Abstract
In Canada’s western Arctic, perennial discharge from permafrost watersheds is the surface manifestation of active groundwater flow systems with features including the occurrence of year-round open water and the formation of icings, yet understanding the mechanisms of groundwater recharge and flow in periglacial environments remains enigmatic. Stable isotopes (δ18O, δD, δ13CDIC), and noble gases have proved useful to study groundwater recharge and flow of groundwater which discharges along rivers in Canada’s western Arctic. In these studies of six catchments, groundwater recharge was determined to be a mix of snowmelt and precipitation. All systems investigated show that groundwater has recharged through organic soils with elevated PCO2, which suggests that recharge occurs largely during summer when biological activity is high. Noble gas concentrations show that the recharge temperature was between 0 and 5 °C, which when considered in the context of discharge temperatures, suggests that there is no significant imbalance of energy flux into the subsurface. Groundwater circulation times were found to be up to 31 years for non-thermal waters using the 3 H-3He method.
Résumé
Dans l’Arctique de l’Ouest canadien, une décharge pérenne de bassins versants gelés est la manifestation de surface d’un système actif de flux d’eau souterraine avec des caractéristiques incluant l’entrée d’eau durant toute l’année et la formation de glace, encore que la compréhension des mécanisme de recharge de nappe et du flux dans l’environnement périglaciaire reste énigmatique. Les isotopes stables (δ18O, δD, δ13CDIC) et des gaz rares se sont avérés utiles pour étudier la recharge de nappe et le flux souterrain qui se décharge le long de rivières dans l’arctique de l’Ouest canadien. Dans ces études de six basins versants, on a établi que la recharge de nappe est un mixte de neige fondue et de précipitation. Les investigations sur tous les systèmes montrent que la nappe se recharge à travers des sols organiques à PCO2 élevée, ce qui suggère que la recharge a lieu largement durant l’été quand l’activité biologique est élevée. Les concentrations en gaz rares montrent que la température de recharge était comprise entre 0 et 5 °C, ce qui, considéré dans le contexte des températures de décharge, signifie qu’il n’y a pas de déséquilibre des flux énergétiques en sub-surface. On a trouvé des durées de circulation de l’eau de nappe jusqu’à 31 ans pour des eaux non thermales en utilisant la méthode 3H-3He.
Resumen
En el Ártico Occidental de Canadá, la descarga perenne de cuencas de permafrost es la manifestación superficial de sistemas activos de flujos de agua subterránea con características que incluyen durante el año la presencia de aguas libres y la formación de hielos, sin embargo el entendimiento de los mecanismos de la recarga de agua subterránea y el flujo en ambientes periglaciales siguen siendo enigmáticos. Los isótopos estables (δ18O, δD, δ13CDIC), y los gases nobles han demostrado ser útiles para estudiar la recarga de agua subterránea y el flujo de agua subterránea que descarga a lo largo de ríos en el Ártico occidental de Canadá. En estos estudios de seis cuencas, la recarga del agua subterránea se determinó que era una mezcla del derretimiento de la nieve y de la precipitación. Todos los sistemas investigados muestran que el agua subterránea se recarga a través de suelos orgánicos con elevada PCO2, lo cual sugiere que la recarga ocurre mayormente durante el verano cuando la actividad biológica es alta. Las concentraciones de gases nobles muestra que la temperatura de recarga fue entre 0 y 5 °C, lo cual cuando se considera en el contexto de las temperaturas de descarga, sugiere que no hay un desequilibro significativo en el flujo de energía en el subsuelo. Los tiempos de circulación de agua subterránea resultaron ser de hasta 31 años para agua no termales usando el método 3H-3He.
摘要
在加拿大西部的寒区,来自多年冻土流域的常年地下水排泄是活跃的地下水流系统在地表的表现,在地表可以看到全年开放的水域和冰的形成,然而要弄清楚冰川边缘地带地下水的补给和径流机制仍然存在很多疑惑。稳定同位素(δ18O, δD, δ13CDIC)和稀有气体被证明用来研究地下水补给和径流是很有用的,在加拿大西部寒区地下水就是沿着河流向外排泄。在本次对六个盆地研究中,地下水补给被确定为是融雪和降雨的混合。所有调查过的地下水系统显示地下水在径流过程中经过二氧化碳分压比较高的有机土壤,这表明地下水补给主要发生在生物活动比较活跃的夏季。稀有气体浓度显示地下水补给温度在0~5°C之间,在考虑到地下水排泄温度的情况下,这表明流向地下的能量流并不存在严重的不平衡。利用3H-3He方法研究发现非热水的循环时间长达31年。
Resumo
No Ártico ocidental do Canadá, a descarga perene das bacias hidrográficas com permafrost é a manifestação superficial de sistemas de escoamento de águas subterrâneas ativos com caraterísticas que incluem a ocorrência durante todo o ano de águas abertas e a formação de gelos, apesar da compreensão dos mecanismos de recarga de águas subterrâneas e do fluxo subterrâneo em ambientes periglaciais permanecer enigmática. Os isótopos estáveis (δ18O, δD, δ13CDIC) e os gases nobres têm sido úteis no estudo da recarga e do fluxo de águas subterrâneas que descarregam nos rios do Ártico ocidental do Canadá. Nos estudos de seis bacias hidrográficas, determinou-se que a recarga de águas subterrâneas era uma mistura de águas do degelo e da precipitação. Todos os sistemas investigados mostram que as águas subterrâneas recarregaram através de solos orgânicos com elevado PCO2, o que sugere que a recarga ocorre largamente durante o verão, quando a atividade biológica é alta. As concentrações de gases nobres mostram que a temperatura de recarga foi entre 0 e 5 °C, o que, quando considerado no contexto das temperaturas de descarga, sugere que não há um desequilíbrio significativo de fluxo de energia para a subsuperfície. Utilizando o método 3H-3He, os tempos de circulação de águas subterrâneas foram calculados em até 31 anos para águas não-termais.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Brewster Conant Jr. for help in the field and ideas during this research. Also thanks to Paul Middlestead, Wendy Abdi, Patricia Wickham, Ping Zhang, Ratan Mohapatra and Monika Wilk who assisted with isotopic and geochemical analyses. Thanks to all those who helped with field work including André Pellerin, Billy Nukon, Geoff Cramond, Angelina Buchar, Lisa Tellier and Marielle Fortin-McCuaig. Funding for student travel to N.W.T. and Yukon and was provided by the Northern Scientific Training Program. Funding for helicopter transport was provided by the Yukon Geological Survey, the Polar Continental Shelf Project and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This work was funded through NSERC Discovery and Northern Supplement grants to I.D. Clark.
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Utting, N., Lauriol, B., Mochnacz, N. et al. Noble gas and isotope geochemistry in western Canadian Arctic watersheds: tracing groundwater recharge in permafrost terrain. Hydrogeol J 21, 79–91 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0913-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0913-8