Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins
Arctic river basins are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change. However, there is currently limited knowledge of the hydrological processes that govern flow dynamics in Arctic river basins. We address this research gap using natural hydrochemical and isotopic tracers to identify water sources...
Published in: | Hydrological Processes |
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ftleedsuniv:oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77147 2024-06-02T07:59:43+00:00 Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins Blaen, PJ Hannah, DM Brown, LE Milner, AM 2014-05-15 text https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/1/Blaen%20et%20al%202013%20Water%20Source%20Dynamics%20of%20High%20Arctic%20River%20Basins.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9891 en eng Wiley https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/1/Blaen%20et%20al%202013%20Water%20Source%20Dynamics%20of%20High%20Arctic%20River%20Basins.pdf Blaen, PJ, Hannah, DM, Brown, LE et al. (1 more author) (2014) Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins. Hydrological Processes, 28 (10). 3521 - 3583. ISSN 0885-6087 attached Article NonPeerReviewed 2014 ftleedsuniv https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9891 2024-05-06T12:40:54Z Arctic river basins are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change. However, there is currently limited knowledge of the hydrological processes that govern flow dynamics in Arctic river basins. We address this research gap using natural hydrochemical and isotopic tracers to identify water sources that contributed to runoff in river basins spanning a gradient of glacierization (0-61%) in Svalbard during summer 2010 and 2011. Spatially distinct hydrological processes operating over diurnal, weekly and seasonal timescales were characterized by river hydrochemistry and isotopic composition. Two conceptual water sources ('meltwater' and 'groundwater') were identified and used as a basis for end-member mixing analyses to assess seasonal and year-to-year variability in water source dynamics. In glacier-fed rivers, meltwater dominated flows at all sites (typically >80%) with the highest contributions observed at the beginning of each study period in early July when snow cover was most extensive. Rivers in non-glacierized basins were sourced initially from snowmelt but became increasingly dependent on groundwater inputs (up to 100% of total flow volume) by late summer. These hydrological changes were attributed to the depletion of snowpacks and enhanced soil water storage capacity as the active layer expanded throughout each melt season. These findings provide insight into the processes that underpin water source dynamics in Arctic river systems and potential future changes in Arctic hydrology that might be expected under a changing climate. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Arctic Climate change glacier Svalbard White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) Arctic Svalbard Hydrological Processes 28 10 3521 3538 |
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Open Polar |
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White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) |
op_collection_id |
ftleedsuniv |
language |
English |
description |
Arctic river basins are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change. However, there is currently limited knowledge of the hydrological processes that govern flow dynamics in Arctic river basins. We address this research gap using natural hydrochemical and isotopic tracers to identify water sources that contributed to runoff in river basins spanning a gradient of glacierization (0-61%) in Svalbard during summer 2010 and 2011. Spatially distinct hydrological processes operating over diurnal, weekly and seasonal timescales were characterized by river hydrochemistry and isotopic composition. Two conceptual water sources ('meltwater' and 'groundwater') were identified and used as a basis for end-member mixing analyses to assess seasonal and year-to-year variability in water source dynamics. In glacier-fed rivers, meltwater dominated flows at all sites (typically >80%) with the highest contributions observed at the beginning of each study period in early July when snow cover was most extensive. Rivers in non-glacierized basins were sourced initially from snowmelt but became increasingly dependent on groundwater inputs (up to 100% of total flow volume) by late summer. These hydrological changes were attributed to the depletion of snowpacks and enhanced soil water storage capacity as the active layer expanded throughout each melt season. These findings provide insight into the processes that underpin water source dynamics in Arctic river systems and potential future changes in Arctic hydrology that might be expected under a changing climate. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Blaen, PJ Hannah, DM Brown, LE Milner, AM |
spellingShingle |
Blaen, PJ Hannah, DM Brown, LE Milner, AM Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
author_facet |
Blaen, PJ Hannah, DM Brown, LE Milner, AM |
author_sort |
Blaen, PJ |
title |
Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
title_short |
Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
title_full |
Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
title_fullStr |
Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
title_full_unstemmed |
Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins |
title_sort |
water source dynamics of high arctic river basins |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/1/Blaen%20et%20al%202013%20Water%20Source%20Dynamics%20of%20High%20Arctic%20River%20Basins.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9891 |
geographic |
Arctic Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Svalbard |
genre |
Arctic Arctic Climate change glacier Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Arctic Arctic Climate change glacier Svalbard |
op_relation |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/77147/1/Blaen%20et%20al%202013%20Water%20Source%20Dynamics%20of%20High%20Arctic%20River%20Basins.pdf Blaen, PJ, Hannah, DM, Brown, LE et al. (1 more author) (2014) Water source dynamics of high Arctic river basins. Hydrological Processes, 28 (10). 3521 - 3583. ISSN 0885-6087 |
op_rights |
attached |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9891 |
container_title |
Hydrological Processes |
container_volume |
28 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
3521 |
op_container_end_page |
3538 |
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1800743824952131584 |