Pipes and pipe flow process in an upland catchment,Wales

The results of observations on the spatial localisation, origin and function of soil pipes in an upland catchment are discussed. The pipes occur in distinct zones in the brown earth soils of the lower slopes, and form a hydrological link conducting water between an upslope zone of highly permeable skeletal soils and the stream channel. It is proposed that in this catchment, pipes develop from an initial network of mole burrows, modified by hydraulic activity to produce an efficient downslope transmission network. A conceptual model for the pipe slope segment is proposed which recognises the importance of this transmission role. Slope discharge controls switching between saturated throughflow, pipe flow and overland flow, each of which has a specific threshold value for operation. Attempts to investigate the significance of pipe flow at the catchment scale met with limited success, but it appears to be important in increasing both contributing area and duration of storm flow.