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Review: Groundwater in Alaska (USA)

Panorama: L’eau souterraine en Alaska (USA)

Revisión: El agua subterránea en Alaska (EEUU)

综述: 美国阿拉斯加的地下水

Revisão:Águas subterrâneas no Alasca (EUA)

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Abstract

Groundwater in the US state of Alaska is critical to both humans and ecosystems. Interactions among physiography, ecology, geology, and current and past climate have largely determined the location and properties of aquifers as well as the timing and magnitude of fluxes to, from, and within the groundwater system. The climate ranges from maritime in the southern portion of the state to continental in the Interior, and arctic on the North Slope. During the Quaternary period, topography and rock type have combined with glacial and periglacial processes to develop the unconsolidated alluvial aquifers of Alaska and have resulted in highly heterogeneous hydrofacies. In addition, the long persistence of frozen ground, whether seasonal or permanent, greatly affects the distribution of aquifer recharge and discharge. Because of high runoff, a high proportion of groundwater use, and highly variable permeability controlled in part by permafrost and seasonally frozen ground, understanding groundwater/surface-water interactions and the effects of climate change is critical for understanding groundwater availability and the movement of natural and anthropogenic contaminants.

Résumé

L’eau souterraine dans l’état américain d’Alaska est essentielle à la fois pour les humains et pour les écosystèmes. Les interactions entre physiographie, écologie, géologie, climat passé et actuel, ont largement déterminé la localisation et les caractéristiques des aquifères comme d’ailleurs le rythme et l’amplitude des flux entrants, sortants et internes au système aquifère. Le climat s’échelonne du maritime dans la partie Sud au continental dans l’intérieur à l’arctique sur le Versant Nord. Durant l’ère quaternaire, topographie et nature des roches se sont combinées avec les mécanismes glaciaires et péri-glaciaires pour former les aquifères alluviaux non consolidés d’Alaska, d’où ont résulté des hydrofaciès extrêmement hétérogènes. De plus, la longue persistance d’un sol gelé, soit saisonnier soit permanent, affecte grandement la distribution de la recharge et de la décharge des aquifères. En raison d’une forte utilisation de l’eau de surface et de l ‘eau souterraine, et d’une perméabilité de la nappe hautement variable, contrôlée en partie par le permafrost et par le gel saisonnier, comprendre les interactions eau souterraine-eau de surface ainsi que les effets du changement climatique est crucial pour l’appréhension de la disponibilité en eau souterraine et du transfert des polluants naturels et anthropiques.

Resumen

El agua subterránea en el estado de Alaska es crítica para los seres humanos y los ecosistemas. Las interacciones entre la fisiografía, ecología, geología y el clima actual y pasado han determinado en gran parte la ubicación y las propiedades de los flujos, así como el tiempo y magnitud de flujos hacia, desde y dentro del sistema de agua subterránea. El clima varía desde marítimo en la porción sur del estado a continental en el interior, y ártico en la ladera norte. Durante el período Cuaternario, la topografía y el tipo de roca se ha combinado con procesos glaciales y periglaciales para desarrollar los acuíferos aluviales no consolidados de Alaska y ha resultado en hidrofacies altamente heterogéneas. Además, la gran persistencia del terreno congelado, ya sea estacional o permanente, afecta en gran medida la distribución de la recarga y descarga del acuífero. Debido al alto escurrimiento y el uso del agua subterránea, y la permeabilidad altamente variable controlada en parte por el permafrost y estacionalmente por el terreno congelado, la comprensión de la interacción superficial – agua subterránea y los efectos del cambio climático es critico para el conocimiento de la disponibilidad de agua subterránea y los movimientos de contaminantes naturales y antropogénicos.

摘要

美国阿拉斯加州的地下水资源对于人类和生态系统都是至关重要的。自然地理条件、生态环境、地质条件和古往今来的气候条件之间的相互作用在很大程度上决定了含水层的位置和特性, 以及流入、流出和存在于地下水系统中的水流的流动时间和规模。州内的气候条件变化很大, 由南向北, 南部为海洋性气候, 中部为大陆性气候, 阿拉斯加北坡为北极气候。在第四纪期间, 地形和岩石的类型与冰期、间冰期过程相结合, 形成了阿拉斯加松散的冲积含水层, 导致了水相的高度非均质化。除此之外, 长期呈冷冻状态的土壤, 无论是季节性的还是永久性的, 都极大地影响了含水层源汇区的分布。由于径流量、地下水使用量很大, 且部分受永久性、季节性冻土控制的渗透性是高度变化的, 弄清地下水-地表水的相互作用和气候变化对其的影响, 对于了解地下水的可用性和自然、人为污染物的运移是非常重要的。

Resumo

A água subterrânea no estado norte-americano do Alasca é fundamental para os seres humanos e para os ecossistemas. Interações entre a fisiografia, a ecologia, a geologia e o clima atual e passado determinaram largamente a localização e as propriedades dos aquíferos bem como a temporização e a magnitude dos fluxos de, para e dentro do sistema de águas subterrâneas. O clima varia de marítimo na parcela sul do estado a continental no interior, e a ártico na Encosta Norte. Durante o período Quaternário, a topografia e o tipo de rochas combinaram-se com os processos glaciar e periglacial para desenvolver os aquíferos aluvionares não consolidados do Alasca, resultando em hidrofácies altamente heterogéneas. Além disso, o congelamento persistente do solo, seja sazonal ou permanente, afeta extremamente a distribuição da recarga e da descarga dos aquíferos. Devido ao elevado escoamento superficial e do uso da água subterrânea, e da variabilidade elevada da permeabilidade, controlada em parte pelo permafrost e pelo solo sazonalmente congelado, a compreensão das interações água subterrânea/água superficial e dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas é crítica para o conhecimento da disponibilidade de água subterrânea e do movimento de contaminantes naturais e antropogénicos.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript benefited greatly from the constructive and detailed comments provided by US Geological Survey and Hydrogeology Journal peer reviewers. The project was supported by the US Department of the Interior WaterSMART Initiative and the USGS Groundwater Resources Program, Glacial Aquifer System Groundwater Availability Study.

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  1. US Geological Survey Arizona Water Science Center, 520 N Park Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA

    J. B. Callegary, C. P. Kikuchi & S. A. Leake

  2. US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    C. P. Kikuchi & J. C. Koch

  3. GW Scientific, P.O. Box 81538, Fairbanks, AK, 99708, USA

    M. R. Lilly

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  1. J. B. Callegary
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  2. C. P. Kikuchi
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Published in the theme issue “Hydrogeology of Cold Regions”

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Callegary, J.B., Kikuchi, C.P., Koch, J.C. et al. Review: Groundwater in Alaska (USA). Hydrogeol J 21, 25–39 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0940-5

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