Effects of aufeis on the structure and function of Arctic river-floodplain ecosystems, Alaska, 2016-2017

• Main Authors: Gooseff, Michael, Huryn, Alex
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Arctic Data Center 2019
• Subjects: aufies; icing; water temperature; dissolved oxygen; electrical conductivity; Arctic; Alaska
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.18739/a2901zg25; https://arcticdata.io/catalog/view/doi:10.18739/A2901ZG25

The goal of this study is to assess the potential effects of aufeis (i.e., river icings) on the structure and function of arctic river-floodplain ecosystems in a warming climate. Aufeis are massive accumulations of ice that are features of many arctic rivers. They form during freeze-up when thickening surface ice causes local overflows. Successive cycles of overflow result in accumulations of enormous volumes of ice, with aufeis on some Alaskan rivers attaining thicknesses of 3-5 meters, covering more than 20 square kilometers, and storing as much as 30% of the annual river discharge. Although aufeis have been studied by hydrologists and are known to be required for winter and spawning habitat for some fish, understanding of their ecology is poor. We propose that aufeis be viewed as winter oases due to their wet bases that supply water and heat to otherwise frozen habitats. Aufeis function as summer oases by providing a stable supply of water to hyporheic and downstream habitats. These data come from intensive study of the Kuparuk River Aufeis field. We collected stage and water temperature data in 50 wells that were ~1 meter deep, and stage, temperature, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen data from several points in the surface channel of the aufeis field. Where we could deploy loggers, we have continuous data collection.