Connectivity has emerged as a significant conceptual framework for understanding the transfer of surface water and sediment through landscapes. The concept has been widely adopted in the field of catchment hydrology but has also been valuable to investigate rates of soil erosion by water and sediment export across landscapes. To study connectivity, we gathered a group of scientists that worked on synthesizing and consolidating all theories and aspects of connectivity research. Within the EU‐funded ESSEM COST Action CONNECTEUR (ES1306), five working groups were established: (a) theory, (b) measuring, (c) modelling, (d) indices, and (e) society. One of the outputs of this COST Action is this Special Issue where we have assimilated research on connectivity around the globe. The papers of the Special Issue demonstrate the continued interest in the role of connectivity as a conceptual framework for understanding the transfer of surface water and sediment through landscapes. This Special Issue shows that the connectivity concept widens the view of a researcher by having to look at more parts of a system than is done in most studies in the field of hydrology and sediment dynamics. It addresses the connections among different parts of a catchment system: the hillslope with the channel, the soil column with vegetation effects on runoff, and channel process with ecology.

中文翻译：

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水文和泥沙动力学的连通性

连通性已经成为理解地表水和沉积物通过景观的转移的重要概念框架。这一概念已在流域水文学领域被广泛采用，但对于研究景观间水和泥沙输出对土壤侵蚀的速率也很有价值。为了研究连通性，我们聚集了一群科学家，他们致力于综合和巩固连通性研究的所有理论和方面。在由欧盟资助的ESSEM成本行动联络员（ES1306）中，建立了五个工作组：（a）理论，（b）衡量，（c）建模，（d）指标和（e）社会。该COST行动的成果之一就是本期特刊，我们在该特刊中吸收了全球范围内的连通性研究。特刊的论文表明了人们对于连通性作为理解地表水和沉积物通过景观转移的概念框架的作用的持续兴趣。本期特刊表明，与水文学和沉积物动力学领域的大多数研究相比，连通性概念因必须研究系统的更多部分而扩大了研究人员的视野。它解决了集水系统不同部分之间的联系：山坡与河道，土壤柱对径流有植被影响，以及河道与生态系统有关。本期特刊表明，与水文学和沉积物动力学领域的大多数研究相比，连通性概念因必须研究系统的更多部分而扩大了研究人员的视野。它解决了集水系统不同部分之间的联系：山坡与河道，土壤柱对径流有植被影响，以及河道与生态系统有关。本期特刊表明，与水文学和沉积物动力学领域的大多数研究相比，连通性概念因必须研究系统的更多部分而扩大了研究人员的视野。它解决了集水系统不同部分之间的联系：山坡与河道，土壤柱对径流有植被影响，以及河道与生态系统有关。