Abstract
Research on large northern rivers suggests that as permafrost thaws, deeper groundwater flowpaths become active, resulting in greater baseflow, increased concentrations of weathering ions and reduced concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in the streamflow. In contrast, at the headwater-catchment scale, where understanding of groundwater/surface-water interactions is developed, inter-annual variability in climate and hydrology result in complex hydrological and chemical responses to change. This paper reports on a 4-year runoff investigation in an alpine discontinuous permafrost environment in Yukon, Canada, using stable isotopes, major dissolved ions and hydrometric data, to provide enhanced insight into the inter-annual-variability runoff-generation processes. Stable isotope results suggest that pre-event (old) water stored within the catchment dominates the snowmelt hydrograph, and dissolved ion results reveal that groundwater pathways occur predominantly in the near-surface during freshet. Dissolved organic carbon varies inter-annually, reflecting changing melt patterns, whereas weathering ions generated from deeper flowpaths become diluted. The total snow-water equivalent does not have a major influence on the fraction of snowmelt water reaching the stream or the runoff ratio. Results from multiple years highlight the considerable variability over short time scales, limiting our ability to detect climate-change influences on groundwater at the headwater scale.
Résumé
La recherche sur des grandes rivières du Nord suggère que, lorsque le permafrost fond, des chenaux d’écoulement profonds deviennent actifs, ce dont il résulte un plus grand écoulement de base, des augmentations des concentrations en ions d’altération météorique et une réduction des concentrations en carbone organique dans le flux d’écoulement. Par contraste, à l’échelle de tête de bassin versant, où la compréhension des interactions eau de nappe/eau de surface a été développée, la variabilité inter-annuelle du climat et de l’hydrologie a pour résultat des réponses complexes hydrologiques et chimiques au changement. Cet article rapporte une investigation s’étendant sur quatre ans dans une environnement de typa alpin au Yukon, Canada, utilisant des isotopes stables, les ions majeurs en solution et des données hydrométriques, fournissant une idée affinée de la variabilité interannuelle des processus d’écoulement. Les résultats fournis par les isotopes stables suggèrent que de l’eau anciennement accumulée dans le basin versant domine l’hydrographe de la neige fondue, et les ions en solution révèlent que les chenaux d’écoulement de l’eau de nappe s’établissent de façon prédominante en sub-surface durant la crue. Le carbone organique dissout varie de façon interannuelle, reflétant les variations de conditions de fusion, alors que les ions d’altération générés par les écoulements plus profonds se trouvent dilués. L’équivalent total eau de neige n’a pas une influence majeure sur la fraction d’eau de fusion de neige atteignant le chenal d’écoulement ou sur le ratio découlement. Les résultats de nombreuses années mettent en lumière la variabilité considérable sur des petites échelles de temps, limitant notre capacité de détecter des influences de changement climatique sur l’eau de nappe à l’échelle du bassin versant.
Resumen
La investigación en grandes ríos del norte sugiere que a medida que se deshielan los permafrost, las trayectorias de flujo de aguas subterráneas más profundas se activan, resultado de un mayor flujo de base, concentraciones incrementadas de iones meteorizados y concentraciones reducidas en el carbono orgánico disuelto en la corriente. En contraste, a escala de cabeceras de las cuencas, donde se desarrolla el entendimiento de las interacciones agua superficial / subterránea, la variabilidad interanual en el clima y la hidrología da como resultado respuestas hidrológicas y químicas complejas al cambio. Este trabajo informa una investigación de cuatro años del escurrimiento superficial en un ambiente alpino discontinuo de permafrost en Yukon, Canada, usando isótopos estables, iones disueltos mayoritarios y datos hidrométricos, para proporcionar un conocimiento más profundo en la variabilidad interanual de los procesos que genera el escurrimiento. Los resultados de los isótopos estables sugieren que el agua del pre-evento (vieja) almacenada dentro de la cuenca domina el hidrograma del derretimiento de la nieve, y los resultados de los iones disueltos revelan que las trayectorias del agua subterránea ocurren predominantemente en las proximidades de la superficie durante la crecida. El carbono orgánico disuelto varía interanualmente, reflejando un esquema de derretimiento cambiante, mientras que los iones meteorizados generados a partir de las trayectorias de flujo más profundas se diluyen. El equivalente de agua de nieve total no tiene una mayor influencia en la fracción de agua derretida que alcanza a la corriente o a la tasa de escurrimiento. Los resultados de múltiples año resaltan la considerable variabilidad en cortas escalas de tiempo, limitando nuestra habilidad para detectar las influencias del cambio climático en el agua subterránea a la escala de la cabecera.
