Spring Water Temperature Research Articles

Relationships among climate variability, Cladocera phenology and the pelagic food web in deep lakes in different trophic states

Achieving a better understanding of the role of climate change in altering population phenology, seasonal cycles in freshwater organisms, and ecosystem structure and function is of high scientific and economic value. The present paper has demonstrated the different food-web responses to teleconnection indices, which are proxy of climate fluctuations, in lakes characterised by different trophic levels. We analysed an 18-year long-term dataset (1998–2015) recorded in the deep eutrophic Lake Iseo and we compared our results to those concerning deep southern-Alpine oligotrophic lakes. Our results confirmed that winter large-scale circulation patterns (for Mediterranean area: East Atlantic Pattern and Eastern Mediterranean Pattern) control a chain of linked causal factors, affecting the winter air temperature, spring water temperature, the resulting water vertical-mixing depth and epilimnetic concentration of total phosphorus. We highlighted that in a lake, characterised by high phosphorus concentration, the spring enrichment in nutrients did not result in either a considerable increase of phytoplankton growth, nor, consequently, in a zooplankton density peak. Whereas in oligotrophic lakes, cascading effects influenced the algal carrying capacity and Daphnia population density. We observed that climatic fluctuations, mediated by, for example, colder water temperature in spring, postponed the timing of population recovery after diapause of both primary consumers (Daphnia and Eubosmina) and secondary consumers (Bythotrephes and Leptodora). The latter being verified for the first time in a eutrophic lake.

Evaluating spatial and temporal variability in growth and mortality for recreational fisheries with limited catch data

Understanding the spatial and temporal variability in life-history traits among populations is essential for the management of recreational fisheries. However, valuable freshwater recreational fish species often suffer from a lack of catch information. In this study, we demonstrated the use of an approach to estimate the spatial and temporal variability in growth and mortality in the absence of catch data and apply the method to riverine smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) populations in Pennsylvania, USA. Our approach included a growth analysis and a length-based analysis that estimates mortality. Using a hierarchical Bayesian approach, we examined spatial variability in growth and mortality by assuming parameters vary spatially but remain constant over time and temporal variability by assuming parameters vary spatially and temporally. The estimated growth and mortality of smallmouth bass showed substantial variability over time and across rivers. We explored the relationships of the estimated growth and mortality with spring water temperature and spring flow. Growth rate was likely to be positively correlated with these two factors, while young mortality was likely to be positively correlated with spring flow. The spatially and temporally varying growth and mortality suggest that smallmouth bass populations across rivers may respond differently to management plans and disturbance such as environmental contamination and land-use change. The analytical approach can be extended to other freshwater recreational species that also lack of catch data. The approach could also be useful in developing population assessments with erroneous catch data or be used as a model sensitivity scenario to verify traditional models even when catch data are available.

Deficiencies in our understanding of the hydro-ecology of several native Australian fish: a rapid evidence synthesis

Environmental flows aim to mitigate the impacts of modification of riverine flow regimes by restoring components of the natural flow regime. Explicit evidence-based cause–effect relationships between flow regimes and fish responses are required for defensible flow recommendations. However, flow recommendations are typically based on expert opinion rather than a rigorous test of the available evidence. We used rapid evidence synthesis to systematically review the literature on responses of several native Australian fish to flow-related and other important environmental variables, and tested 13 explicit hypotheses. The hypotheses were related to the condition, reproduction and survival of pygmy perches, carp gudgeons, blackfish and flat-headed gudgeons. The evidence was insufficient to reach strong conclusions for all but three of our hypotheses. Late-spring high flows are associated with increased survival of pygmy perches and carp gudgeons, and exotic fish are associated with decreased survival of these fishes. The evidence that warmer spring water temperatures enhance their reproduction was inconsistent. The dearth of evidence to support or refute most hypotheses points to substantial gaps in our understanding of hydro-ecology of these native Australian fish, highlighting the need for targeted monitoring and research to further understand key flow relationships for these fish species.

