Will climate change affect hyporheic processes in arctic streams? An assessment of interactions among geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry in Arctic stream networks
Project Duration: Aug-2003 - Jul-2006
Investigators:
Looking up a beaded stream (Imnavait Watershed, 2003), North Slope of Alaska.
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Overview: The goal of this project is to assess how geomorphology and seasonal changes in the thawed region of soil and sediment around the open channel (i.e.; the thaw bulb) control hydraulic and biogeochemical dynamics in the hyporheic zone of Arctic streams. Our premise is that a) stream geomorphology sets a physical template that controls the seasonal development of the sub-stream active layer (or thaw bulb) around Arctic streams, b) the thaw bulb extent controls the potential for development of the hyporheic zone, and c) the hyporheic zone substantially contributes to C, N and P processing in streams. We expect that climate change in the Arctic has the potential to significantly alter the thaw bulb and hyporheic dynamics through its influences directly on precipitation, runoff, average annual temperature, and thaw season duration, and indirectly on stream geomorphology. To address this central hypothesis we propose four objectives: |
1. Select and characterize stream reaches that represent the range of geomorphologic conditions in rivers of the North Slope.
2. Monitor the sub-stream thaw bulb size through the thaw season using ground penetrating radar and subsurface temperature measurement in several stream cross-sections within each reach.
3. Conduct repeated hyporheic exchange studies (stream solute addition experiments) through the thaw season in each reach to determine hyporheic hydraulic characteristics.
4. Conduct repeated measures of nutrient (N and P) concentrations and turnover time in the hyporheic zone through the thaw season in each reach to determine biogeochemical characteristics.
2. Monitor the sub-stream thaw bulb size through the thaw season using ground penetrating radar and subsurface temperature measurement in several stream cross-sections within each reach.
3. Conduct repeated hyporheic exchange studies (stream solute addition experiments) through the thaw season in each reach to determine hyporheic hydraulic characteristics.
4. Conduct repeated measures of nutrient (N and P) concentrations and turnover time in the hyporheic zone through the thaw season in each reach to determine biogeochemical characteristics.
Graduate Students supported on this project:
- Jay Zarnetske (MS, Utah State University)
- Morgan Greenwald (MS, University of Vermont)
- Troy Brosten (PhD, Boise State University)
- Karen Cozzetto (PhD student, CU)
- Robert Payn (PhD student, Colorado School of Mines)
Published Results from this Project (* indicates student lead author)
- Bradford, JH, JP McNamara, WB Bowden, MN Gooseff. 2005. Imaging depth-of-thaw beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. Hydrological Processes, 19(14): 2689-2699.
- *Brosten, T, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, JP Zarnetske, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden. 2006.Profiles of temporal thaw depths beneath two arctic stream types using ground-penetrating radar. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 17(4):341-355.
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, TR Brosten, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, and WB Bowden. 2007. Transient storage as a function of geomorphology, discharge, and permafrost active layer conditions in Arctic tundra streams. Water Resources Research, 43, W07410, doi:10.1029/2005WR004816.
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden, MJ Greenwald, TR Brosten, JH Bradford, and JP McNamara. 2008. Influence of morphology and permafrost dynamics on hyporheic exchange in Arctic headwater streams under warming climate conditions. Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L02501, doi:10.1029/2007GL032049.
- *Payn, RA, MN Gooseff, DA Benson, OA Cirpka, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, JP McNamara, and JH Bradford. 2008. Comparison of instantaneous and constant-rate stream tracer experiments through non-parametric analysis of residence time distributions. Water Resources Research, 44, W06404, doi:10.1029/2007WR006274.
- Cardenas, MB, and MN Gooseff.2008. Comparison of hyporheic exchange under covered and uncovered channels based on linked surface and groundwater flow simulations, Water Resources Research, 44, W03418, doi:10.1029/2007WR006506.
- Bowden, WB, MN Gooseff, A Balser, A Green, BJ Peterson, and J Bradford. 2008. Sediment and nutrient delivery from thermokarst features in the foothills of the North Slope, Alaska: Potential impacts on headwater stream ecosystems. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 113, G02026, doi:10.1029/2007JG000470.
- Greenwald, MJ, WB Bowden, MN Gooseff, JP Zarnetske, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, and T Brosten. 2008. Hyporheic exchange and water chemistry of two arctic tundra streams of contrasting geomorphology. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences,113, G02029, doi:10.1029/2007JG000549.
- Bowden, WB, MJ Greenwald, MN Gooseff, JP Zarnetske, JP McNamara, J Bradford, and T Brosten. 2008. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus interactions in the hyporheic zones of arctic streams draining areas of continuous permafrost, eds. DL Kane, and KM Hinkel, Ninth International Conference on Permafrost, Institute of Northern Engineering, 165-170.
- *Brosten, T, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, MN Gooseff, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, and ME Johnston. 2009. Multi-offset GPR methods for hyporheic zone investigations. Near Surface Geophysics, 7(4): 247-257.
- Gooseff, MN, RA Payn, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, JP McNamara, and JH Bradford. 2008. Comparison of in-channel mobile-immobile zone exchange during instantaneous and constant-rate stream tracer additions: Implications for design and interpretation of non-conservative tracer experiments. Journal of Hydrology, 357: 112-124, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.05.006.
- *Brosten, TR, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, MN Gooseff, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, and ME Johnston. 2009. Estimating 3D variation in active-layer thickness beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. Journal of Hydrology, 373(3-4): 479-486.
Conference Presentations from this Project
- Bradford, JH, JP McNamara, W Bowden, and MN Gooseff. 2003. Imaging depth-of-thaw beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Fracisco, CA.
