Abstract
Fundamental knowledge of groundwater systems in areas of permafrost is often lacking. The likelihood of finding good quality groundwater resources of acceptable quantities generally decreases as the areal coverage of permafrost increases. In areas of continuous permafrost, the probability of finding areas of groundwater recharge and discharge are minimal. Still, in northeastern Alaska (USA), the presence of numerous springs and associated downstream aufeis formations clearly indicates that there has to be a groundwater system with the required complementary areas of groundwater recharge and transmission. Recharge zones and transmission pathways in this area of extensive permafrost, however, are essentially unknown. This study shows that the recharge occurs on the south side of the Brooks Range in northeastern Alaska, where extensive limestone outcrops are found. The transmission zone is beneath the permafrost, with discharge occurring through the springs via taliks through the permafrost (where faults are present) and also likely at the northern edge of the permafrost along the Beaufort Sea coast.
Résumé
La connaissance fondamentale des systèmes aquifères souterrains en zones de pergélisol manque souvent. La probabilité de trouver des ressources en eau souterraine de bonne qualité en quantités acceptables décroît généralement lorsque la couverture régionale de pergélisol augmente. Dans les zones de pergélisol continu, la probabilité de découvrir des aires de recharge et de décharge de la nappe est minime. Cependant, dans le Nord-Est de l’Alaska (USA), la présence de nombreuses sources et aufeis aval associés indique clairement qu’il doit exister un système aquifère souterrain avec en complément les aires nécessaires à sa recharge et au transfert. Toutefois, Les aires de recharge et les voies de transfert dans cette région de pergélisol étendu sont fondamentalement inconnues. La présente étude montre que la recharge a lieu sur le versant Sud de la Brooks Range dans le Nord-Est de l’Alaska, où l’on trouve des affleurements calcaire étendus. La zone de transfert se trouve sous le pergélisol, la décharge ayant lieu à travers le pergélisol (où des fractures sont présentes), par des sources sur taliks et vraisemblablement aussi en bordure Nord du pergélisol, le long du littoral de la Mer de Beaufort.
Resumen
El conocimiento fundamental de los sistemas de agua subterránea en áreas de permafrost permanentes a menudo es insuficiente. La probabilidad de investigar los recursos de aguas subterráneas de buena calidad en cantidades aceptables generalmente decrece cuando la cobertura areal del permafrost se incrementa. En un área de permafrost continuo, la probabilidad de encontrar áreas de recarga y descarga de agua subterránea son mínimas. Sin embargo, en el noreste de Alaska (EEUU), la presencia de numerosos manantiales asociada a la formación de hielo superficial aguas abajo claramente indica que debe ser un sistema de aguas subterráneas con las necesarias áreas complementarias de recarga y transmisión. Sin embargo, las zonas de recarga y las trayectorias de la transmisión en esta área del extenso permafrost, son esencialmente desconocidas. Este estudio muestra que la recarga se produce en el lado sur de las Brooks Range en el noreste de Alaska, donde se encuentran extensos afloramientos de calizas. La zona de transmisión está debajo del permafrost, con la descarga a través de los manantiales existentes a través de los taliks del permafrost (donde están presentes fallas) y probablemente también en el borde norte el permafrost a lo largo de la costa del mar Beaufort.
摘要
人们对于多年冻土地区地下水系统的基本了解往往是比较缺乏的。寻找达到一定量的优质地下水资源的可能性随着永久冻土层覆盖面积的增加在逐渐减小。在连续性永久冻土的地区,找到地下水的补给和排泄区的可能性是极小的。然而,在美国阿拉斯加的东北部,大量泉的出现和与之相关联的下游的积冰的形成清楚地表明,这个地区肯定有一个地下水系统,并且这个地下水系统有地下水补给和运移所需的互补区。然而,在永久冻土大量分布的地区,补给区和运移路径从本质上来说是不知道的。本次研究表明,补给发生在灰岩露头大量出现的阿拉斯加东北部的布鲁克斯山脉的南侧。运移带在永久冻土层之下,而地下水是以泉的形式来排泄的,泉水是经由永冻层(其中有断层出现)中的融区流出的;另外,运移带也可能是在波弗特海沿岸的永久冻土层的北部边缘。
Resumo
O conhecimento básico dos sistemas de águas subterrâneas em áreas de permafrost é muitas vezes inexistente. A probabilidade de encontrar recursos hídricos subterrâneos de boa qualidade em quantidades aceitáveis geralmente diminui à medida que aumenta a área coberta por permafrost. Nas áreas de permafrost contínuo é mínima a probabilidade de identificar áreas de recarga e de descarga de águas subterrâneas. Ainda assim, no nordeste do Alasca (EUA), a presença de inúmeras nascentes associadas a formações “aufeis” a jusante indica claramente que tem que existir um sistema de águas subterrâneas com as necessárias áreas complementares de recarga e de transmissão das águas subterrâneas. As zonas de recarga e os percursos de transmissão nesta área de permafrost extensivo são, no entanto, fundamentalmente desconhecidas. Este estudo mostra que a recarga ocorre no lado sul da Cordilheira de Brooks no nordeste do Alasca, onde ocorrem extensos afloramentos calcários. A zona de transmissão localiza-se sob o permafrost, com a descarga a ocorrer em nascentes através do permafrost (onde existem falhas), via “taliks”, e provavelmente também no extremo norte do permafrost ao longo da costa do Mar de Beaufort.
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Acknowledgements
The results reported here were not the outcome of one specific funded project, but instead come from measurements collected from several projects carried out in the area and the USGS contribution of Childers et al. (1977) in the 1970s. This work was funded in part by National Science Foundation grants OPP-9814984, OPP-0335941, ARC-0229705. We also acknowledge the US Fish and Wildlife Service for permitting us to enter the wildlife refuge for sampling of springs.
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Kane, D.L., Yoshikawa, K. & McNamara, J.P. Regional groundwater flow in an area mapped as continuous permafrost, NE Alaska (USA). Hydrogeol J 21, 41–52 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0937-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0937-0