North Pacific Influences on Long Island Sound Temperature Variability

Climate indicators related to Long Island Sound (LIS) water and air temperature variability were investigated. The Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) and east Pacific/North Pacific (EP/NP) patterns are found to be strongly correlated with LIS air temperature anomalies during most seasons, especially during the winter. Additionally, the winter EP/NP index is strongly correlated with subsequent spring and summer LIS water temperature anomalies, potentially rendering the EP/NP index useful in extended LIS water temperature outlooks. Such lagged relationships are found to be related largely to the decorrelation time scale of seasonal water temperature anomalies. The atmospheric circulation pattern associated with anomalous LIS water temperature conditions is consistent with atmospheric Rossby wave trains emanating from the western equatorial Pacific. The EP/NP index has a characteristic time scale of approximately 5 to 10 years and such fluctuations are termed the quasi-decadal mode, the mode identified as varying coherently with LIS air and water temperature anomalies. Apparent PDO and EP/NP regime shifts in 1997 are found to coincide with a LIS water temperature regime shift. This result suggests that not all LIS warming experienced during recent decades is solely due to anthropogenic causes but rather is to some extent a result of natural variability. The results from this study provide a useful framework for both seasonal and decadal prediction of LIS water temperature variability.

Thermophilic bacterial communities inhabiting the microbial mats of "indifferent" and chalybeate (iron-rich) thermal springs: Diversity and biotechnological analysis.

Microbial mats are occasionally reported in thermal springs and information on such mats is very scarce. In this study, microbial mats were collected from two hot springs (Brandvlei (BV) and Calitzdorp (CA)), South Africa and subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and targeted 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Spring water temperature was 55°C for Brandvlei and 58°C for Calitzdorp while the pH of both springs was slightly acidic, with an almost identical pH range (6.2–6.3). NGS analysis resulted in a total of 4943 reads, 517 and 736 OTUs for BV and CA at, respectively, a combined total of 14 different phyla in both samples, 88 genera in CA compared to 45 in BV and 37.64% unclassified sequences in CA compared to 27.32% recorded in BV. Dominant bacterial genera in CA microbial mat were Proteobacteria (29.19%), Bacteroidetes (9.41%), Firmicutes (9.01%), Cyanobacteria (6.89%), Actinobacteria (2.65%), Deinococcus‐Thermus (2.57%), and Planctomycetes (1.94%) while the BV microbial mat was dominated by Bacteroidetes (47.3%), Deinococcus‐Thermus (12.35%), Proteobacteria (7.98%), and Planctomycetes (2.97%). Scanning electron microscopy results showed the presence of microbial filaments possibly resembling cyanobacteria, coccids, rod‐shaped bacteria and diatoms in both microbial mats. Dominant genera that were detected in this study have been linked to different biotechnological applications including hydrocarbon degradation, glycerol fermentation, anoxic‐fermentation, dehalogenation, and biomining processes. Overall, the results of this study exhibited thermophilic bacterial community structures with high diversity in microbial mats, which have a potential for biotechnological exploitation.

Applying spatial analysis techniques to assess the suitability of multipurpose uses of spring water in the Jiaosi Hot Spring Region, Taiwan.

The Jiaosi Hot Spring Region is one of the most famous tourism destinations in Taiwan. The spring water is processed for various uses, including irrigation, aquaculture, swimming, bathing, foot spas, and recreational tourism. Moreover, the multipurpose uses of spring water can be dictated by the temperature of the water. To evaluate the suitability of spring water for these various uses, this study spatially characterized the spring water temperatures of the Jiaosi Hot Spring Region by integrating ordinary kriging (OK), sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS), and Geographic information system (GIS). First, variogram analyses were used to determine the spatial variability of spring water temperatures. Next, OK and SGS were adopted to model the spatial uncertainty and distributions of the spring water temperatures. Finally, the land use (i.e., agriculture, dwelling, public land, and recreation) was determined using GIS and combined with the estimated distributions of the spring water temperatures. A suitable development strategy for the multipurpose uses of spring water is proposed according to the integration of the land use and spring water temperatures. The study results indicate that the integration of OK, SGS, and GIS is capable of characterizing spring water temperatures and the suitability of multipurpose uses of spring water. SGS realizations are more robust than OK estimates for characterizing spring water temperatures compared to observed data. Furthermore, current land use is almost ideal in the Jiaosi Hot Spring Region according to the estimated spatial pattern of spring water temperatures.

