Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths
Abstract Preferential subsurface flow paths known as water tracks are often the principal hydrological pathways of headwater catchments in permafrost areas, exerting an influence on slope physical and biogeochemical processes. In polar deserts, where water resources depend on snow redistribution, wa...
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crwiley:10.1002/hyp.11483 2024-09-15T18:11:40+00:00 Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths Paquette, Michel Fortier, Daniel Vincent, Warwick F. ArcticNet Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Natural Resources Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11483 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fhyp.11483 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hyp.11483 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Hydrological Processes volume 32, issue 8, page 1077-1089 ISSN 0885-6087 1099-1085 journal-article 2018 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11483 2024-08-22T04:15:21Z Abstract Preferential subsurface flow paths known as water tracks are often the principal hydrological pathways of headwater catchments in permafrost areas, exerting an influence on slope physical and biogeochemical processes. In polar deserts, where water resources depend on snow redistribution, water tracks are mostly found in hydrologically active areas downslope from snowdrifts. Here, we measured the flow through seeping water track networks and at the front of a perennial snowdrift, at Ward Hunt Island in the Canadian High Arctic. We also used stable isotope analysis to determine the origin of this water, which ultimately discharges into Ward Hunt Lake. These measurements of water track hydrology indicated a glacio‐nival run‐off regime, with flow production mechanisms that included saturation overland flow (return flow) in a low sloping area, throughflow or pipe‐like flow in most seepage locations, and infiltration excess overland flow at the front of the snowdrift. Each mechanism delivered varying proportions of snowmelt and ground water, and isotopic compositions evolved during the melting season. Unaltered snowmelt water contributed to >90% of total flow from water track networks early in the season, and these values fell to <5% towards the end of the melting season. In contrast, infiltration excess overland flow from snowdrift consisted of a steady percentage of snowmelt water in July (mean of 69%) and August (71%). The water seeping at locations where no snow was left in August 2015 was isotopically enriched, indicating a contribution of the upper, ice‐rich layer of permafrost to late summer discharge during warmer years. Air temperature was the main driver of snowmelt, but the effect of slope aspect on solar radiation best explained the diurnal discharge variation at all sites. The water tracks in this polar desert are part of a patterned ground network, which increases connectivity between the principal water sources (snowdrifts) and the bottom of the slope. This would reduce soil–water ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost polar desert Ward Hunt Island Wiley Online Library Hydrological Processes 32 8 1077 1089 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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English |
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Abstract Preferential subsurface flow paths known as water tracks are often the principal hydrological pathways of headwater catchments in permafrost areas, exerting an influence on slope physical and biogeochemical processes. In polar deserts, where water resources depend on snow redistribution, water tracks are mostly found in hydrologically active areas downslope from snowdrifts. Here, we measured the flow through seeping water track networks and at the front of a perennial snowdrift, at Ward Hunt Island in the Canadian High Arctic. We also used stable isotope analysis to determine the origin of this water, which ultimately discharges into Ward Hunt Lake. These measurements of water track hydrology indicated a glacio‐nival run‐off regime, with flow production mechanisms that included saturation overland flow (return flow) in a low sloping area, throughflow or pipe‐like flow in most seepage locations, and infiltration excess overland flow at the front of the snowdrift. Each mechanism delivered varying proportions of snowmelt and ground water, and isotopic compositions evolved during the melting season. Unaltered snowmelt water contributed to >90% of total flow from water track networks early in the season, and these values fell to <5% towards the end of the melting season. In contrast, infiltration excess overland flow from snowdrift consisted of a steady percentage of snowmelt water in July (mean of 69%) and August (71%). The water seeping at locations where no snow was left in August 2015 was isotopically enriched, indicating a contribution of the upper, ice‐rich layer of permafrost to late summer discharge during warmer years. Air temperature was the main driver of snowmelt, but the effect of slope aspect on solar radiation best explained the diurnal discharge variation at all sites. The water tracks in this polar desert are part of a patterned ground network, which increases connectivity between the principal water sources (snowdrifts) and the bottom of the slope. This would reduce soil–water ... |
author2 |
ArcticNet Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Natural Resources Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Paquette, Michel Fortier, Daniel Vincent, Warwick F. |
spellingShingle |
Paquette, Michel Fortier, Daniel Vincent, Warwick F. Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
author_facet |
Paquette, Michel Fortier, Daniel Vincent, Warwick F. |
author_sort |
Paquette, Michel |
title |
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
title_short |
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
title_full |
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
title_fullStr |
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
title_sort |
hillslope water tracks in the high arctic: seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11483 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fhyp.11483 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hyp.11483 |
genre |
Ice permafrost polar desert Ward Hunt Island |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost polar desert Ward Hunt Island |
op_source |
Hydrological Processes volume 32, issue 8, page 1077-1089 ISSN 0885-6087 1099-1085 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.11483 |
container_title |
Hydrological Processes |
container_volume |
32 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1077 |
op_container_end_page |
1089 |
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1810449252470489088 |