Barling (2026) Water Storage Under Climate Variability: From Vadose Zone Rock Moisture Dynamics to a Decision Support Framework for Managed Aquifer Recharge

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: eScholarship (California Digital Library)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-31
• Authors: Nerissa Barling
• DOI: None

Research Groups

• Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
• Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz

Short Summary

This dissertation explores the impact of climate change on hydrologic partitioning in hillslopes and groundwater recharge through a mechanistic understanding of subsurface moisture dynamics. A decision support framework is also developed to aid in the evaluation of managed aquifer recharge feasibility.

Objective

• Investigate how aspect-driven differences in insolation influence moisture dynamics in hillslopes and its implications for hydrologic partitioning.
• Develop a decision support framework for evaluating managed aquifer recharge (MAR) feasibility.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Hillslope scale, central California Coast Range.
• Temporal Scale: Annual to decadal timescales, spanning multiple water years with varying precipitation conditions.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Geophysical surveys and borehole measurements for subsurface moisture dynamics; decision support framework based on quantitative, qualitative, and categorical information.
• Data sources: Field observations, geophysical surveys, and hydrologic data from the central California Coast Range.

Main Results

• Moisture dynamics in hillslopes are influenced by aspect-driven differences in insolation, with implications for hydrologic partitioning and drought resilience.
• Subsurface water storage is critical for groundwater recharge during wet years, highlighting the importance of precipitation timing and subsurface water routing.
• The decision support framework aids in evaluating MAR feasibility by integrating quantitative, qualitative, and categorical information.

Contributions

• This research contributes to a mechanistic understanding of subsurface moisture dynamics and its implications for hydrologic partitioning under climate change.
• The decision support framework developed in this dissertation supports technical evaluation and project development for managed aquifer recharge.

Funding

• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Grant #DGE-1650608)
• University of Arizona Hydrology and Water Resources Departmental Funds

Citation

@article{Barling2026Water,
  author = {Barling, Nerissa},
  title = {Water Storage Under Climate Variability: From Vadose Zone Rock Moisture Dynamics to a Decision Support Framework for Managed Aquifer Recharge},
  journal = {eScholarship (California Digital Library)},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://openalex.org/W7213473702}
}