Rainfall-runoff processes (uplands, forests & tropics):
My research focuses on rainfall-runoff processes within upland UK and the equatorial tropics. These hydrological processes are regulated by meteorological and watershed effects and are impacted by land-use changes, such as those resulting from forestry operations. The rainfall-runoff pathways then regulate flood responses, erosion, sediment delivery and a range of water quality characteristics. The current rates of development of forested areas within the humid tropics in particular, mean that changes to water pathways and the resultant impacts on water resources are profound within this region, and research utilising new sensor and modelling technologies needed.
Examples of our research on the controls and impacts of rainfall-runoff processes:
Meteorlogical effects
e.g., Chappell, N.A., Bonell, M., Barnes, C.J., and Tych, W. 2012. Tropical cyclone effects on rapid runoff responses: quantifying with new continuous-time transfer function models. In: Revisiting Experimental Catchment Studies in Forest Hydrology, Webb A (ed) IAHS Publication, 35X, Wallingford, IAHS Press. accepted.
Watershed effects
e.g., Ockenden M.C. and Chappell, N.A. 2011. Identification of the dominant runoff pathways from the data-based mechanistic modelling of nested catchments in temperate UK. Journal of Hydrology, 402, 71-79. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.03.001 view paper (pdf).
Forestry & other land-use impacts
e.g., Chappell, N.A., and Tych, W. 2011. Identifying step changes in single streamflow and evaporation records due to forest cover change. Hydrological Processes, doi:10.1002/hyp.8115, in press. view paper (pdf).
Water quality consequences
e.g., Walsh, R.P.D., Bidin, K., Blake, W.H., Chappell, N.A., Clarke, M.A., Douglas, I., Ghazali, R., Sayer, A.M., Suhaimi, J., Tych, W. and Annammala, K.V. 2011. Longer-term responses of rainforest erosional systems at different spatial scales to selective logging and climatic change. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B., 366, 3340-3353 doi: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0054 view abstract (htm), paper (pdf).
Pan-tropical regionalisation
e.g., Chappell, N.A. 2010. Soil pipe distribution and hydrological functioning within the humid tropics: a synthesis. Hydrological Processes, 24, 1567-1581. view paper (pdf).
Links:
Go to DVFC rainfall data
Go to DVFC hydrology page
Go to NERC Project GR3/9439 gauging structure photos
Go to River Wyre (Lancashire) hydrometry
Go to old projects page