Rainfall-runoff processes and the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions:
My research focuses on rainfall-runoff processes within upland UK and the equatorial tropics, and the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions informed by these procesess. The hydrological processes are regulated by meteorological and natural watershed effects and are positively or negatively impacted by human interventions, such as those resulting from forestry operations or Nature-based Solutions. The rainfall-runoff pathways regulate flood responses, erosion, sediment delivery and a range of water quality characteristics. Innovative field- and modelling-technology is utilised.
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Examples of our research on rainfall-runoff process controls and the ways changes in these processes have negative or positive consequences (e.g, Nature-based Solutions):
Meteorological controls on rainfall-runoff
e.g., Chappell, N.A., Jones, T.D., Tych, W. and Krishnaswamy, J. 2017. Role of rainstorm intensity underestimated by data-derived flood models: emerging global evidence from subsurface-dominated watersheds. Environmental Modelling and Software, 88: 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.10.009 view paper (pdf)
Natural watershed controls on rainfall-runoff
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).
Rainfall-runoff process controls of water quality
e.g., Jones, T.D., Chappell, N.A. and Tych, W. 2014. First dynamic model of dissolved organic carbon derived directly from high frequency observations through contiguous storms. Environmental Science & Technology, 48: 13289-13297. doi: 10.1021/es503506m view online or as pdf and Supplementary Information (pdf).
Unintended impacts of land-use (e.g. forestry) on rainfall-runoff processes
e.g., Chappell, N.A., and Tych, W. 2012. Identifying step changes in single streamflow and evaporation records due to forest cover change. Hydrological Processes, 26: 100-116. doi:10.1002/hyp.8115. view paper (pdf).
Effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation through rainfall-runoff changes
e.g., Chappell, N.A. and Beven, K. 2024. Nature-based Solutions for effective flood mitigation: potential design criteria. Environmental Research Letters, 19(7): 074006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad4fa2. view online, or paper (pdf) and Supplementary Information (pdf)
Positive and negative effects of rainfall-runoff change at a global scale
e.g., Wohl, E., Barros, A., Brunsell, N., Chappell, N.A, Coe, M., Giambelluca, T., Goldsmith, S., Harmon, R., Hendrickx, J., Juvik, J., McDonnell, J., and Ogden, F. 2012. The hydrology of the humid tropics. Nature Climate Change, 2: 655-662 doi: 10.1038/nclimate1556. view paper (pdf).
Some old links (archive):
Go to DVFC rainfall data (1986-2015)
Go to DVFC hydrology page