Mixing law <i>versus</i> discharge and electrical conductivity relationships: application to an alpine proglacial stream

Dzikowski, Marc; Jobard, Sylvain

doi:10.1002/hyp.8366

Cited by 23 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The hysteretic behaviour observed between streamflow and meltwater fraction for the melt-induced runoff events (Fig. 8) reflects the hysteresis observed in the relation between streamflow and EC , suggesting contributions from water sources characterized by different temporal dynamics (Dzikowski and Jobard, 2012). The combination of the highest streamflow and the highest meltwater proportion was obtained at both stream sections in June due to the remarkable contribution of meltwater from the relatively deep snowpack in the upper part of the catchment.…”

Section: Seasonal Control On the δ 2 H-ec Relation And On Meltwater Fmentioning

confidence: 74%

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Penna

Engel

Bertoldi

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Multiple water sources and the physiographic heterogeneity of glacierized catchments hamper a complete conceptualization of runoff response to meltwater dynamics. In this study, we used environmental tracers (stable isotopes of water and electrical conductivity) to obtain new insight into the hydrology of glacierized catchments, using the Saldur River catchment, Italian Alps, as a pilot site. We analysed the controls on the spatial and temporal patterns of the tracer signature in the main stream, its selected tributaries, shallow groundwater, snowmelt and glacier melt over a 3-year period. We found that stream water electrical conductivity and isotopic composition showed consistent patterns in snowmelt-dominated periods, whereas the streamflow contribution of glacier melt altered the correlations between the two tracers. By applying two-and three-component mixing models, we quantified the seasonally variable proportion of groundwater, snowmelt and glacier melt at different locations along the stream. We provided four model scenarios based on different tracer signatures of the end-members; the highest contributions of snowmelt to streamflow occurred in late spring-early summer and ranged between 70 and 79 %, according to different scenarios, whereas the largest inputs by glacier melt were observed in mid-summer, and ranged between 57 and 69 %. In addition to the identification of the main sources of uncertainty, we demonstrated how a careful sampling design is critical in order to avoid underestimation of the meltwater component in streamflow. The results of this study supported the development of a conceptual model of streamflow response to meltwater dynamics in the Saldur catchment, which is likely valid for other glacierized catchments worldwide.

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Section: Seasonal Control On the δ 2 H-ec Relation And On Meltwater Fmentioning

confidence: 74%

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Penna

Engel

Bertoldi

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…() observed during the entire melting season. The inverse relationship between EC and discharge was reported by several studies as a dilution effect of solute‐enriched water with less solute‐rich meltwater (Gurnell and Fenn, ; Dzikowski and Jobard, ). The inverse relationship of δ 18 O and discharge during run‐off events in June confirmed previous observations by Hindshaw et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, despite relatively similar daily averaged contributions of glacier melt at USG and LSG in July and August 2013 events, anticlockwise patterns changed to clockwise ones. Dzikowski and Jobard () described more constant patterns for the Baounet Glacier (Savoie, France), where clockwise discharge–EC hysteresis loops were always dominant during high flows of glacier and firn melting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Identifying run‐off contributions during melt‐induced run‐off events in a glacierized alpine catchment

Engel

Penna

Bertoldi

et al. 2015

Hydrological Processes

109

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We analysed contributions to run‐off using hourly stream water samples from seven individual melt‐induced run‐off events (plus one rainfall event) during 2011, 2012 and 2013 in two nested glacierized catchments in the Eastern Italian Alps. Electrical conductivity and stable isotopes of water were used for mixing analysis and two‐component and three‐component hydrograph separation. High‐elevation snowmelt, glacier melt and autumn groundwater were identified as major end‐members. Discharge and tracers in the stream followed the diurnal variations of air temperature but markedly reacted to rainfall inputs. Hysteresis patterns between discharge and electrical conductivity during the melt‐induced run‐off events revealed contrasting loop directions at the two monitored stream sections. Snowmelt contribution to run‐off was highest in June and July (up to 33%), whereas the maximum contribution of glacier melt was reached in August (up to 65%). The maximum groundwater and rainfall contributions were 62% and 11%, respectively. Run‐off events were generally characterized by decreasing snowmelt and increasing glacier melt fractions from the beginning to the end of the summer 2012, while run‐off events in 2013 showed less variable snowmelt and lower glacier melt contributions than in 2012. The results provided essential insights into the complex dynamics of melt‐induced run‐off events and may be of further use in the context of water resource management in alpine catchments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Following the assumption of Dzikowski and Jobard (), if C slow ( t ) = C slow ≥ 0, C quick ( t ) = C quick ≥ 0 and Q slow ( t ) is constant and equal to Q slow , Equation becomes

C_{normalT} ((), t) = \frac{M}{Q_{normalT} ((), t)} + C_{quick} ((), t)

where

M = ((), C_{slow} - C_{quick}) Q_{slow}

Equation represents the mixed EC concentration measured in a specific river station where two or more runoff mechanisms, derived from different sources, mix in the river.…”

Section: Mixing Law Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using hydro-chemograph analyses to reveal runoff generation processes in a Mediterranean catchment

Cuomo

Guida

2016

Hydrol. Process.

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The paper deals with the hydro‐chemical analysis performed in order to reveal processes, sources, paths and timing of the runoff generation in an experimental catchment representative of the hilly, terrigenous and forested watershed in the Mediterranean humid eco‐region of southern Italy. The analysis is based on the data recorded at the outlet of the catchment during 2013–2014. A mixing law procedure was applied on discharge (Q) and electrical conductivity (EC) data, by using the Q–EC end members previously collected at selected groundwater, sub‐surficial and surficial stations. In this way, we found four bound curves delimiting fields in a Q–EC plot, each with hydro‐chemograph value ranges. At annual time scale, the analysis revealed a seasonal behaviour of the hydrological response, different for the wet period, when the aquifer is recharging, and the dry periods, when the aquifer is discharging, despite frequent summer rain showers. At event time scale, the catchment seems to show the behaviour of a typical hydro‐geomorphic threshold system. We interpreted this behaviour as due to a progressive addition of water from distinctive components (i.e. deep aquifer, riparian corridor, hillslope and hollow), each with originally different mechanisms of runoff production (i.e. groundwater, groundwater ridging, saturation excess, infiltration excess and soil pipe exfiltration) and response time. During the event, the contributing areas enlarge upward the riparian corridors and the zero‐order basins, where the aforementioned components become superposed and the mechanisms interact more and more. We hypothesize that the threshold values between different states of the system are defined by the intersections of the boundary curves on the Q–EC plot. Different patterns in the Q–EC hysteretic cycles are prevalently related to the pre‐event soil saturation and groundwater contributions to stormflow and recharge mechanisms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Mixing law versus discharge and electrical conductivity relationships: application to an alpine proglacial stream

Cited by 23 publications

References 41 publications

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Towards a tracer-based conceptualization of meltwater dynamics and streamflow response in a glacierized catchment

Identifying run‐off contributions during melt‐induced run‐off events in a glacierized alpine catchment

Using hydro-chemograph analyses to reveal runoff generation processes in a Mediterranean catchment

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