Abstract
AbstractArctic streams are highly sensitive to climate change due to warmer air temperature and increased precipitation associated with an encroaching low Arctic climatic zone into currently high‐Arctic coastal areas. Increases in nivation processes and permafrost degradation will lead to potential changes in stream physicochemical habitat, although these impacts are poorly understood. To address this gap, physicochemical habitat characteristics in streams around Zackenberg in Northeast Greenland National Park were investigated during the summers of 2013 to 2016. Streams with different sized snowpacks represented both low and high snowfall conditions leading to different nivation processes. Streams with larger snowpacks displayed lower channel stability, with higher channel mobility, suspended sediment and solute concentrations. Suspended sediment concentration was identified as a key driver of stream solute concentrations, and varying snowpack levels caused high interannual variability in solute concentrations. Winter snowpack size was confirmed to be an important driver of stream physicochemical habitat in an Arctic region with low glacial cover. We predict climate change will strongly impact stream hydrochemistry in this region through increased nivation processes alongside active layer thickening and solifluction, thereby increasing stream suspended sediment and solute concentrations. These findings indicate that hydrochemistry was principally a function of erosion, with variation being determined by spatial and temporal patterns in erosional processes, and as such, alternative methods to fingerprint water sources should be considered in this region.
Highlights
Channel geomorphology influences stream nutrient spiralling, in‐ stream processing efficiency, suspended sediment concentration, and water temperature thereby significantly impacting on stream biota and their functioning (Brussock, Brown, & Dixon, 1985; Hawkins, Hogue, Decker, & Feminella, 1997)
Rainfall, suspended sediment concentration, and underlying geology have been identified as the principal drivers of hydrochemistry dynamics in streams in the Zackenberg valley
Soil water is shown to have little influence on stream hydrochemistry during early summer; limited results show that soil water may have more influence towards the end of the summer season, when active layer is thickest
Summary
Channel geomorphology influences stream nutrient spiralling, in‐ stream processing efficiency, suspended sediment concentration, and water temperature thereby significantly impacting on stream biota and their functioning (Brussock, Brown, & Dixon, 1985; Hawkins, Hogue, Decker, & Feminella, 1997). Stream physicochemical processes influence stream nutrient spiralling, in‐stream processing efficiency, suspended sediment concentration, and water temperature thereby significantly impacting on stream biota and their functioning (Berkman & Rabeni, 1987; Bilotta & Brazier, 2008; Chin et al, 2016; Milner, Brown, & Hannah, 2009; Prowse et al, 2006), The aim of this project was to understand the variability in channel stability in Northeast Greenlandic streams in relation to their snowpack size and its influence on physicochemical processes and stream hydrochemistry and to put this into the context of a changing climate This was done by investigating the relationship between changing hydrology, the interaction with hydrogeology and the influence on hydrochemistry dynamics. The findings were placed in the context of a changing climate to understand snowmelt stream hydrochemistry dynamics in Arctic streams might shift in the future
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
