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Hydrologic response in a typical karst desertification catchment

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Abstract

Karst desertification areas exhibit high spatial heterogeneity, extensive rock exposure and systems with a complex hydrological structure. Understanding runoff generation mechanisms is important for the interpretation of hydrological processes in karst critical zones. A typical karst desertification catchment in Southwest China was selected for a 2-year hydrological observation study of rainfall events, and rainfall–runoff characteristics and hydrological responses were studied. The results showed that very high rainfall infiltration occurs in the catchment, with an average runoff coefficient of 3.6%, and the runoff coefficient during most rainfall events ranges from 0.01 to 0.05%. The rainfall–runoff process is comprehensively affected by the landform characteristics, rocky desertification environment and epikarst infiltration system in the catchment. The rocky desertification hillslopes in the upper and middle reaches of the catchment are characterized by high permeability and low water-holding capacity because of the large areas of exposed rocks and fissures, which amplify the epikarst precipitation infiltration rate. Depressions in the lower reaches result in an increase in the retention time of water in the epikarst, which exhibits low permeability and high water-holding capacity. In this study, it was revealed that antecedent hydrological conditions significantly impact runoff generation processes in catchments. Runoff in the catchment mainly comprises old water (> 50%), and continuous rainfall events lead to a gradual increase in the proportion of new water.

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The datasets generated or analyzed during this work are available from the first author or corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42201013), Youth Scientific Research Project of the Guizhou Provincial Education Department (Qian Jiao Ji [2002] No. 131), Academic Young Talent Foundation of Guizhou Normal University (Qian Shi **n Miao [2021] No. B01), and Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Foundation (Qian Ke He Zhong Yin Di [2023] No. 005). The authors would like to thank Lulu Cai, Rong She, and Jian Mao for their help in sample analysis.

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  1. School of Geography and Environmental Science, School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 500025, China

    Yuan Li, Qiuwen Zhou & Yuluan Zhao

  2. Guanling Karst Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Guizhou Normal University, Guanling, 561301, China

    Yuan Li, Qiuwen Zhou & Yuluan Zhao

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  1. Yuan Li
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Yuan Li: conceptualization, methodology, software, writing–original draft, and investigation. Qiuwen Zhou: supervision, investigation, and resources. Yuluan Zhao: investigation, validation, and resources.

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Correspondence to Qiuwen Zhou.

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Li, Y., Zhou, Q. & Zhao, Y. Hydrologic response in a typical karst desertification catchment. Carbonates Evaporites 39, 16 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00929-6

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