- Gooseff, MN, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, and W Bowden. 2004. Imaging potential hyporheic zone extent beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. 2004 Arctic Workshop, INSTAAR, Boulder, CO.
- Gooseff, MN, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, and W Bowden. 2004. Imaging potential hyporheic zone extent beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. North American Benthological Society Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC Canada.
- Bowden, WB, MN Gooseff, J Bradford, and J McNamara. 2004. Potential impacts of increased thermokarst activity on aquatic ecosystems in Arctic landscapes. [C13B-0277] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- *Brosten, T, J Bradford, J McNamara, W Bowden, and M Gooseff. 2004. Time lapse imaging of thaw-bulb development beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. [C13B-0279] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- *Zarnetske, J, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden, J Bradford, J McNamara, T Brosten, and K Hill. 2004. Seasonal evolution of hyporheic zones in Arctic tundra streams, North Slope, Alaska. [H21B-1010] American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- Gooseff, MN, WB Bowden, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, J Zarnetske, and T Brosten. 2005. Will climate change affect hyporheic processes in Arctic stream networks? An assessment of interactions among geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
- *Payn, RA, JP Zarnetske, MN Gooseff, and WB Bowden. 2005. Comparison of transient storage analyses using slug and constant rate tracer methods in two arctic tundra streams. North American Benthological Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden, T Brosten, JP McNamara, and J Bradford. 2005. Relating transient storage to varied geomorphic, discharge, and hyporheic conditions in Arctic tundra streams. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
- *Brosten, T, J Bradford, J McNamara, W Bowden, M Gooseff, J Zarnetske. 2005. Characterizing subsurface active-layer permafrost beneath arctic streams using 3D ground-penetrating radar. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden, ME Johnston, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, and TR Brosten 2005. Effect of morphology and permafrost on hyporheic dynamics in two tundra streams on the North Slope of Alaska. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
- *Johnston-Greenwald, ME, WB Bowden, JP Zarnetske, MN Gooseff, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, and TR Brosten. 2006. Hyporheic biogeochemical processes in arctic tundra streams: A comparison of two geomorphically distinct streams. North American Benthological Society Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK.
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, ME Johnston-Greenwald, WB Bowden, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, and TR Brosten. 2006. Transient storage dynamics in Arctic tundra streams: A comparison of two geomorphically distinct streams. North American Benthological Society Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK.
- *Johnston Greenwald, M, W Bowden, J Zarnetske, M Gooseff, J McNamara, J Bradford, and T Brosten. 2006. Hyporheic Exchange and Biogeochemical Processes in Arctic Tundra Streams: A Comparison of Two Geomorphically Distinct Streams. LTER All Scientists Meeting, Estes Park, CO.
- *Brosten, T, J Bradford, J McNamara, M Gooseff, and W Bowden. 2006. Using multi-offset GPR data to estimate porosity variations beneath stream channels. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (C51B-0428).
- *Cozzetto, K, M Gooseff, R Neupauer, J McNamara, T Brosten, J Bradford, and B Bowden. 2006. Investigations of hyporheic temperature regimes in Arctic Alaska streams using time series analysis techniques. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (B23A-1062).
- *Payn, RA, MN Gooseff, and DA Benson. 2007. Comparison of stream reach residence time distributions measured with tracer experiments of different time scales. Hydrology Days, Colorado State University.
- *Payn, RA, MN Gooseff, DA Benson, OA Cirpka, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, JP McNamara, and JH Bradford. 2007. Non-parametric comparison of residence time distributions derived from constant-rate and instantaneous stream tracer experiments. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado.
- Bowden, WB, MJ Greenwald, MN Gooseff, JP McNamara, J Bradford, JP Zarnetske, T Brosten. 2007. Stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus regeneration interactions in the hyporheic zones of arctic streams draining areas of continuous permafrost. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco (B42A-05).
- *Brosten, TR, JH Bradford, JP McNamara, JP Zarnetske, MN Gooseff, WB Bowden, and MJ Johnston. 2007. Estimating 3D variation in active-layer thickness beneath arctic streams using ground-penetrating radar. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco (H21B-0509).
- Gooseff, MN, MB Cardenas, JP Zarnetske, WB Bowden, M Greenwald-Johnston, JP McNamara, JH Bradford, and TR Brosten. 2007. Channel-streambed interactions over and under ice. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco (H23J-02).
- *Zarnetske, JP, MN Gooseff, W Bowden, MJ Greenwald, TR Brosten, JH Bradford, and JP McNamara. 2007. Influence of morphology and permafrost dynamics on surface water-groundwater exchange in arctic headwater streams under present and enhanced thaw conditions. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco (H31G-0740).
- Bowden, WB, MJ Greenwald, MN Gooseff, JP Zarnetske, JP McNamara, J Bradford, and T Brosten. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus interactions in the hyporheic zones of arctic streams draining areas of continuous permafrost, Ninth International Conference on Permafrost, Fairbanks, AK.
Theses/Dissertations from this Project
- Zarnetske, J. 2006. Headwater Hyporheic Zones in a Warming Arctic climate: An Assessment of Hyporheic Dynamics Across Distinct
Geomorphic and Permafrost Conditions, MS Thesis, Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources, Utah State University. - Brosten, T. 2008. Ground-Penetrating Radar and Thermal Modeling of Active Layer Thaw Beneath Arctic Streams PhD Dissertation, Department of Geosciences, Boise State University.
- Greenwald, M. 2007. Hyporheic exchange and biogeochemical processing in arctic tundra streams. MS Thesis, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont. MS Thesis, Natural Resources/Conservation, University of Vermont.
This project is funded through the National Science Foundation's Division of Polar Programs.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under collaborative grant no. 0327440. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. |