Evaluating temperature- and host-dependent reproduction in the parasitic freshwater mussel Unio crassus

Adaptation to temperature regimes and host presence may enhance fitness in parasites. In an experimental study, we evaluated the timing of glochidia release by Unio crassus subjected to three spring water temperature regimes in the presence and absence of the host fish Cottus gobio. The timing of glochidia release was delayed at (i) constantly low temperatures (<10°C), in contrast to earlier and pronounced releases at (ii) natural temperature increases that level off at intermediate temperatures (10–15°C), and (iii) higher-than-normal temperatures (10–20°C). Mussels from treatment (i) that had not released glochidia during the experiment did so soon after being moved to the temperature in (ii), indicating a temperature threshold for glochidia release. Neither host fish presence nor the combined effect of temperature and host fish presence significantly affected the timing of glochidia release. The treatment with natural spring water temperatures indicated possible fitness benefits for U. crassus through combined effects of high intensities of glochidia releases and high survival of released glochidia. The furthered understanding of climate change effects on mussel and host phenology in seasonal environments, potentially inducing temporal mismatches of glochidia release to host availability, is key to mussel conservation.

Long-term patterns in fish phenology in the western Dutch Wadden Sea in relation to climate change

Long-term patterns in fish phenology in the western Dutch Wadden Sea were studied using a 53year (1960–2013) high resolution time series of daily kom-fyke catches in spring and autumn. Trends in first appearance, last occurrence and peak abundance were analysed for the most common species in relation to mode of life (pelagic, demersal, benthopelagic) and biogeographic guild (northern or southern distribution). Climate change in the western Wadden Sea involved an increase in water temperature from 1980 onwards. The main pattern in first day of occurrence, peak occurrence and last day of occurrence was similar: a positive trend over time and a correlation with spring and summer water temperature. This is counterintuitive; with increasing temperature, an advanced immigration of fish species would be expected. An explanation might be that water temperatures have increased offshore as well and hence fish remain longer there, delaying their immigration to the Wadden Sea. The main trend towards later date of peak occurrence and last day of occurrence was in line with our expectations: a forward shift in immigration into the Wadden Sea implies also that peak abundance is delayed. As a consequence of the increased water temperature, autumn water temperature remains favourable longer than before. For most of the species present, the Wadden Sea is not near the edge of their distributional range. The most striking phenological shifts occurred in those individual species for which the Wadden Sea is near the southern or northern edge of their distribution.

Evidencias hidrogeoquímicas e isotópicas sobre el origen del agua subterránea en la cuenca hidrográfica Río Actopan, Estado de Veracruz

Physical-chemical, chemical and isotopic data of spring water, groundwater and river water from the Actopan basin, central Veracruz were analyzed with the purpose of determining the origin and flow of groundwater. Spring water temperature between 9.6 °C and 18.3 °C, and low electrical conductivity (&lt;150 µS/cm) suggest local recharge. Groundwater temperature of 38.2 °C and electrical conductivity of 1542 µS/cm, 48 mg/L of Cl–, y 721 mg/L of SO42– are associated to deep flow and rock-water interaction (limestone, dolomite, gypsum/anhydrite). Concentrations of NO3– &gt; 10 mg/L allow the identification of anthropogenic sources. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope results fit reasonable well with the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL, δ2H = 8 δ18O + 10) indicating that their recharge derives from local precipitation. On the basis of the observed isotope gradient with altitude (Z), (δ18O = -2.1 (Z km) - 5.56), three main groups of groundwater have been identified: 1) Evaporated water related to the precipitation in the dry season; 2) water, located on the line defined for the regional isotopic gradient, recharged during the rainy season; and 3) water recharged at levels slightly higher than its theoretical value of recharge, showing a component of deep flow and recharge from river water in the coastal plain.

Diet and relative weight in migratory walleye (Sander vitreus) of the Bay of Quinte and eastern Lake Ontario, 1992–2015

Abstract Diet and relative weight were examined for Bay of Quinte-eastern Lake Ontario walleye (Sander vitreum) from 1992 to 2015. After spawning in the Bay of Quinte, mature walleye migrate to eastern Lake Ontario to spend the late-spring and summer; immature walleye remain in the Bay of Quinte year-round. Summer walleye diet was dominated by alewife which made up one-half the diet in the Bay of Quinte and nearly the entire diet in eastern Lake Ontario. The Bay of Quinte walleye diet was more diverse than that for Lake Ontario, particularly in the post-goby (round goby, Neogobius melanostomus) time-period. In addition to alewife, the Bay of Quinte walleye diet included yellow perch (Perca flavescens), white perch (Morone americana), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), and johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum). Goby appeared in the walleye diet in 2003, and thereafter made up an average frequency of occurrence (FO) of 18%. Focusing on the large, migratory walleye and their alewife prey in eastern Lake Ontario, we found significant positive relationships among walleye relative weight (Wr), the size of alewife in the walleye diet, various measures of alewife prey availability, and spring water temperature. Based on the high prevalence of alewife in the walleye diet, we concluded that walleye migration to Lake Ontario and the availability of alewife present there is key to maintaining a large and productive Bay of Quinte walleye population.

