Integrating coupled surface–subsurface modelling and field measurements in a degraded fen: water-balance dynamics and a framework for evaluating rewetting measures
Integrating coupled surface–subsurface modelling and field measurements in a degraded fen: water-balance dynamics and a framework for evaluating rewetting measures
Nariman Mahmoodi, Christoph Merz, Jürgen Pickert, and Ottfried Dietrich
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 6019–6037, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6019-2026, 2026
This paper applies a coupled 3D surface–subsurface model to a degraded fen peatland using long-term field data on evapotranspiration, groundwater, vegetation, and ditch water levels. By explicitly representing layered peat degradation and vegetation-controlled evapotranspiration, it enables consistent quantification of all water-balance components. The results provide process-based insights relevant for peatland rewetting under climate variability.