Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-199
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-199
05 Feb 2025
 | 05 Feb 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).

Metric-based analysis of the historical drivers of surface hydrological connectivity

Marta Antonelli, Victoria Scherelis, and Christine Weber

Abstract. Hydrological connectivity is essential for the maintenance of important hydrological and ecological processes of catchments. Over time, human activities have altered the natural patterns of hydrological connectivity, leading to habitat loss and deterioration. Historical information from cartographic maps can be used to enhance our understanding of large-scale hydrological processes such as connectivity, by offering snapshots of past, less human-impacted landscapes and hydrological systems. The focus of this study is on historical surface hydrological connectivity and its landscape drivers (e.g., lithology, topography, land use/ land cover) in ten Swiss catchments from different biogeographic regions (i.e., Pre-alpine, Alpine, Karstic, Plateau), and with varying physiographic characteristics. We employed hydromorphological metrics derived from historical maps (~ late 19th century) as proxies of surface hydrological connectivity, with the main goal of identifying the primary landscape drivers of connectivity. As expected from theory, the historical patterns of hydrological connectivity in the studied catchments were mostly driven by landscape topography, and in particular by the slope and the morphology of the valley bottom. Unexpected relationships between connectivity and its drivers could be traced back to human practices, such as specific irrigation techniques and peat digging. Overall, our study shows how historical information can be employed to gain a deeper understanding on important large-scale hydrological processes, their primary drivers and on the history of human exploitation of the territory. Finally, this kind of approach paves the way for the characterization of how connectivity has changed through time.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
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Marta Antonelli, Victoria Scherelis, and Christine Weber

Status: open (until 19 Mar 2025)

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Marta Antonelli, Victoria Scherelis, and Christine Weber
Marta Antonelli, Victoria Scherelis, and Christine Weber
Latest update: 06 Feb 2025
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Short summary
Using the information derived from Switzerland’s historical Siegfried map, this study quantifies historical surface hydrological connectivity and investigates its landscape drivers across ten catchments with diverse physiographic characteristics. The findings reveal that topography, and historical irrigation practices and peat extraction influenced the spatial patterns of connectivity.
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