Mountain Hydrology

• Main Authors: Marston, Richard A., Marston, Bryce K.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1137; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2F9781118786352.wbieg1137; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1137

Mountains generate a disproportionate share of runoff on Earth, with significant differences in processes and overall flow regime between mountains situated in various eco‐regions. Water on steepland slopes is affected by interception loss and evapotranspiration, which are strongly controlled by vegetation cover. Soil moisture varies strongly by topographic position and soil characteristics in mountains. Water moves by vertical percolation and also laterally through subsurface zones and may eventually reach mountain streams. Runoff in mountains is generated by Hortonian overland flow, saturation return flow, permafrost melt, and effluent seepage. Human activities affect mountain hydrology in indirect ways through timber harvest and road building, grazing and cropland agriculture, urbanization, lode mining, climate change, and altered fire regime. Human activities directly affect mountain hydrology through removing or introducing beaver, dams, and off‐channel diversions. Close links exist between mountain hydrology and the climatology, biogeography, soils, permafrost, glaciers, and geomorphology of mountain areas.