Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Water Level and Groundwater Dynamics across a Sandur-Wetland Landscape in Response to Seasonal and Episodic Events, South-East Iceland

  • General Wetland Science
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 2.5 km stretch of a sandur (glacial outwash plain) neighbouring a wetland in South-east Iceland was monitored from 1 September 2015 to 2 September 2016. Improved understanding of the hydrological regime at this sandur-wetland boundary is warranted as local farmers are losing ground to the frequent flooding of their wet meadows despite the existence of elevated berms. A series of water wells were installed across a sandur-wetland boundary, to monitor water table fluctuations, determine flooding extent and assess groundwater inflow. Flooding occurred rapidly in the sandur during 19 weather events, which included modest and heavy rainfall, and glacial outburst floods (jökulhlaups). Water levels on the South-western edge of the wetland responded in sync with the sandur during flooding, indicating a connectivity via groundwater exchange across the coarse, non-vegetated berm. We estimated that between 6 June and 31 August, 11,275 m3 of groundwater flowed from the sandur to this part of the wetland. This contrasted with the South-eastern edge of the wetland, which had an older, vegetated berm. Here, only 7446 m3 of groundwater flowed from the sandur to the wetland. Overall, these modest water inputs accounted for 76% of seasonal evaporation loss from the wetland (191 mm).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Data and material are available from the author and co-authors and metadata will be deposited with the Polar Data Catalogue.

Code Availability

Not Applicable.

References

  • Abnizova A, Young KL (2010) Sustainability of high Arctic ponds in a polar desert environment. Arctic 63:67–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aðalgeirsdóttir G, Jóhannesson T, Björnsson H, Pálsson F, Sigurðsson O (2006) Response of Hofsjökull and southern Vatnajökull, Iceland to climate change. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 111:F3. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JF000388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ágústsdóttir AM (2015) Ecosystem approach for natural hazard mitigation of volcanic tephra in Iceland: building resilience and sustainability. Natural Hazards 78:1669–1691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnalds Ó (2008) Soils of Iceland. Jökull 58:409–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnalds Ó (2010) Dust sources and deposition of aeolian materials in Iceland. Icelandic Agricultural Sciences 23:3–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnalds Ó, Dagsson-Waldhauserova P, Olafsson H (2016a) The Icelandic volcanic aeolian environment: processes and impacts—a review. Aeolian Research 20:176–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnalds Ó. Guðmundsson J, Oskarsson H, Brink S, Gisladóttir F (2016b) Icelandic inland wetlands: characteristics and extent of draining. Wetlands 36(4):759–769

  • Bennett BG (1975) Hydrologic and seminentary aspects of the “Schei” Sandur, Ellesmere Island, N.W.T. Unpublished BA thesis, McMaster University, 163 pp.

  • Beylich AA, Liermann S, Laute K (2010) Fluvial transport during thermally and pluvially induced peak runoff events in a glacier-fed mountain catchment in western Norway. Geografiska Annaler 92(2):237–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H (2003) Subglacial lakes and jökulhlaups in Iceland. Global and Planetary Change 35(3):255–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson H, Pálsson F (2008) Icelandic glaciers. Jökull 58:365–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullard JE, Mockford T (2018) Seasonal and decadal variability of dust observations in the Kangerlussuaq area, West Greenland. Arctic, Antarctica and Alpine Research 50(1):S100011. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2017.1415854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Church M, Ryder JM (1972) Paraglacial sedimentation: a consideration of fluvial processes conditioned by glaciation. Geological Society of America Bulletin 83(10):3059–3072

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagsson-Waldhauserova P, Arnalds Ó, Olafsson H, Hladil J, Skala R, Navratil T, Meinander O (2015) Snow–dust storm: unique case study from Iceland, March 6–7, 2013. Aeolian Research 16:69–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsson MÁ (1984) Climate of Iceland. In: van Loon H (ed) Climates of the oceans. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 673–697

    Google Scholar 

  • Einarsson B (2009) Jökulhlaups in Skaftá: a study of a jökulhlaup from the Western Skaftá cauldron in the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland. Technical report VI 2009–006 from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, 21–34

