A model for wetland hydrology: Description and validation

WETLANDS, a multidimensional model describing water now in variably saturat ed soil and evapotranspiration, was used to simulate successfully 3-years o f local hydrology for a cypress pond located within a relatively flat Coast al Plain pine forest landscape. Assumptions included negligible net regiona l groundwater now and radially symmetric local now impinging on a truncated conical pond, deciduous cypress trees and shallow-rooted perennial undergr owth in the pond area, and pine trees in the upland area as well as within the outer 20% of the wetland area. A minimal observed parameter set of dail y rainfall, daily air temperature, soil characteristics, and pond geometry provided model input. The model described temporal patterns of daily pond w ater and groundwater table elevations with relatively small average signed deviations of -2 and +11 cm, respectively. Potential exists for the model t o be utilized as a predictive tool for wetland hydrology, even for conditio ns where available empirical data for a given site is minimal and appropria te simplifying assumptions are utilized.