A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation
Study region: The Peace-Athabasca Delta, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in northeastern Alberta, is protected within Wood Buffalo National Park and contributes to its UNESCO World Heritage status yet is threatened by climate change and upstream energy projects. Study focus: Recent draw...
Published in: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 https://doaj.org/article/337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f 2023-05-15T15:26:05+02:00 A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation Laura K. Neary Casey R. Remmer Jadine Krist Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 https://doaj.org/article/337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581821001774 https://doaj.org/toc/2214-5818 2214-5818 doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 https://doaj.org/article/337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Vol 38, Iss , Pp 100948- (2021) Floodplain lakes Shallow lakes Lake-level variation Lake monitoring Open-water season flooding Peace-Athabasca Delta Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 2022-12-31T05:46:56Z Study region: The Peace-Athabasca Delta, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in northeastern Alberta, is protected within Wood Buffalo National Park and contributes to its UNESCO World Heritage status yet is threatened by climate change and upstream energy projects. Study focus: Recent drawdown of the delta’s abundant shallow lakes and rivers has deteriorated vital habitat for wildlife and impaired navigation routes. Here, we report continuous measurements at ~50 lakes during open-water seasons of 2018 and 2019 to improve understanding of hydrological processes causing lake-level variation. New hydrological insights for the region: Analyses reveal four patterns of lake-level variation attributable to influential hydrological processes, which provide the basis for a new lake classification scheme: 1) ‘Drawdown’ (≥15 cm decline) by evaporation and/or outflow after ice-jam floods, 2) ‘Stable’ lake levels (<15 cm change) sustained by rainfall, 3) ‘Gradual Rise’ by inundation from the open-drainage network, and 4) ‘Rapid Rise’ by input of river floodwater. River flooding during the open-water season is an under-recognized recharge mechanism yet occurred extensively in the Athabasca sector and appears to be a common occurrence based on the Athabasca River hydrometric record. Lake-level loggers show strong ability to track shifts in hydrological processes, and can be integrated with other methods to decipher their causes and ecological consequences across water-rich landscapes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Athabasca River Wood Buffalo Wood Buffalo National Park Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Athabasca River Canada Wood Buffalo ENVELOPE(-112.007,-112.007,57.664,57.664) Peace-Athabasca Delta ENVELOPE(-111.502,-111.502,58.667,58.667) New Lake ENVELOPE(-109.468,-109.468,62.684,62.684) Record Lake ENVELOPE(-128.877,-128.877,55.427,55.427) Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 38 100948 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Floodplain lakes Shallow lakes Lake-level variation Lake monitoring Open-water season flooding Peace-Athabasca Delta Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Floodplain lakes Shallow lakes Lake-level variation Lake monitoring Open-water season flooding Peace-Athabasca Delta Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 Laura K. Neary Casey R. Remmer Jadine Krist Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
topic_facet |
Floodplain lakes Shallow lakes Lake-level variation Lake monitoring Open-water season flooding Peace-Athabasca Delta Physical geography GB3-5030 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Study region: The Peace-Athabasca Delta, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in northeastern Alberta, is protected within Wood Buffalo National Park and contributes to its UNESCO World Heritage status yet is threatened by climate change and upstream energy projects. Study focus: Recent drawdown of the delta’s abundant shallow lakes and rivers has deteriorated vital habitat for wildlife and impaired navigation routes. Here, we report continuous measurements at ~50 lakes during open-water seasons of 2018 and 2019 to improve understanding of hydrological processes causing lake-level variation. New hydrological insights for the region: Analyses reveal four patterns of lake-level variation attributable to influential hydrological processes, which provide the basis for a new lake classification scheme: 1) ‘Drawdown’ (≥15 cm decline) by evaporation and/or outflow after ice-jam floods, 2) ‘Stable’ lake levels (<15 cm change) sustained by rainfall, 3) ‘Gradual Rise’ by inundation from the open-drainage network, and 4) ‘Rapid Rise’ by input of river floodwater. River flooding during the open-water season is an under-recognized recharge mechanism yet occurred extensively in the Athabasca sector and appears to be a common occurrence based on the Athabasca River hydrometric record. Lake-level loggers show strong ability to track shifts in hydrological processes, and can be integrated with other methods to decipher their causes and ecological consequences across water-rich landscapes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Laura K. Neary Casey R. Remmer Jadine Krist Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall |
author_facet |
Laura K. Neary Casey R. Remmer Jadine Krist Brent B. Wolfe Roland I. Hall |
author_sort |
Laura K. Neary |
title |
A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
title_short |
A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
title_full |
A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
title_fullStr |
A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
title_full_unstemmed |
A new lake classification scheme for the Peace-Athabasca Delta (Canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
title_sort |
new lake classification scheme for the peace-athabasca delta (canada) characterizes hydrological processes that cause lake-level variation |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 https://doaj.org/article/337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-112.007,-112.007,57.664,57.664) ENVELOPE(-111.502,-111.502,58.667,58.667) ENVELOPE(-109.468,-109.468,62.684,62.684) ENVELOPE(-128.877,-128.877,55.427,55.427) |
geographic |
Athabasca River Canada Wood Buffalo Peace-Athabasca Delta New Lake Record Lake |
geographic_facet |
Athabasca River Canada Wood Buffalo Peace-Athabasca Delta New Lake Record Lake |
genre |
Athabasca River Wood Buffalo Wood Buffalo National Park |
genre_facet |
Athabasca River Wood Buffalo Wood Buffalo National Park |
op_source |
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, Vol 38, Iss , Pp 100948- (2021) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581821001774 https://doaj.org/toc/2214-5818 2214-5818 doi:10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 https://doaj.org/article/337c38c2ce62428ca4976eb707ba0a5f |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100948 |
container_title |
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
container_volume |
38 |
container_start_page |
100948 |
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1766356642429927424 |