Visualisation of spatial patterns of connectivity and runoff ages derived from a tracer-aided model

Mixing relationships between fluxes and storages in a catchment can be investigated with hydrological models that include conservative tracers, e.g. stable isotopes (Birkel and Soulsby, 2015). That way, the evolution of water ages in relation to flow path dynamics can also be investigated (McMillan et al., 2012; Hrachowitz et al., 2013; Birkel et al., 2015). Here, we present a visualization of the results from a spatially distributed tracer-aided rainfall–runoff (STARR) model that combines the simulation of hydrometric variables with the simulation of stable isotope dynamics and tracks the water age (full details are given by Van Huijgevoort et al., 2016). The aim of this visualization is to show the catchment scale fluxes and water ages over the seasonal extremes of wetness and dryness for a Scottish catchment, in particular demonstrating novel insights into the dynamics of connectivity and consequent spatial interactions of the water age across the catchment.