Different responses of coexisting Chara species to foreseeable Mediterranean temperature and salinity increases

An increase in temperature of approximately 4°C is expected to occur in the Mediterranean by the end of the century. Concomitant to this warming, a foreseeable rise in salinity will affect aquatic species. We addressed the effects of warming and salinity, and their interaction on three coexisting characean species (Chara aspera, C. hispida and C. vulgaris) from a Spanish Mediterranean interdunal pond (spring water temperature 20–23°C, when charophytes re-grew; salinity 1.3–1.8PSU). A laboratory experiment was designed with two levels of water temperature treatment (23 and 27°C), plus two levels of salinity treatment (0.4 and 4.0 PSU). The variables considered were total length, number of ramifications and nodes, dry weight, growth rate and stoichiometric composition. Three clear response patterns arose: (i) C. aspera growth was favoured by the 4°C rise in temperature and the 10-fold increase in salinity when considered separately, but no synergy occurred when these factors interacted; (ii) C. hispida growth did not change with the temperature, but was negatively affected by the salinity increase, and (iii) C. vulgaris growth was enhanced by the temperature, a fact that compensated for the damaging effect of increased salinity. Variations of N and P concentrations with treatments were similar in C. aspera and C. vulgaris. We demonstrate how charophyte response to the interaction of increased temperature and salinity is species-specific and different under isolated stressors. Therefore, this study highlights how simultaneous drivers of global change might affect the composition of charophyte meadows in Mediterranean shallow wetlands.

Fish communities in the Anthropocene: detecting drivers of changes in the deep peri-alpine Lake Geneva

Climate forcing, in combination with local anthropogenic pressures, has drastically modified the physical and chemical properties of lakes worldwide, affecting the abundance and diversity of fish populations. In the context of these combined changes, understanding the interactions between global and local forcing has become a major challenge for developing sustainable fisheries. We analyzed commercial landing statistics of Lake Geneva to describe the long-term changes in the abundance of exploited fish species and to identify mechanisms responsible for fish population changes. We showed a significant relationship between the decrease in phosphorus concentrations and structural changes in the composition of the fish community. Local management of reducing phosphorus loadings played a major role in the recovery of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) spawning areas and slowed the process toward more climate-induced percid and cyprinid communities. In addition, rising spring water temperatures have increased whitefish larval growth rates and improved whitefish recruitment. Unexpectedly, climate change and phosphorus reduction can have synergistic effects, and our results highlight the need to consider interactions between global and local anthropogenic forcing to fully understand and predict lake fish population variability in a warming world.

Physiological and ecological drivers of early spring blooms of a coastal phytoplankter.

Climate affects the timing and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms that fuel marine food webs and influence global biogeochemical cycles. Changes in bloom timing have been detected in some cases, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, contributing to uncertainty in long-term predictions of climate change impacts. Here we describe a 13-year hourly time series from the New England shelf of data on the coastal phytoplankter Synechococcus, during which the timing of its spring bloom varied by 4 weeks. We show that multiyear trends are due to temperature-induced changes in cell division rate, with earlier blooms driven by warmer spring water temperatures. Synechococcus loss rates shift in tandem with division rates, suggesting a balance between growth and loss that has persisted despite phenological shifts and environmental change.

