The water-heat coupling transmission mechanism under extreme rainfall events and its influence on diurnal evaporation

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00173

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 97-108.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00173

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The water-heat coupling transmission mechanism under extreme rainfall events and its influence on diurnal evaporation

Ruixiang Zhang¹(), Jihua Chu², Jueke Li¹, Yaxian Li¹, Shuixian Wang¹()

^1.College of Earth and Environmental Sciences，Lanzhou University，Lanzhou 730000，China
^2.Wuwei Hydrology and Water Resources Survey Center，Wuwei 733000，Gansu，China

Received:2025-11-07 Revised:2025-12-24 Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-06-11
Contact: Shuixian Wang

Abstract

Abstract:

Rainfall is a crucial factor driving the transport of soil water and heat. Studying the transport of soil water and heat under extreme rainfall events is of great significance for the sustainable development of ecosystems in arid regions. In this study， the Jiudun Experimental Field in Wuwei was selected as the research site. Based on long-term observation data from the lysimeter and meteorological monitoring data from hydrological stations， the Hydrus-1D water-heat coupling model was used for simulation and analysis to reveal the driving mechanism of extreme rainfall on soil water and heat transport in arid regions and its impact on diurnal evaporation. The results show that the shallow soil （0-20 cm） responds intensely to sudden extreme rainfall， while the deep soil （>40 cm） is more affected by continuous extreme rainfall. The evaporation process is regulated by the migration of the zero-flux plane of soil water potential. During the day， the convergence near the surface inhibits the upward movement of liquid water， while at night， the divergence promotes the diffusion of water vapor. Below a depth of 40 cm， when the temperature gradient is less than 0.075 ℃·cm⁻¹ and the temperature fluctuation is less than 2 ℃， the thermal buffering effect significantly weakens the driving force of evaporation， forming a lagged water supply boundary. The research results can provide a scientific basis for water resource management in arid regions under extreme climate conditions.

Key words: extreme rainfall, soil moisture, water-heat coupling, diurnal evaporation, numerical simulation

CLC Number:

S152

Ruixiang Zhang, Jihua Chu, Jueke Li, Yaxian Li, Shuixian Wang. The water-heat coupling transmission mechanism under extreme rainfall events and its influence on diurnal evaporation[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(3): 97-108.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the study area

Table 1 Physical properties of different soil layers in the study area

土层/cm	土壤颗粒组成/%			容重 /(g·cm^-3)
土层/cm	黏粒	粉粒	砂粒	容重 /(g·cm^-3)
0~10	20.44	37.08	42.48	1.44
10~20	21.28	36.74	41.98	1.44
20~40	21.06	37.57	41.37	1.50
40~80	20.78	37.58	41.64	1.52

Table 2 Soil hydraulic parameters optimized for different layers

土层/cm	$θ r$ /(cm·cm^-3)	$θ s$ /(cm·cm^-3)	$α$ /cm^-1	$n$	$k s$ /(cm·h^-1)
0~10	0.057	0.39	0.045	1.70	4.24
10~20	0.045	0.41	0.060	2.10	6.20
20~40	0.076	0.41	0.038	1.40	1.80
40~80	0.082	0.44	0.028	1.25	1.20

Table 2 Soil hydraulic parameters optimized for different layers

土层/cm	$θ r$ /(cm·cm^-3)	$θ s$ /(cm·cm^-3)	$α$ /cm^-1	$n$	$k s$ /(cm·h^-1)
0~10	0.057	0.39	0.045	1.70	4.24
10~20	0.045	0.41	0.060	2.10	6.20
20~40	0.076	0.41	0.038	1.40	1.80
40~80	0.082	0.44	0.028	1.25	1.20

Table 3 Scenario settings and basis

情景类别	设置	时间（月-日）	日最大降水量/mm	日最大降水时间（月-日）	降水量/mm
情景类别	设置	时间（月-日）	日最大降水量/mm	日最大降水时间（月-日）	第1天	第2天	第3天	第4天	第5天	第6天	第7天
A	突发型极端降水	08-21—08-27	21.6	08-24	0.0	0.0	0.0	21.6	0.0	0.0	0.0
B	持续型极端降水	08-31—09-06	26.3	09-03	1.6	1.0	0.0	26.3	7.5	11.5	0.6
C	基准期	10-11—10-17	0.0	无	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Fig.2 shows the measured and simulated values of soil moisture content and temperature at regular intervals

Fig.3 Shows the measured and simulated values of soil moisture content and temperature during the verification period

Fig.4 Responses of soil moisture at different depths to extreme rainfall

Fig.5 Spatiotemporal distribution of soil matrix potential under extreme rainfal

Fig.6 Spatiotemporal distribution of soil matrix potential gradient under extreme rainfall

Fig. 7 Spatiotemporal distribution of soil temperature under extreme rainfall

Fig.8 Spatiotemporal distribution of soil temperature gradient under extreme rainfall

Table 4 Correlation between soil water content at different depths and evaporation

土层/cm	观测日期（月-日）
土层/cm	08-21	08-22	08-23	08-24	08-25	08-26	08-27
10	0.49^*	0.67^**	-0.08	0.67^**	0.21	0.12	0.69^**
20	-0.26	0.21	0.15	-0.34	-0.31	0.11	0.42^*
40	0.37	0.11	0.29	-0.00	-0.26	0.05	0.01
80	-0.04	-0.35	-0.08	0.09	0.03	-0.21	0.43^*

Fig.9 Variation of diurnal evaporation after extreme rainfall

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The water-heat coupling transmission mechanism under extreme rainfall events and its influence on diurnal evaporation

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