  • Guðmundsson MT, Bonnel A, Gunnarsson K (2002) Seismic soundings of sediment thickness on Skeiðarársandur, SE-Iceland. Jökull 51:53–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazen A (1911) Discussion: dams on sand foundations. Transactions, American Society of Civil Engineers 73:199

    Google Scholar 

  • Heine RA, Pinter N (2012) Levee effects upon flood levels: an empirical assessment. Hydrological Processes 26:3225–3240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hjulstrom F (1955) The ground water: the Hoffellssandur-a glacial outwash plain. Geografiska Annaler 37:234–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson R, Young KL (2001) Preferential groundwater flow through a sorted net landscape, arctic Canada. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26(3):319–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodson AJ, Gurnell AM, Washington R, Tranter M, Clark MJ, Hagen JO (1998) Meteorological and runoff time-series characteristics in a small, high-Arctic glaciated basin, Svalbard. Hydrological Processes 12(3):509–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) [Veðurstofa ĺslands] (2015) Possibly the largest jökulhlaup. https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/3207.

  • Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) [Veðurstofa ĺslands] (2016a) A minor glacial outburst flood in Skaftá. https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/a-minor-glacial-outburst-flood-in-skafta.

  • Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) [Veðurstofa ĺslands] (2016b) Climate Summary - The weather in Iceland 2015. https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/3273.

  • Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) [Veðurstofa ĺslands] (2017) Climate Summary - The weather in Iceland in 2016. https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/the-weather-in-iceland-in-2016.

  • Jónsdóttir JF (2008) A runoff map based on numerically simulated precipitation and a projection of future runoff in Iceland. Hydrological Sciences Journal 53(1):100–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krigström A (1962) Geomorphological studies of Sandur plains and their braided rivers in Iceland. Geografiska Annaler 44(3–4):328–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Lafleur PM (1990) Evapotranspiration from sedge-dominated wetland surfaces. Aquatic Botany 37(4):341–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy A, Robinson Z, Krause S, Waller R, Weatherill J (2015) Long-term variability of proglacial groundwater-fed hydrological systems in an area of glacier retreat, Skeiðarársandur, Iceland. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 40(7):981–994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long N, Millescamps B, Guillot B, Pouget F, Bertin X (2016) Monitoring the topography of a dynamic tidal inlet using UAV imagery. Remote Sensing 85(5):387. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8050387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loukas A, Vasiliades L, Dalezios NR (2000) Flood producing mechanisms identification in southern British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Hydrology 227(1–4):218–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luthin JN (1966) Drainage engineering. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Magilligan FJ, Gomez B, Mertes LAK, Smith LC, Smith ND, Finnegan D, Garvin JB (2002) Geomorphic effectiveness, Sandur development, and the pattern of landscape response during jökulhlaups: Skeiðarársandur, southeastern Iceland. Geomorphology 44(1):95–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnússon E, Gudmundsson MT, Roberts MJ, Sigurðsson G, Höskuldsson F, Oddsson B (2012) Ice-volcano interactions during the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, as revealed by airborne imaging radar. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 117(B7). https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JB009250

  • Maizels J (1991) Origin and evolution of Holocene sandurs in areas of jökulhlaup drainage, South Iceland. In: Maizels J, Caseldine C (eds) Environmental change in Iceland: past and present. Kluwer Academic Publishing, London, pp 267–302

