Investigation of environmental and land use impacts in forested permafrost headwaters of the Selenga-Baikal river system, Mongolia - Effects on discharge, water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity

Pfeiffer, Martin; Küstner, Georg; Erdenesukh, Erdenetsetseg; Tümpling, Wolf von; Hofmann, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.06.002

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 44 publications

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“…In its current form, the big leaf canopy module can only simulate static vegetation layers and their impact on the surface energy balance. However, insect outbreaks, logging and wildfires are common in permafrost‐underlain forests in Mongolia (Zamba, 2018) and elsewhere which can significantly impact the permafrost (Klinge et al., 2021) and the water cycle (Pfeiffer et al., 2021). In the modular structure of CryoGrid, such step changes can be simulated with relative ease, as stratigraphy classes (such as the big leaf canopy module VEGETATION_CLM5_seb_snow ) can simply be removed, added or exchanged at specific times within a simulation (Stuenzi et al., 2022; Westermann et al., 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the Thermal Regime and Surface Energy Balance of a Permafrost‐Underlain Forest in Mongolia

Zweigel,

Dashtseren,

Temuujin

et al. 2024

JGR Earth Surface

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Forests overlap with large parts of the northern hemisphere permafrost area, and representing canopy processes is therefore crucial for simulating thermal and hydrological conditions in these regions. Forests impact permafrost through the modulation of radiative fluxes and exchange of turbulent fluxes, precipitation interception and regulation of transpiration. Forests also feature distinct soil layers of litter and organic matter, which play central roles for the infiltration and evaporation of water, while also providing thermal insulation for deeper ground layers. In this study, we present a new module within the CryoGrid community model to simulate forest ecosystems and their impact on the surface water and energy balance. The module includes a big‐leaf vegetation scheme with adaptations for canopy heat storage and transpiration. Furthermore, we account for the effect of surface litter layers on water and energy transfer. We show that the model is capable of simulating radiation, snow cover and ground temperatures below a deciduous needleleaf forest on a north‐facing slope in the Khentii Mountains in Central Mongolia. A sensitivity analysis of topographic aspect and ecosystem configuration confirms the important role of the litter layers for the energy and water balance of the ground. Furthermore, it suggests that the presence of permafrost is primarily linked to topographic aspect rather than the presence of forest at this site. The presented model scheme can be used to study the development of the ground thermal regime in forests, including the state of permafrost, under different climate, ecosystem, and land use scenarios.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating the Thermal Regime and Surface Energy Balance of a Permafrost‐Underlain Forest in Mongolia

Zweigel,

Dashtseren,

Temuujin

et al. 2024

JGR Earth Surface

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Mining and urbanization affect river chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Selenga River Basin, Mongolia

Narangarvuu,

Enkhdul,

Erdenetsetseg

et al. 2023

Environ Monit Assess

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Mongolia is a country with a quickly growing economy mainly based on mining of gold, copper, coal, and other minerals. Mining, urbanization, and agriculture impact the water quality in the upper Selenga River Basin in northern Mongolia, which is the center of the Mongolian economy. Previous measurements of pollution loads were alarming, but restricted to chemical measurements. Here, for the first time, we combine freshwater biomonitoring and laboratory water quality data across a broad gradient of water quality and land use intensity. We track the effects of different types of pollution on aquatic invertebrates and test their use as bioindicators. We collected water samples, environmental parameters, and macroinvertebrates at 36 sampling sites at the rivers of Tuul, Kharaa, and Orkhon and their tributaries Sugnugur, Boroo, Sharyn Gol, Gatsuurt, and Yeröö. PCA of catchment water quality distinguished three groups of pollutants prevalent at the sites: (1) nutrients, (2) saline components (Cl-, Na +, Mg2+, SO42-, Ca2+) and mining by-products (B, Sr, U, Mo), and (3) (heavy) metals, which often exceeded regulatory standards. We recorded a total of 59 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 32 families in seven insect orders plus Amphipoda and Gastropoda. Species diversity declined with higher impact. Five environmental factors structured macroinvertebrate community composition in RDA: elevation of sample location, site total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and water chemistry. We conclude that macroinvertebrate communities are an appropriate and inexpensive tool for monitoring water quality in Mongolia and suggest government action to establish a long-term monitoring program.

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Mining and urbanization affect river chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Selenga River basin, Mongolia (revised version)

Narangarvuu,

Enkhdul,

Erdenetsetseg

et al. 2024

Environ Monit Assess

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mongolia is a country with a quickly growing economy mainly based on the mining of gold, copper, coal, and other minerals. Mining, urbanization, and agriculture impact the water quality in the upper Selenga River basin in northern Mongolia, which is the center of the Mongolian economy. Previous measurements of pollution loads were alarming, but restricted to chemical measurements. Here, for the first time, we combine freshwater biomonitoring and laboratory water quality data across a broad gradient of water quality and land use intensity. We track the effects of different types of pollution on aquatic invertebrates and test their use as bioindicators. We collected water samples, environmental parameters, and macroinvertebrates at 36 sampling sites at the rivers of Tuul, Kharaa, and Orkhon and their tributaries Sugnugur, Boroo, Sharyn Gol, Gatsuurt, and Yeröö. PCA of catchment water quality distinguished three groups of pollutants prevalent at the sites, (1) nutrients, (2) salt ions (Cl−, Na+, Mg2+, So42−, Ca2+) and mining by-products (B, Sr, U, Mo), and (3) (heavy) metals, which often exceeded regulatory standards. We recorded a total of 59 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 31 families in seven insect orders plus Amphipoda and Gastropoda. Species diversity declined with higher impact. Five environmental factors structured macroinvertebrate community composition in RDA: elevation of sample location, site total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and water chemistry. We conclude that macroinvertebrate communities are an appropriate and inexpensive tool for monitoring water quality in Mongolia and suggest government action to establish a long-term monitoring program.

show abstract

Investigation of environmental and land use impacts in forested permafrost headwaters of the Selenga-Baikal river system, Mongolia - Effects on discharge, water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity

Cited by 7 publications

References 44 publications

Simulating the Thermal Regime and Surface Energy Balance of a Permafrost‐Underlain Forest in Mongolia

Simulating the Thermal Regime and Surface Energy Balance of a Permafrost‐Underlain Forest in Mongolia

Mining and urbanization affect river chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Selenga River Basin, Mongolia

Mining and urbanization affect river chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Selenga River basin, Mongolia (revised version)

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