CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Clark, I.; Lauriol, B.; and Harwood, L.
Date : 2000.
Title : Seasonal contributions to baseflow in a Charr spawning watershed of the Western Arctic: a model for monitoring hydrological impacts of climate warming.
Publication : Annual Scientific Meeting, Canadian Geophysical Union, Banff, Alberta, May 23-27, 2000.
Issue : Abstract.
Page(s) :
Abstract
The seasonal contributions of groundwater and surface water to basin discharge in permafrost regions can be expected to change considerably with climate warming, with potential impacts on Arctic hydrology and fish habitat. Groundwaters, surface runoff and river discharge waters have been studied at the Fish Hole area of the Big Fish River catchment, near Aklavik NT to quantify the contribution of discrete sources of water and salinity to baseflow at an important charr spawning and overwintering site. Geochemical and isotope methods are used to distinguish three principal water types, including: 1) sub-permafrost Na-Cl thermal (16°C) waters from bedrock along the river, 2) supra-permafrost, Ca-SO4 groundwaters, and 3) low salinity surface runoff and discharge from river alluvium. Cl and SO4 concentrations in river water permit calculation of the relative contributions of these three water types to discharge, showing that baseflow is largely derived from groundwater sources (Na-Cl and Ca-SO4 components), with less than 30% contributed from surface water runoff in any season. The Na-Cl (thermal) component is perennial whereas the supra-permafrost, Ca-SO4 groundwater component is shown to be the dominant component of baseflow in summer, and to be absent in winter. Monitoring at this and similar sites will provide valuable insights into the impact of climate warming on the seasonal contributions to runoff in a permafrost basin.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology