This dataset contains element concentrations of six different hydrological compartments sampled on a daily basis over the course of one year in two neighboured first order headwater catchments located in the Conventwald (Black Forest, Germany). Critical Zone water compartments include above-canopy precipitation (bulk precipitation including rainwater, snow and fog water), below-canopy precipitation (throughfall), subsurface flow from three distinct soil layers (organic layer, upper mineral soil, deep mineral soil), groundwater, creek water and spring water. Element concentrations include major elements (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Si, S), trace elements (Al, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, P, Sr, Zn), anion (Cl), and dissolved organic elements (DOC, DON).

The data were used to explore concentration (C) - discharge (Q) relationships and to calculate short-term element-specific chemical weathering fluxes, which were compared with previously published long-term element-specific chemical weathering fluxes. The ratio of both weathering fluxes, described by the so-called “Dissolved Export Efficiency” (DEE) metric revealed deficits in the stream dissolved load. These deficits were attributed to colloid-bound export and either storage in re-growing forest biomass or export in biogenic particulate form.

Tables supplementary to the article, including data quality control, are provided in .pdf and .xlsx formats. In addition, data measured in the course of the study are also provided as machine readable ASCII files.