Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps

The active rock glacier “Innere Ölgrube”, and its catchment area (Ötztal Alps, Austria) are assessed using various hydro(geo)logical tools to provide a thorough catchment characterization and to quantify temporal variations in recharge and discharge components. During the period from June 2014 to Ju...

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Main Authors: Wagner, Thomas, Kainz, Simon, Krainer, Karl, Winkler, Gerfried
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:unknown
Published: Authorea, Inc. 2020
Subjects:
Ice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1
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spelling crwinnower:10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1 2024-06-02T08:08:00+00:00 Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps Wagner, Thomas Kainz, Simon Krainer, Karl Winkler, Gerfried 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1 unknown Authorea, Inc. posted-content 2020 crwinnower https://doi.org/10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1 2024-05-07T14:19:30Z The active rock glacier “Innere Ölgrube”, and its catchment area (Ötztal Alps, Austria) are assessed using various hydro(geo)logical tools to provide a thorough catchment characterization and to quantify temporal variations in recharge and discharge components. During the period from June 2014 to July 2018, an average contribution derived from snowmelt, ice melt and rainfall of 35,8 %, 27,6 % and 36,6 %, respectively, is modelled for the catchment using a rainfall-runoff model. Discharge components of the rock glacier springs are distinguished using isotopic data as well as other natural and artificial tracer data, when considering the potential sources rainfall, snowmelt, ice melt and groundwater. Seasonal as well as diurnal variations in runoff are quantified and the importance of shallow groundwater within this rock glacier-influenced catchment is emphasized. Water derived from ice melt is suggested to be provided mainly by melting of two small cirque glaciers within the catchment and subordinately by melting of permafrost ice of the rock glacier. The active rock glacier is characterized by a layered internal structure with an unfrozen base layer responsible for groundwater storage and retarded runoff, a main permafrost body contributing little to the discharge (at the moment) by permafrost thaw and an active layer responsible for fast lateral flow on top of the permafrost body. Snowmelt contributes at least 1/3rd of the annual recharge. During droughts, meltwater derived from two cirque glaciers provides runoff with diurnal runoff variations; however, this discharge pattern will change as these cirque glaciers will ultimately disappear in the future. The storage-discharge characteristics of the investigated active rock glacier catchment are an example of a shallow groundwater aquifer in alpine catchments that ought to be considered when analysing (future) river runoff characteristics in alpine catchments as these provide retarded runoff during periods with little or no recharge. Other/Unknown Material Ice permafrost The Winnower
institution Open Polar
collection The Winnower
op_collection_id crwinnower
language unknown
description The active rock glacier “Innere Ölgrube”, and its catchment area (Ötztal Alps, Austria) are assessed using various hydro(geo)logical tools to provide a thorough catchment characterization and to quantify temporal variations in recharge and discharge components. During the period from June 2014 to July 2018, an average contribution derived from snowmelt, ice melt and rainfall of 35,8 %, 27,6 % and 36,6 %, respectively, is modelled for the catchment using a rainfall-runoff model. Discharge components of the rock glacier springs are distinguished using isotopic data as well as other natural and artificial tracer data, when considering the potential sources rainfall, snowmelt, ice melt and groundwater. Seasonal as well as diurnal variations in runoff are quantified and the importance of shallow groundwater within this rock glacier-influenced catchment is emphasized. Water derived from ice melt is suggested to be provided mainly by melting of two small cirque glaciers within the catchment and subordinately by melting of permafrost ice of the rock glacier. The active rock glacier is characterized by a layered internal structure with an unfrozen base layer responsible for groundwater storage and retarded runoff, a main permafrost body contributing little to the discharge (at the moment) by permafrost thaw and an active layer responsible for fast lateral flow on top of the permafrost body. Snowmelt contributes at least 1/3rd of the annual recharge. During droughts, meltwater derived from two cirque glaciers provides runoff with diurnal runoff variations; however, this discharge pattern will change as these cirque glaciers will ultimately disappear in the future. The storage-discharge characteristics of the investigated active rock glacier catchment are an example of a shallow groundwater aquifer in alpine catchments that ought to be considered when analysing (future) river runoff characteristics in alpine catchments as these provide retarded runoff during periods with little or no recharge.
format Other/Unknown Material
author Wagner, Thomas
Kainz, Simon
Krainer, Karl
Winkler, Gerfried
spellingShingle Wagner, Thomas
Kainz, Simon
Krainer, Karl
Winkler, Gerfried
Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
author_facet Wagner, Thomas
Kainz, Simon
Krainer, Karl
Winkler, Gerfried
author_sort Wagner, Thomas
title Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
title_short Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
title_full Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
title_fullStr Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
title_full_unstemmed Storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
title_sort storage-discharge characteristics of an alpine active rock glacier catchment – a multidisciplinary approach applied to the innere ölgrube, austrian alps
publisher Authorea, Inc.
publishDate 2020
url http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1
genre Ice
permafrost
genre_facet Ice
permafrost
op_doi https://doi.org/10.22541/au.160872491.12614869/v1
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