Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations
Abstract Aufeis (also known as icings) are large sheet‐like masses of layered ice that form in river channels in arctic environments in the winter as groundwater discharges to the land surface and subsequently freezes. Aufeis are important sources of water for Arctic river ecosystems, bolstering lat...
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crwiley:10.1002/hyp.15106 2024-06-02T08:01:51+00:00 Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations Lainis, Alexi Neupauer, Roseanna M. Koch, Joshua C. Gooseff, Michael N. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15106 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hyp.15106 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Hydrological Processes volume 38, issue 3 ISSN 0885-6087 1099-1085 journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15106 2024-05-03T10:48:39Z Abstract Aufeis (also known as icings) are large sheet‐like masses of layered ice that form in river channels in arctic environments in the winter as groundwater discharges to the land surface and subsequently freezes. Aufeis are important sources of water for Arctic river ecosystems, bolstering late summer river discharge and providing habitat for caribou escaping insect harassment. The aim of this research is to use numerical simulations to evaluate a conceptual model of subsurface hydrogeothermal conditions that can lead to the formation of aufeis. We used a conceptual model based on geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis field on the North Slope of Alaska to develop a two‐dimensional heterogeneous vertical profile model of groundwater flow, heat transport, and freeze/thaw dynamics. Modelling results showed that groundwater can flow to the land surface through subvertical high permeability pathways during winter months when the lower permeability soils near the land surface are frozen. The groundwater discharge can freeze on the surface, contributing to aufeis formation throughout the winter. We performed sensitivity analyses on subsurface properties and surface temperature and found that aufeis formation is most sensitive to the volume of unfrozen water available in the subsurface and the rate at which the subsurface water travels to the land surface. Although a trend of warming air temperatures will lead to a greater volume of unfrozen subsurface water, the aufeis volume can be reduced under warming conditions if the period of time for which air temperatures are below freezing is reduced. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic north slope Alaska Wiley Online Library Arctic Hydrological Processes 38 3 |
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Open Polar |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Aufeis (also known as icings) are large sheet‐like masses of layered ice that form in river channels in arctic environments in the winter as groundwater discharges to the land surface and subsequently freezes. Aufeis are important sources of water for Arctic river ecosystems, bolstering late summer river discharge and providing habitat for caribou escaping insect harassment. The aim of this research is to use numerical simulations to evaluate a conceptual model of subsurface hydrogeothermal conditions that can lead to the formation of aufeis. We used a conceptual model based on geophysical data from the Kuparuk aufeis field on the North Slope of Alaska to develop a two‐dimensional heterogeneous vertical profile model of groundwater flow, heat transport, and freeze/thaw dynamics. Modelling results showed that groundwater can flow to the land surface through subvertical high permeability pathways during winter months when the lower permeability soils near the land surface are frozen. The groundwater discharge can freeze on the surface, contributing to aufeis formation throughout the winter. We performed sensitivity analyses on subsurface properties and surface temperature and found that aufeis formation is most sensitive to the volume of unfrozen water available in the subsurface and the rate at which the subsurface water travels to the land surface. Although a trend of warming air temperatures will lead to a greater volume of unfrozen subsurface water, the aufeis volume can be reduced under warming conditions if the period of time for which air temperatures are below freezing is reduced. |
author2 |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lainis, Alexi Neupauer, Roseanna M. Koch, Joshua C. Gooseff, Michael N. |
spellingShingle |
Lainis, Alexi Neupauer, Roseanna M. Koch, Joshua C. Gooseff, Michael N. Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
author_facet |
Lainis, Alexi Neupauer, Roseanna M. Koch, Joshua C. Gooseff, Michael N. |
author_sort |
Lainis, Alexi |
title |
Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
title_short |
Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
title_full |
Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an Aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
title_sort |
seasonal and decadal subsurface thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature investigated through numerical simulations |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15106 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hyp.15106 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic north slope Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic north slope Alaska |
op_source |
Hydrological Processes volume 38, issue 3 ISSN 0885-6087 1099-1085 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15106 |
container_title |
Hydrological Processes |
container_volume |
38 |
container_issue |
3 |
_version_ |
1800746341399265280 |