Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska
Abstract Arctic river discharge has increased in recent decades although sources and mechanisms remain debated. Abundant literature documents permafrost thaw and mountain glacier shrinkage over the past decades. Here we link glacier runoff to aquifer recharge via a losing headwater stream in subarct...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073834 |
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| author | A. K. Liljedahl A. Gädeke S. O'Neel T. A. Gatesman T. A. Douglas |
| author_facet | A. K. Liljedahl A. Gädeke S. O'Neel T. A. Gatesman T. A. Douglas |
| author_sort | A. K. Liljedahl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Arctic river discharge has increased in recent decades although sources and mechanisms remain debated. Abundant literature documents permafrost thaw and mountain glacier shrinkage over the past decades. Here we link glacier runoff to aquifer recharge via a losing headwater stream in subarctic Interior Alaska. Field measurements in Jarvis Creek (634 km2), a subbasin of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, show glacier meltwater runoff as a large component (15–28%) of total annual streamflow despite low glacier cover (3%). About half of annual headwater streamflow is lost to the aquifer (38 to 56%). The estimated long‐term change in glacier‐derived aquifer recharge exceeds the observed increase in Tanana River base flow. Our findings suggest a linkage between glacier wastage, aquifer recharge along the headwater stream corridor, and lowland winter discharge. Accordingly, glacierized headwater streambeds may serve as major aquifer recharge zones in semiarid climates and therefore contributing to year‐round base flow of lowland rivers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2fa3ca78a1794a9ab8255cc91e375f44 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-2fa3ca78a1794a9ab8255cc91e375f442025-08-20T01:51:46ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072017-07-0144136876688510.1002/2017GL073834Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic AlaskaA. K. Liljedahl0A. Gädeke1S. O'Neel2T. A. Gatesman3T. A. Douglas4Water and Environmental Research Center University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks Alaska USAWater and Environmental Research Center University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks Alaska USAAlaska Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Anchorage Alaska USAWater and Environmental Research Center University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks Alaska USAU.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory Fort Wainwright Alaska USAAbstract Arctic river discharge has increased in recent decades although sources and mechanisms remain debated. Abundant literature documents permafrost thaw and mountain glacier shrinkage over the past decades. Here we link glacier runoff to aquifer recharge via a losing headwater stream in subarctic Interior Alaska. Field measurements in Jarvis Creek (634 km2), a subbasin of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, show glacier meltwater runoff as a large component (15–28%) of total annual streamflow despite low glacier cover (3%). About half of annual headwater streamflow is lost to the aquifer (38 to 56%). The estimated long‐term change in glacier‐derived aquifer recharge exceeds the observed increase in Tanana River base flow. Our findings suggest a linkage between glacier wastage, aquifer recharge along the headwater stream corridor, and lowland winter discharge. Accordingly, glacierized headwater streambeds may serve as major aquifer recharge zones in semiarid climates and therefore contributing to year‐round base flow of lowland rivers.https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073834glacierArcticdischargegroundwateraquifer |
| spellingShingle | A. K. Liljedahl A. Gädeke S. O'Neel T. A. Gatesman T. A. Douglas Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska Geophysical Research Letters glacier Arctic discharge groundwater aquifer |
| title | Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska |
| title_full | Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska |
| title_fullStr | Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska |
| title_short | Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska |
| title_sort | glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors subarctic alaska |
| topic | glacier Arctic discharge groundwater aquifer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073834 |
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