Water Flow Dynamics of Groundwater-Fed Streams and Their Ecological Significance in a Glacierized Catchment

Crossman, Jill; Bradley, Chris; Boomer, Ian; Milner, Alexander M.

doi:10.1657/1938-4246-43.3.364

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…We carried out five synoptic sampling campaigns during January 1-8, 2012;July 7-9, 2012;June 12-15, 2015;June 25-30, 2016;and February 4-7, 2017. The June and July (January (Hooper and Shoemaker, 1986;Mark and Seltzer, 10 2003; Ryu et al, 2007;Mark and Mckenzie, 2007;Baraer et al, 2009), as well as to identify groundwater flow paths (Clow et al, 2003;Kendall et al, 2003;Baraer et al, 2009;Crossman et al, 2011;Baraer et al, 2015). Here, the proportion of glacier melt versus groundwater in discharge at the Gavilan Machay watershed is quantified using the Hydrochemical Basin Characterization Model (HBCM), a multi-component hydrochemical mixing model developed for use in data-sparse, glacierized tropical watersheds (Baraer et al, 2009).…”

Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-scale temporal variability in meltwater contributions in a tropical glacierized watershed

Saberi¹,

McLaughlin²,

Ng³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. Climate models predict amplified warming at high elevations in low latitudes, making tropical glacierized regions some of the most vulnerable hydrological systems in the world. Observations reveal decreasing streamflow due to retreating glaciers in the Andes, which hold 99% of all tropical glaciers. However, the timescales over which meltwater contributes to streamflow and the pathways it takes -surface and subsurface -remain uncertain, hindering our ability to predict how shrinking glaciers will impact water resources. Two major contributors to this uncertainty are the sparsity of hydrologic mea-5 surements in tropical glacierized watersheds and the complication of hydrograph separation where there is year-round glacier melt. We address these challenges using a multi-method approach that employs repeat hydrochemical mixing model analysis, hydroclimatic time series analysis, and integrated watershed modeling. Each of these approaches interrogates distinct timescale relationships among meltwater, groundwater, and stream discharge. Our results challenge the commonly held conceptual model that glaciers buffer discharge variability. Instead, in a sub-humid watershed on Volcán Chimborazo, Ecuador, meltwater drives 10 nearly all the variability in discharge (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.89 in simulations), with glaciers contributing a broad range of 20-60% or wider of discharge, mostly (86%) through surface runoff on hourly timescales, but also through infiltration that increases annual groundwater contributions by nearly 20%. We further found that rainfall may enhance melt contributions to discharge at timescales that complement melt generation, possibly explaining why minimum discharge occurred at the study site during warm but dry El Niño conditions, which typically heighten melt in the Andes. Our findings caution against extrap-15 olations from isolated measurements: stream discharge and meltwater contributions in tropical glacierized systems can change substantially at hourly to interannual timescales, due to climatic variability and surface to subsurface flow processes.

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Section: Field Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-scale temporal variability in meltwater contributions in a tropical glacierized watershed

Saberi¹,

McLaughlin²,

Ng³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…It is suggested that these declines substantially impact sandur aquatic ecology as groundwater significantly enhances proglacial biodiversity by increasing the thermal and channel stability, temperature, and nutrient levels of proglacial streams (e.g. Milner and Petts, 1994;Crossman et al, 2011). Additionally, field observations have shown relatively high abundance of flora and fauna near groundwater seeps in Skeiðarársandur.…”

Section: Implications Of the Declines In Groundwater Seeps And Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Groundwater forms a key component of proglacial hydrology, with proglacial alluvial aquifers supporting geomorphic and ecologically-important groundwater-fed surface water bodies, such as seeps (Milner and Petts, 1994;Malard et al, 1999;Brown et al, 2006;2007a, b;Crossman et al, 2011). For instance, groundwater upwellings covered ~40% of the total riverine habitat of the glacial floodplains at a field site in Alaska (Crossman et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies show that groundwater contributions increase the environmental stability of proglacial streams, which significantly enhances proglacial biodiversity (e.g. Milner and Petts,1994;Malard et al, 1999;Ward et al, 1999;Brown et al, 2003;2007a, b;Crossman et al, 2011). However, in spite of their importance, there is a severe lack of research on the impacts of climate change and glacial retreat on the extent and distribution of proglacial groundwater-fed hydrological systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Long‐term variability of proglacial groundwater‐fed hydrological systems in an area of glacier retreat, Skeiðarársandur, Iceland

Levy

Robinson

Krause

et al. 2015

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…Groundwater-fed proglacial rivers and lakes can affect the wider catchment hydrology (Mellina et al 2002, Richards et al 2012, biogeochemistry (Goodman et al 2010(Goodman et al , 2011, and ecology (Roy and Hayashi 2009), often causing enhanced biodiversity in streams directly affected by ground water (e.g., Milner and Petts 1994, Brown et al 2007b, Crossman et al 2011, Roy et al 2011, Jacobsen et al 2012. Climate change, including glacial retreat and changes in precipitation patterns and melt timing, is projected to significantly affect proglacial groundwater systems with, for instance, expected increases in groundwater contributions and changes to hydrochemical conditions and nutrient cycling (Milner et al 2009, Rutter et al 2011, Blaen et al 2013.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying spatial and temporal dynamics of proglacial groundwater–surface-water exchange using combined temperature-tracing methods

et al. 2015

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The effect of proglacial groundwater systems on surface hydrology and ecology in cold regions often is neglected when assessing the ecohydrological implications of climate change. We present a novel approach in which we combined 2 temperature-tracing techniques to assess the spatial patterns and short-term temporal dynamics of groundwater-surface-water exchange in the proglacial zone of Skaftafellsjökull, a retreating glacier in southeastern Iceland. Our study focuses on localized groundwater discharge to a surface-water environment, where high temporal-and spatial-resolution mapping of sediment surface and subsurface temperatures (10-15 cm depth) were obtained by Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (FO-DTS). The FO-DTS survey identified temporally consistent locations of temperature anomalies at the sediment-water interface, indicating distinct zones of cooler groundwater upwelling. The high-resolution FO-DTS surveys were combined with calculations of 1-dimensional groundwater seepage fluxes based on 3 vertical sediment temperature profiles, covering depths of 10, 25, and 40 cm below the lake bed. The calculated groundwater seepage rates ranged between 1.02 to 6.10 m/d. We used the combined techniques successfully to identify substantial temporal and spatial heterogeneities in groundwater-surface exchange fluxes that have relevance for the ecohydrological functioning of the investigated system and its potential resilience to environmental change.

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Water Flow Dynamics of Groundwater-Fed Streams and Their Ecological Significance in a Glacierized Catchment

Cited by 28 publications

References 58 publications

Multi-scale temporal variability in meltwater contributions in a tropical glacierized watershed

Multi-scale temporal variability in meltwater contributions in a tropical glacierized watershed

Long‐term variability of proglacial groundwater‐fed hydrological systems in an area of glacier retreat, Skeiðarársandur, Iceland

Identifying spatial and temporal dynamics of proglacial groundwater–surface-water exchange using combined temperature-tracing methods

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