Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada
Study Region: Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada Study Focus: Evapotranspiration (ET) is the greatest loss of water for ecosystems in the subhumid Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), and its long-term change helps determine the ability of reconstructed boreal forests to return to a functiona...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004221 |
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| author | Daniel Amaro Medina Sean K. Carey |
| author_facet | Daniel Amaro Medina Sean K. Carey |
| author_sort | Daniel Amaro Medina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study Region: Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada Study Focus: Evapotranspiration (ET) is the greatest loss of water for ecosystems in the subhumid Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), and its long-term change helps determine the ability of reconstructed boreal forests to return to a functional state following mining disturbances. This article analyzes 16 years (2008–2023) of growing season eddy covariance (EC) data from a constructed aspen-spruce-dominated boreal forest and assesses ET dynamics and energy partitioning over time. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: The findings demonstrate that (1) Evapotranspiration increased by 15 % from the early (2008–2012) to middle (2013–2017) stages of forest development and declined in the late stage (2018–2023), nearing early period rates. (2) Air temperature was the major factor controlling ET in the study forest. (3) Interannual climate variability resulted in an ET increase during wetter and warmer growing seasons with abundant precipitation and elevated air temperature, and a decline in ET during dry years with reduced precipitation and soil moisture. (4) A multi-year increase in site greenness during winter, a decline in growing season albedo, and decreased ET in later years are attributed to an increase in white spruce species on the site. This study enhances the understanding of hydrometeorological processes in the boreal forest ecosystem and emphasizes the importance of long-term observations for the successful application of reclamation strategies in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0721d90ffee04213943de7576004979e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-0721d90ffee04213943de7576004979e2024-12-08T06:10:55ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182024-12-0156102073Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, CanadaDaniel Amaro Medina0Sean K. Carey1Corresponding author.; School of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, CanadaSchool of Earth, Environment and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, CanadaStudy Region: Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada Study Focus: Evapotranspiration (ET) is the greatest loss of water for ecosystems in the subhumid Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), and its long-term change helps determine the ability of reconstructed boreal forests to return to a functional state following mining disturbances. This article analyzes 16 years (2008–2023) of growing season eddy covariance (EC) data from a constructed aspen-spruce-dominated boreal forest and assesses ET dynamics and energy partitioning over time. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: The findings demonstrate that (1) Evapotranspiration increased by 15 % from the early (2008–2012) to middle (2013–2017) stages of forest development and declined in the late stage (2018–2023), nearing early period rates. (2) Air temperature was the major factor controlling ET in the study forest. (3) Interannual climate variability resulted in an ET increase during wetter and warmer growing seasons with abundant precipitation and elevated air temperature, and a decline in ET during dry years with reduced precipitation and soil moisture. (4) A multi-year increase in site greenness during winter, a decline in growing season albedo, and decreased ET in later years are attributed to an increase in white spruce species on the site. This study enhances the understanding of hydrometeorological processes in the boreal forest ecosystem and emphasizes the importance of long-term observations for the successful application of reclamation strategies in the region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004221EvapotranspirationBoreal forestReclamationEddy covarianceAthabasca Oil Sands Region |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Amaro Medina Sean K. Carey Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Evapotranspiration Boreal forest Reclamation Eddy covariance Athabasca Oil Sands Region |
| title | Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada |
| title_full | Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada |
| title_short | Long-term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Northern Alberta, Canada |
| title_sort | long term evaluation of evapotranspiration from a reclaimed boreal forest in the athabasca oil sands region of northern alberta canada |
| topic | Evapotranspiration Boreal forest Reclamation Eddy covariance Athabasca Oil Sands Region |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824004221 |
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