Water balance measurements on Samoylov Island during campaign Lena2011 ...

• Main Authors: Helbig, Manuel, Boike, Julia, Langer, Moritz, Schreiber, Peter, Runkle, Benjamin R K, Kutzbach, Lars
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2013
• Subjects: Arctic Tundra; Evaporation; hydraulic conductivity; island; precipitation; lena river; Tundra; Siberia
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.811079; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.811079

The summer water balance of a typical Siberian polygonal tundra catchment is investigated in order to identify the spatial and temporal dynamics of its main hydrological processes. The results show that, besides precipitation and evapotranspiration, lateral flow considerably influences the site-specific hydrological conditions. The prominent microtopography of the polygonal tundra strongly controls lateral flow and storage behaviour of the investigated catchment. Intact rims of low-centred polygons build hydrological barriers, which release storage water later in summer than polygons with degraded rims and troughs above degraded ice wedges. The barrier function of rims is strongly controlled by soil thaw, which opens new subsurface flow paths and increases subsurface hydrological connectivity. Therefore, soil thaw dynamics determine the magnitude and timing of subsurface outflow and the redistribution of storage within the catchment. Hydraulic conductivities in the elevated polygonal rims sharply decrease ... : Supplement to: Helbig, Manuel; Boike, Julia; Langer, Moritz; Schreiber, Peter; Runkle, Benjamin R K; Kutzbach, Lars (2013): Spatial and seasonal variability of polygonal tundra water balance: Lena River Delta, northern Siberia (Russia). Hydrogeology Journal, 21(1), 133-147 ...