Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156605
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Evapotranspiration dynamics in aerated and non-aerated subsurface flow treatment wetlands
Author Nivala, J.; Wallace, S.; van Afferden, M.; Müller, R.A.
Source Titel Science of the Total Environment
Year 2022
Department UBZ
Volume 843
Page From art. 156605
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0048969722037020-mmc1.docx
Keywords Aeration; Clothesline effect; Crop coefficient; Horizontal flow wetland; Phragmites australis; Plant coefficient
Abstract This study reports the seasonal dynamics of evapotranspiration (ET) and evaporation (E) in different subsurface flow treatment wetlands operating in a temperate European climate. Daily water balances were compiled over the course of ten years (August 2010–July 2020). The study includes non-aerated horizontal flow wetlands (25 cm deep and 50 cm deep) as well as horizontal flow and vertical flow wetlands. The pilot systems were operated in planted and unplanted pairs, enabling Phragmites evapotranspiration rates (for planted systems) and evaporation rates (for unplanted systems) to be calculated. Evapotranspiration rates are highly seasonal. Aeration was observed to increase both evaporation and evapotranspiration rates. The overall percentage of inflow lost to ET was highest in non-aerated wetlands, due to the lower hydraulic load that they received compared to the aerated systems. Plant coefficients (Kp) relate measured evapotranspiration with the calculated reference evapotranspiration ETo. Wetlands planted with Phragmites display dynamic and highly seasonal values of Kp which are well-characterized by a sinusoidal curve during the growing season paired with a minimum (stable) value in the non-growing season. Aeration was observed to increase both evapotranspiration and evaporation rates. The concept of a Plant Scaling Factor (PSF) is introduced as a way of quantifying the “clothesline effect” observed in small treatment wetlands. Whereas unplanted systems effectively have a PSF of zero, the systems in this study (ranging in size from 5.6 to 6.2 m2) exhibited PSF values between 3.8 and 4.8 when the vegetation was fully mature.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26362
Nivala, J., Wallace, S., van Afferden, M., Müller, R.A. (2022):
Evapotranspiration dynamics in aerated and non-aerated subsurface flow treatment wetlands
Sci. Total Environ. 843 , art. 156605 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156605