Paulsen et al. (2026) Forest floor water storage and redistribution affect evaporation, retention, and infiltration in mixed temperate forests

Identification

• Journal: Hydrology and earth system sciences
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-13
• Authors: Heinke Paulsen, Markus Weiler
• DOI: 10.5194/hess-30-4305-2026

Research Groups

• Chair for Hydrology, Albert Ludwig University, Freiburg, Germany
• Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of forest floor (FF) on water cycle processes in mixed temperate forests. The authors used a network of forest floor lysimeters and soil moisture probes to measure water storage and fluxes at three sites with different altitudes and climatic conditions.

Objective

• To quantify storage capacities, retention durations, and resulting water redistribution patterns of the FF.
• To investigate how FF characteristics (thickness, litter type, rainfall intensity) affect water storage and evaporation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Local scale, with measurements taken at three sites in the Black Forest, southwestern Germany.
• Temporal Scale: Short-term to medium-term, with data collected over a period of 1 year.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned, but field measurements were made using forest floor lysimeters and soil moisture probes.
• Data sources: Field measurements, including precipitation, throughfall, drainage, and evaporation rates.

Main Results

• The FF's storage capacity ranged from 1.4 to 4.2 g g−1 FF, depending on the site and rainfall characteristics.
• Longer, low-intensity rainfall events filled the FF storage more efficiently than shorter heavy rainfall events.
• The FF played a critical role in redistributing incoming water, contributing to the development of preferential flow paths.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the complex interactions between forest floor characteristics and water cycle processes.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering FF properties when modeling hydrological responses in temperate forests.

Funding

• This research was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) through grant number PA 2463/1-1.

Citation

@article{Paulsen2026Forest,
  author = {Paulsen, Heinke and Weiler, Markus},
  title = {Forest floor water storage and redistribution affect evaporation, retention, and infiltration in mixed temperate forests},
  journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.5194/hess-30-4305-2026},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4305-2026}
}