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Maizels J (1997) Jökulhlaup deposits in proglacial areas. Quaternary Science Reviews 16(7):793–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancini F, Dubbini M, Gattelli M, Stechhi F, Fabbri S, Gabbianelli G (2013) Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for high-resolution reconstruction of topography: the structure from motion approach on coastal environments. Remote Sensing 5(12):6880–6898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marren PM (2002) Fluvial–lacustrine interaction on Skeiðarársandur, Iceland: implications for Sandur evolution. Sedimentary Geology 149:43–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh P, Rouse WR, Woo MK (1981) Evaporation at a high Arctic site. Journal of Applied Meteorology 20(6):713–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montreuil O, Cudennec C, Merot P (2011) Contrasting behaviour of two riparian wetlands in relation to their location in the hydrographic network. Journal of Hydrology 406:39–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Priestley CHB, Taylor RJ (1972) On the assessment of surface heat flux and evaporation using large-scale parameters. Monthly Weather Review 100(2):81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts MJ (2005) Jökulhlaups: a reassessment of floodwater flow through glaciers. Reviews of Geophysics 43(1):RG1002. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003RG000147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson ZP, Fairchild IJ, Russell AJ (2008) Hydrogeological implications of glacial landscape evolution at Skeiðarársandur, SE Iceland. Geomorphology 97(1–2):218–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberry DO, Hayashi M (2013) Assessing and measuring wetland hydrology. In: Anderson JT, Davis CA (eds) Wetland techniques, Foundations, vol 1. Springer Science, Dordrecht, pp 87–225

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberry DO, Stannar DI, Winter TC, Martinez ML (2004) Comparison of 13 equations for determining evapotranspiration from a prairie wetland, cottonwood Lake area, North Dakota, U.S.A. Wetlands 24(3):483–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen Z (1995) Applied hydrogeology for scientists and engineers. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Þorkelsson B, Karlsdóttir S, Gylfason ÁG, Höskuldsson Á, Brandsdóttir B, Ilyinskaya E, Högnadóttir Þ. (2012) The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, Iceland: Report to ICAO-June 2012

  • Van Vliet-Lanoë B, Laurent M, Bahain JL, Balescu S, Falguères C, Field M, Hallégouët B, Keen DH (2000) Middle Pleistocene raised beach anomalies in the English Channel: regional and global stratigraphic implications. Journal of Geodynamics 29(1):15–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woo MK, Guan XJ (2006) Hydrological connectivity and seasonal storage change of tundra ponds in a polar oasis environment, Canadian high Arctic. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 17:309–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woo MK, Steer P (1983) Slope hydrology as influenced by thawing of the active layer, resolute NWT. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 20:978–986

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young KL, Woo MK (2004) Queen Elizabeth Islands: water balance investigations. International Association of Hydrological Sciences 290:152–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Young KL, Scheffel HA, Abnizova A, Siferd JR (2017) Spatial and temporal dynamics of groundwater flow across a wet meadow, polar bear pass, Bathurst Island, Nunavut. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 28(2):405–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Younger PL (2006) Groundwater in the environment, an introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank York University for research funds to Dr. Kathy L. Young and Harold-Alexis Scheffel. The Government of Canada provided logistical funds to H-Alexis Scheffel through the Northern Scientific Training Program. Dr. Tarmo Remmel provided us with surveying and geomatic advice, while Kristinn Guðjónsson and his wife Helga Þorsteindóttir are thanked for their friendship and logistical support while in Iceland. We are especially grateful to Mr. Hannes Jónsson and his wife Guðný M. Ström Óskarsdóttir, who allowed us to undertake this study on their property in South-east Iceland. Finally, we appreciate the helpful and insightful comments from two anonymous reviewers. Their input has helped to improve the manuscript.

Funding

We would like to thank York University for research funds to Dr. Kathy L. Young and Harold-Alexis Scheffel. The Government of Canada provided logistical funds to H-Alexis Scheffel through the Northern Scientific Training Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Harold-Alexis Scheffel & Kathy L. Young

Authors
  1. Harold-Alexis Scheffel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathy L. Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Both H-AS and KY designed the scope of the project and KY selected the study site. H-AS undertook 80% of the fieldwork and analysis. KY assisted with fieldwork (20%) and provided assistance on the analysis of the data (20%). H-AS drafted the figures and both authors contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript, and approved it for submission to Wetlands.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathy L. Young.

Ethics declarations

Ethics

Not Applicable.

Consent to Participate

Not Applicable.

Conflict of Interest

Not Applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Scheffel, HA., Young, K.L. Water Level and Groundwater Dynamics across a Sandur-Wetland Landscape in Response to Seasonal and Episodic Events, South-East Iceland. Wetlands 41, 27 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-021-01426-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-021-01426-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation