Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Identifying spatial and temporal dynamics of proglacial groundwater-surface-water exchange using combined temperature-tracing methods

Tristram, DA; Krause, S; Levy, A; Robinson, Z; Waller, RI; Weatherill, JJ

Identifying spatial and temporal dynamics of proglacial groundwater-surface-water exchange using combined temperature-tracing methods Thumbnail


Authors

DA Tristram

S Krause

A Levy

JJ Weatherill



Abstract

The effect of proglacial groundwater systems on surface hydrology and ecology in cold regions often is neglected when assessing the ecohydrological implications of climate change. We present a novel approach in which we combined 2 temperature-tracing techniques to assess the spatial patterns and short-term temporal dynamics of groundwater–surface-water exchange in the proglacial zone of Skaftafellsjökull, a retreating glacier in southeastern Iceland. Our study focuses on localized groundwater discharge to a surface-water environment, where high temporal- and spatial-resolution mapping of sediment surface and subsurface temperatures (10–15 cm depth) were obtained by Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (FO-DTS). The FO-DTS survey identified temporally consistent locations of temperature anomalies at the sediment–water interface, indicating distinct zones of cooler groundwater upwelling. The high-resolution FO-DTS surveys were combined with calculations of 1-dimensional groundwater seepage fluxes based on 3 vertical sediment temperature profiles, covering depths of 10, 25, and 40 cm below the lake bed. The calculated groundwater seepage rates ranged between 1.02 to 6.10 m/d. We used the combined techniques successfully to identify substantial temporal and spatial heterogeneities in groundwater–surface exchange fluxes that have relevance for the ecohydrological functioning of the investigated system and its potential resilience to environmental change.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 28, 2014
Online Publication Date Jan 9, 2015
Publication Date 2015-03
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Freshwater Science
Print ISSN 2161-9549
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 34
Issue 1
Pages 99 -110
DOI https://doi.org/10.1086/679757
Keywords proglacial groundwater, groundwater–surface-water exchange, Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing, seepage flux, glacial retreat, ecohydrology, Iceland
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/679757

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations