Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors

Watersheds located within a mountain to coast physiographic setting have been described as having a highly interconnected surface water and groundwater environment. The quantification of groundwater—surface water interactions at the watershed scale requires upscaling. This study uses MIKE SHE, a cou...

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Main Authors: S. B. Foster, D. M. Allen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/861805
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author S. B. Foster
D. M. Allen
author_facet S. B. Foster
D. M. Allen
author_sort S. B. Foster
collection DOAJ
description Watersheds located within a mountain to coast physiographic setting have been described as having a highly interconnected surface water and groundwater environment. The quantification of groundwater—surface water interactions at the watershed scale requires upscaling. This study uses MIKE SHE, a coupled numerical model, to explore the seasonally and spatially dynamic nature of these interactions in the Cowichan Watershed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The calibrated model simulates a transition of the Cowichan River from mostly gaining within the valley, to losing stream near the coast where groundwater extraction is focused. Losing and gaining sections correlate with geological substrate. Recharge across the watershed accounts for 17% of precipitation. Climate change is projected to lessen snowpack accumulation in the high alpine and alter timing of snowmelt, resulting in higher spring and winter river discharge and lower summer flows.
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spelling doaj-art-b384dba6852a4838bda1a1685bcb3a622025-08-20T02:23:26ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172015-01-01201510.1155/2015/861805861805Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human StressorsS. B. Foster0D. M. Allen1Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, CanadaDepartment of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, CanadaWatersheds located within a mountain to coast physiographic setting have been described as having a highly interconnected surface water and groundwater environment. The quantification of groundwater—surface water interactions at the watershed scale requires upscaling. This study uses MIKE SHE, a coupled numerical model, to explore the seasonally and spatially dynamic nature of these interactions in the Cowichan Watershed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The calibrated model simulates a transition of the Cowichan River from mostly gaining within the valley, to losing stream near the coast where groundwater extraction is focused. Losing and gaining sections correlate with geological substrate. Recharge across the watershed accounts for 17% of precipitation. Climate change is projected to lessen snowpack accumulation in the high alpine and alter timing of snowmelt, resulting in higher spring and winter river discharge and lower summer flows.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/861805
spellingShingle S. B. Foster
D. M. Allen
Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
Advances in Meteorology
title Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
title_full Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
title_fullStr Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
title_full_unstemmed Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
title_short Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
title_sort groundwater surface water interactions in a mountain to coast watershed effects of climate change and human stressors
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/861805
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