Geografie 2016, 121, 235-253
Influence of peat soils on runoff process: case study of Vydra River headwaters, Czechia
This paper summarizes findings from the hydrological research in the Vydra River headwaters, the Šumava Mts., s-w Czechia, dealing with the hydrological function of local peat soils and their effect on the outflow from the basin. This study represents a part of a long-term research carried out at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. The paper shows how important it is to study the groundwater level in peat soils and its area in a catchment as well as to predict the outflow in distinct weather conditions. There were chosen four small experimental catchments with different peat and waterlogged forest coverage. Rainfall events were selected in various periods within a year with a varying groundwater level (maximum and minimum) in the peat bog. Within these situations flood wave volumes were calculated and all of them were compared regarding the peat bog extension. The presented research also compares various sources of data about peat soils areas and areas of waterlogged forest.
Funding
This article is supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic under the project GAČR 13-32133S “Headwaters retention potential assessment with respect to hydrological extremes”. The authors acknowledge the financial assistance on this project. Authors greatly thank to Botany institute AS CR and to Ing. Březina for help and data supply.