Influence of hook type and live bait on the hooking performance of inline spinners in the context of catch-and-release brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis fishing in lakes

The objective of catch-and-release angling is for the fish to survive with minimal fitness consequences. However, fish survival can be compromised by a number of factors, especially anatomical hooking location. To evaluate whether hook type or bait influence hooking outcomes, we tested different combinations of hook (treble or single siwash hooks) and bait (hook tipped with worm or no worm) while angling for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) with inline spinner-style fishing lures. The study was conducted at spring water temperatures (∼20°C) in small lakes stocked with trout in southwestern Quebec, Canada. Incidences of hooking in the interior of the mouth (i.e. internal hooking) were uncommon (19%), did not differ significantly between hook types or bait treatments, and occurred independently of fish size. Reflex impairments after hook removal were not related to hook or bait treatment. Short-term mortality was quantified with 24h holding in net pens and was determined to be infrequent for all treatment groups (treble/worm: 6%; treble/no worm: 5%; single/worm: 2%; single/no worm: 0%). Although no fish were hooked in the gills, esophagus, stomach, odds of mortality increased by 14.21 when fish were hooked internally, which is consistent with the position that hook placement is an important predictor of the fate of fish released by anglers. However, our finding that neither hook nor bait type significantly increased the odds of internal hooking, bleeding, reflex impairment, or mortality in this study suggests that restrictions imposed on the use of baited lures or certain hook types attached to lures when fishing may have little influence on short-term catch-and-release mortality of brook trout at these temperatures.

Predicting the potential distribution of neophytes in Southern Germany using native Najas marina as invasion risk indicator

Twenty-four aquatic neophytes have been introduced to Germany so far and at least 16 non-native species established stable populations in northern and north-western Germany. Invasive aquatic neophytes can cause serious ecological and economic problems in lakes and other freshwater ecosystems. In the presented study, a species distribution model was used to identify possible habitats for neophytes in Bavaria (Southern Germany) and to predict which Bavarian lakes might become suitable habitats for neophytes due to climate change. A total of 55 Bavarian lakes were fitted with high-resolution temperature loggers as part of this monitoring programme. Furthermore, the physical and chemical properties of the lakes were determined and verified in regular intervals. The presence or absence of the native thermophilic macrophyte Najas marina L. was used as an indicator to determine whether a lake was a suitable habitat for neophytes. The results revealed that the spread of neophytes in Bavaria is mainly limited by spring and summer water temperature. In contrast, nutrient concentrations in the water showed no significant influence. Suitable lakes reached temperatures of at least 15 °C for 2 months during spring and at least 20 °C for 2 months during summer. By comparison, the water temperatures in lakes classified as not suitable for neophytes were 2–5 °C lower. The computed predictions for the estimated temperature increase of 1.4 °C, for the period between 2021 and 2050, indicate that up to 70 % of Bavarian lakes might become suitable habitats for neophytes.

Inter-annual dynamics of the Barents Sea red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) stock indices in relation to environmental factors

Knowledge of relationships between environmental variables and biological processes can greatly improve fisheries assessment and management in commercially important species. We analyzed the effects of environmental factors (climatic indices and water temperature) on the stock characteristics (total population number, number of pre-recruits and number of legal males) of the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), an introduced species in the Barents Sea. Stock trends in red king crab appear to be related to decadal climate shifts. Abundances were negatively related to the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAO) in August and positively related to water temperature in late winter–early summer. Total and commercial stock abundance were negatively correlated with the lag-1 Arctic Oscillation index (AO) in August and the lag-2 winter NAO index. The total number of P. camtschaticus was most strongly associated with water temperature in spring and summer and NAO/AO indices in April and May. Lagged NAO indices in February and August (9 or 10 yr) had a positive relationship to the commercial stock of P. camtschaticus. These findings suggest that temperature conditions of current and previous year affect natural mortality of larvae and juvenile red king crabs. Warmer temperature conditions lead to increased biomass of red king crab food items. Negative correlations between climatic indices and the red king crab stocks may be associated with predator pressure on juvenile red king crabs or higher mortality because of predator or parasite pressure and diseases. The associations between stock indices and environmental variables could help better predict recruitment patterns of P. camtschaticus.

Spring response to precipitation events using δ18O and δ2H in the Tanour catchment, NW Jordan

