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Changing characteristics of runoff and freshwater export from watersheds draining northern Alaska

Journal Article · · The Cryosphere (Online)
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The quantity and quality of river discharge in Arctic regions is influenced by many processes including climate, watershed attributes and, increasingly, hydrological cycle intensification and permafrost thaw. We used a hydrological model to quantify baseline conditions and investigate the changing character of hydrological elements for Arctic watersheds between Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow)) and just west of Mackenzie River over the period 1981–2010. A synthesis of measurements and model simulations shows that the region exports 31.9 km3 yr-1 of freshwater via river discharge, with 55.5 % (17.7 km3 yr-1) coming collectively from the Colville, Kuparuk, and Sagavanirktok rivers. The simulations point to significant (p<0.05) increases (134 %–212 % of average) in cold season discharge (CSD) for several large North Slope rivers including the Colville and Kuparuk, and for the region as a whole. A significant increase in the proportion of subsurface runoff to total runoff is noted for the region and for 24 of the 42 study basins, with the change most prevalent across the northern foothills of the Brooks Range. Relatively large increases in simulated active-layer thickness (ALT) suggest a physical connection between warming climate, permafrost degradation, and increasing subsurface flow to streams and rivers. A decline in terrestrial water storage (TWS) is attributed to losses in soil ice that outweigh gains in soil liquid water storage. Over the 30-year period, the timing of peak spring (freshet) discharge shifts earlier by 4.5 d, though the time trend is only marginally (p=0.1) significant. These changing characteristics of Arctic rivers have important implications for water, carbon, and nutrient cycling in coastal environments.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0019462
OSTI ID:
1579772
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2339807
OSTI ID: 1774751
Journal Information:
The Cryosphere (Online), Journal Name: The Cryosphere (Online) Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 13; ISSN 1994-0424
Publisher:
Copernicus Publications, EGUCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
Alaska
Arctic
climate change
dissolved organic carbon
freshwater
hydrology
permafrost
river discharge
rivers