Arctic hydrology and meteorology

• Main Author: Kane, D.L.
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK (United States). Water Research Center 1989
• Subjects: Heat Transfer; Alaska; Progress Report; Document Types; Phase Transformations; Ecosystems; Arctic Regions; Snow; Atmospheric Precipitations; Surface Waters; Hydrology; Ground Water; Meteorology; 58 Geosciences; Energy Balance; 580000 > Geosciences; Simulation; Mass Transfer; Evaporation; Computerized Simulation; Watersheds; Water 540250* > Environment; Terrestrial > Site Resource & Use Studies > (1990-); Energy Transfer; Oxygen Compounds; Usa; Historical Aspects; Hydrogen Compounds; North America; 54 Environmental Sciences; Developed Countries; Polar Regions; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/5118378; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1058242/

To date, five years of hydrologic and meteorologic data have been collected at Imnavait Creek near Toolik Lake, Alaska. This is the most complete set of field data of this type collected in the Arctic of North America. These data have been used in process-oriented research to increase our understanding of atmosphere/hydrosphere/biosphere/lithosphere interactions. Basically, we are monitoring heat and mass transfer between various spheres to quantify rates. These could be rates of mass movement such as hillslope flow or rates of heat transfer for active layer thawing or combined heat and mass processes such as evapotranspiration. We have utilized a conceptual model to predict hydrologic processes. To test the success of this model, we are comparing our predicted rates of runoff and snowmelt to measured valves. We have also used a surface energy model to simulate active layer temperatures. The final step in this modeling effort to date was to predict what impact climatic warming would have on active layer thicknesses and how this will influence the hydrology of our research watershed by examining several streambeds.