration (E t) and its components; evaluating the abiotic, structural and physiological factors controlling water use acr..