ABSTRACTThe Tanour spring is one of the several karst springs located in the northern part of Jordan. Water samples from the Tanour spring and precipitation were collected in the area of Ajloun in NW Jordan for the analysis of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to evaluate the spring response to precipitation events. Rainwater and snow samples were collected from different elevations during winters of 2013–2014 and 2014–2015. In addition, spring samples were collected between December 2014 and March 2015. δ18O values in rainwater vary from −3.26 to −17.34 ‰ (average: −7.84 ± 3.23 ‰), while δ2H values range between −4.4 and −110.4 ‰ (average: −35.7 ± 25.0 ‰). Deuterium excess ranges from 17.8 to 34.1 ‰ (average: 27.1 ± 4.0 ‰). The Local Meteoric Water Line for the study area was calculated to be δ2H = 7.66*δ18O + 24.43 (R2 = 0.98). Pre-event spring discharge showed variation in δ18O (range −6.29 to −7.17 ‰; average −6.58 ± 0.19 ‰) and δ2H values (range −28.8 to −32.7 ‰; average: −30.5 ± 1.0 ‰). In contrast, δ18O and δ2H rapidly changed to more negative values during rainfall and snowmelt events and persisted for several days before returning to background values. Spring water temperature, spring discharge, and turbidity followed the trend in isotopic composition during and after the precipitation events. The rapid change in the isotopic composition, spring discharge, water temperature, and turbidity in response to recharge events is related to fast water travel times and low storage capacity in the conduit system of the karst aquifer. Based on the changes in the isotopic composition of spring water after the precipitation events, the water travel time in the aquifer is in the order of 5–11 days.

Le pergélisol dans les vallées de la Clarée et de l’Ubaye (Alpes françaises du sud) : un modèle de distribution spatiale établi à partir des températures d’eau de sources et des facteurs topo-climatiques

Un modele regional de la distribution spatiale du pergelisol a ete realise dans deux vallees des Alpes du sud. Ce modele est realise a partir d’une approche empirico-statistique fondee sur des mesures de temperature d’eau de source et de facteurs topo-climatiques issus d’un Modele Numerique de Terrain. La regression logistique est utilisee pour modeliser la probabilite d’occurrence du pergelisol. Les resultats du modele montrent que la diversite des contextes topoclimatiques locaux contribue a la variabilite de la limite inferieure du pergelisol. Elle peut se situer autour de 2600 m dans les secteurs favorables au pergelisol, tandis qu’elle tend a s’elever a mesure que la radiation solaire incidente augmente. Les resultats indiquent egalement qu’entre 1.6 et 10 % de la superficie des vallees etudiees sont concernes par l’occurrence du pergelisol.

Testing for synchrony in recruitment among four Lake Michigan fish species

In the Great Lakes region, multiple fish species display intraspecific spatial synchrony in recruitment success, with interannual climate variation hypothesized as the most likely driver. In Lake Michigan, we evaluated whether climatic or other physical variables could also induce spatial synchrony across multiple species, including bloater (Coregonus hoyi), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). The residuals from stock–recruitment relationships revealed yellow perch recruitment to be correlated with recruitment of both rainbow smelt (r = 0.37) and alewife (r = 0.36). Across all four species, higher than expected recruitment occurred in 5 years between 1978 and 1987 and then switched to lower than expected recruitment in 5 years between 1996 and 2004. Generalized additive models revealed warmer spring and summer water temperatures and lower wind speeds corresponded to higher than expected recruitment for the nearshore-spawning species, and overall variance explained ranged from 14% (yellow perch) to 61% (alewife). For all species but rainbow smelt, higher recruitment also occurred in extremely high or low years of the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Future development of indices that describe the physical Great Lakes environment could improve understanding of how climate can synchronize fish populations within and across species.

Catchment‐Scale Permafrost Mapping using Spring Water Characteristics

AbstractThis study presents a method for mapping the spatial distribution of mountain permafrost based on the chemical‐physical characterisation of spring water in a 36 km2 high‐elevation catchment in the Eastern Italian Alps. Water temperature, electrical conductivity and isotopic composition (δ2H and δ18O) were measured in 45 springs during summer 2007, 2010 and 2012. Existing evidence of permafrost enabled the areas upslope of springs to be classified into two categories of permafrost occurrence (probable permafrost and no permafrost) and used to determine the most suitable tracer for permafrost mapping. Springs from probable permafrost areas have a specific water temperature signature. Spring water temperature was therefore used as a response variable in multiple linear regression, and mean elevation and mean clear sky radiation of spring upslope areas were used as predictors. The multiple regression models were statistically significant and used to map the potential spatial distribution of spring water temperature, which was reclassified into three permafrost categories (probable, possible and improbable). Cross‐validation and independent validation by ground surface temperature data provided evidence that the spring water temperature can be used alone for easy and low‐cost assessment of the catchment‐scale permafrost distribution in similar alpine catchments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.