How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation
Abstract: We present the isotopic composition of meltwater samples from four seasonal snowpacks: a warm, maritime snowpack in California; a temperate continental snowpack in Vermont; a cold continental snowpack in Colorado; and an Arctic snowpack in Alaska. Despite the very different climate conditi...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.1048.7255 2023-05-15T15:07:27+02:00 How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation Hydrological Hydrol The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2002 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.7255 http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.7255 http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf text 2002 ftciteseerx 2020-04-05T00:23:37Z Abstract: We present the isotopic composition of meltwater samples from four seasonal snowpacks: a warm, maritime snowpack in California; a temperate continental snowpack in Vermont; a cold continental snowpack in Colorado; and an Arctic snowpack in Alaska. Despite the very different climate conditions the υ 18 O of meltwater from all four snowpacks increased as melting progressed. This trend is consistent with theoretical results that model isotopic exchange between water and ice as meltwater percolates through a snowpack. We have estimated the systematic error in the hydrograph separation if the isotopic composition of a snow core were used in place of that of meltwater. Assuming no error in the old water or stream water values, the error in the new water fraction depends on: (1) the isotopic difference between the snow core and the old water; (2) the isotopic difference between the snow core and the meltwater; and (3) the new water fraction contributing to the stream flow during a spring melt event. The error is large when snowmelt contributes a dominant fraction of the stream flow, which may be expected where infiltration of snowmelt is limited (e.g. permafrost, urban areas). A particular challenge will be how to incorporate the changes in isotopic composition of meltwater measured at a point into hydrograph separation models conducted at the watershed scale. Published in Text Arctic Ice permafrost Alaska Unknown Arctic |
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English |
description |
Abstract: We present the isotopic composition of meltwater samples from four seasonal snowpacks: a warm, maritime snowpack in California; a temperate continental snowpack in Vermont; a cold continental snowpack in Colorado; and an Arctic snowpack in Alaska. Despite the very different climate conditions the υ 18 O of meltwater from all four snowpacks increased as melting progressed. This trend is consistent with theoretical results that model isotopic exchange between water and ice as meltwater percolates through a snowpack. We have estimated the systematic error in the hydrograph separation if the isotopic composition of a snow core were used in place of that of meltwater. Assuming no error in the old water or stream water values, the error in the new water fraction depends on: (1) the isotopic difference between the snow core and the old water; (2) the isotopic difference between the snow core and the meltwater; and (3) the new water fraction contributing to the stream flow during a spring melt event. The error is large when snowmelt contributes a dominant fraction of the stream flow, which may be expected where infiltration of snowmelt is limited (e.g. permafrost, urban areas). A particular challenge will be how to incorporate the changes in isotopic composition of meltwater measured at a point into hydrograph separation models conducted at the watershed scale. Published in |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Hydrological Hydrol |
spellingShingle |
Hydrological Hydrol How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
author_facet |
Hydrological Hydrol |
author_sort |
Hydrological |
title |
How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
title_short |
How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
title_full |
How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
title_fullStr |
How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
title_full_unstemmed |
How isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
title_sort |
how isotopic fractionation of snowmelt affects hydrograph separation |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.7255 http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Ice permafrost Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Ice permafrost Alaska |
op_source |
http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1048.7255 http://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/other/Publications/mcnamaraother/taylor03.pdf |
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Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
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1766338949759893504 |