摘要
对于北部大型河流的研究显示,当永久冻土层融化时,深部地下水径流开始活跃,导致河川基流增大,水中风化源的离子含量增大,溶解源的有机碳含量减少。与此相反,在源头-流域的尺度上,虽然地下水/地表水的相互作用机理已经确立,但气候与水文的年际变化导致了复杂的水文和化学响应。本文展示了加拿大育空地区的一个高山不连续永久冻土地区四年的径流调查,利用稳定同位素、水中主要离子和水文观测数据加深了对产流的年际变化过程的认识。稳定同位素结果显示,储存在流域内的老水决定了融雪的水文过程线,另外,水中溶解的离子结果表明,地下水的流径主要在洪水期的近地表处出现。水中溶解的有机碳随季节变化,反映了溶解模式的变化,然而来源于深层流径的风化离子的浓度减小。总的融雪水量对到达河川的融水部分和径流系数影响不大。多年观测的结果揭示了短时间尺度下重要的年际变化,这制约着我们在源头认识气候变化对地下水的影响。
Resumo
A pesquisa sobre os grandes rios do norte sugere que, com o degelo do permafrost, há percursos subterrâneos profundos que se tornam ativos para as águas subterrâneas, resultando num maior escoamento de base, num aumento da concentração de iões provenientes da desagregação da rocha e numa redução das concentrações de carbono orgânico dissolvido no fluxo. Em contraste, à escala da cabeceira da bacia, onde se desenvolve a compreensão da interação águas subterrâneas/águas superficiais, a variabilidade interanual no clima e na hidrologia resulta em complexas respostas hidrológicas e químicas. Este artigo relata uma investigação sobre o escoamento superficial durante quatro anos num ambiente de permafrost alpino descontínuo em Yukon, no Canadá, usando isótopos estáveis, os iões principais dissolvidos e dados hidrométricos, para fornecer uma melhor visão da variabilidade interanual dos processos geradores do escoamento. Resultados de isótopos estáveis sugerem que o volume hídrico armazenado anteriormente ao evento do degelo dentro da bacia domina o hidrograma do degelo, e os resultados obtidos a partir dos iões dissolvidos revelam que as vias subterrâneas são predominantes muito próximos à superfície durante a inundação. O carbono orgânico dissolvido varia interanualmente, refletindo os padrões de fusão, enquanto os iões gerados a partir de desagregação mais profunda são diluídos. O volume de água proveniente da neve não tem uma grande influência na fração de água do degelo que alcança o escoamento. Os resultados de vários anos destacam a grande variabilidade em escalas de tempo curtas, limitando a nossa capacidade de detetar a influência das mudanças climáticas nas águas subterrâneas à escala da cabeceira da bacia.
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Acknowledgements
This work is funded by research grants to SKC from NSERC and the CFCAS. The support of Glenn Ford and Ric Janowicz of the Water Resource Branch, Yukon Department of Environment, and the field assistance of Shawn MacDonald and Mike Treberg are gratefully acknowledged.
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Carey, S.K., Boucher, J.L. & Duarte, C.M. Inferring groundwater contributions and pathways to streamflow during snowmelt over multiple years in a discontinuous permafrost subarctic environment (Yukon, Canada). Hydrogeol J 21, 67–77 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0920-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0920-9