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... In recent years, USFs with the potential to incur an increase in runoff or flood peak time have been reported (Nair et al., 2022). For example, L. M. Cook and McCuen (2013) reported that when compared to areas without a USF, PVs incurred 7% and 73% increases in storm runoff and peak discharge, respectively. ...
Hydrological connectivity (HC) is a useful framework for understanding hydrological responses to landscape changes. We present herein a novel model (SOFAR) for utility‐scale solar farms (USFs), combining modules of soil moisture dynamics, roof effects of photovoltaic panels (PVs), vegetation growth and landform evolution. By augmenting the model with a DEM‐based HC index, we investigate hydrological behaviors following the construction of a USF in China's Loess Hilly Region. Nine scenarios are designed, to explore the effects of co‐evolving ecohydrology and landscape on soil erosion and HC in USFs deployed in different climates and terrains, by altering the annual precipitation, rainfall frequency, and ground slope. Our results show that the USF considerably increased runoff (99.18%–154.26%) during its operational period, and soil erosion rate (21.4%–74.84% and 25.35%–76.18%) and HC (0.08%–0.26% and 0.47%–0.91%) throughout construction and operational periods, respectively. The highest erosion rates were detected in the PV installation zones and in the areas close to the river channel. We prove the hypothesis that HC is a critical indicator for sediment yield in a USF, and thus the long‐term responses of soil erosion to USF installation and development can be explained in terms of HC. We conclude that USFs may increase soil erosion, mainly by increasing local HC and runoff, and higher background HC may in turn further aggravate the effects of USFs on soil erosion. Our results underscore the importance of including landscape ecohydrologic and geomorphic feedbacks, to improve the environmental impact assessment of USFs.
... In recent years, USFs with the potential to incur an increase in runoff or flood peak time have been reported (Nair et al., 2022). For example , Cook Lauren and McCuen Richard (2013) reported that when compared to areas without a USF, PVs incurred 7% and 73% increases in storm runoff and peak discharge, respectively. ...
Compared to the growing number of utility-scale solar farms (USFs) sitting in hilly regions, knowledge of the hydrological behaviors in responding to the installation of USFs in these environments remains limited. We present herein a novel model (the Solar-Farm model) to understand the hydrological behaviors following the construction of a USF in the Loess Hilly Region of China, by combining it with an index of hydrological connectivity (HC). Scenarios were designed to estimate the effects of climate and terrain in controlling the effects of the USF on soil erosion, by altering the mean annual precipitation amount, the frequency of precipitation events, and the relief amplitude. Our results show that land use changes (e.g., vegetation removal) incurred a considerable increase in the accumulative soil erosion (22.45%-66.48%) during the installation period. During the 40-year deployment period, photovoltaic panels (PVs) incurred an average of 0.138 m deeper erosion in the USF compared with the background rate without PVs. A wetter climate induced the highest increase (88.25%) in erosion. However, the relief amplitude and precipitation frequency are also confirmed as important controlling factors for soil erosion (increased by 85.42% and 58%, respectively). The HC was increased during both the construction (0.005-0.12) and operation periods (0.149-0.314). Correlation analysis presented that the landscapes with higher HC were more likely to be exposed to the risks of soil erosion. USFs could increase soil erosion by increasing runoff and local HC, and higher background HC in turn could further aggravate the effects of USFs on soil erosion.
