Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland
Abstract In Arctic landscapes, the active layer forms a near‐surface aquifer on top of the permafrost where water and nutrients are available for plants or subject to downslope transport. Warmer summer air temperatures can increase the thickness of the active layer and alter the partitioning of wate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Water Resources Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036147 |
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| author | Sebastian F. Zastruzny Ylva Sjöberg Karsten H. Jensen Yijing Liu Bo Elberling |
| author_facet | Sebastian F. Zastruzny Ylva Sjöberg Karsten H. Jensen Yijing Liu Bo Elberling |
| author_sort | Sebastian F. Zastruzny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In Arctic landscapes, the active layer forms a near‐surface aquifer on top of the permafrost where water and nutrients are available for plants or subject to downslope transport. Warmer summer air temperatures can increase the thickness of the active layer and alter the partitioning of water into evapotranspiration and discharge by increasing the potential evapotranspiration, the depth to the water table, and changing the flow paths but the interacting processes are poorly understood. In this study, a numerical model for surface‐ and subsurface cryo‐hydrology is calibrated based on field observations from a discontinue permafrost area in West Greenland considered sensitive to future climate changes. The validated model is used to simulate the effect of three summers with contrasting temperature regimes to quantify the variations in the active layer thickness, the resulting changes in the water balance, and the implications on solute transport. We find that an increase of summer air temperature by1.6°C, under similar precipitation can increase the active layer thickness by 0.25 m, increase evapotranspiration by 5%, and reduce the total discharge compared to a colder summer by 9%. Differences in soil moisture and evapotranspiration between upslope and downslope were amplified in a warm summer. These hydrological differences impact solute transport which is 1.6 times faster in a cold summer. Surprisingly, we note that future warmer summer with increase in permafrost thaw may not necessary lead to an increase in discharge along a hill slope with underlying permafrost. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f738a32fd35b4af59243722b51a80c11 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0043-1397 1944-7973 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Resources Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-f738a32fd35b4af59243722b51a80c112025-08-23T13:05:51ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732024-11-016011n/an/a10.1029/2023WR036147Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West GreenlandSebastian F. Zastruzny0Ylva Sjöberg1Karsten H. Jensen2Yijing Liu3Bo Elberling4Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkAbstract In Arctic landscapes, the active layer forms a near‐surface aquifer on top of the permafrost where water and nutrients are available for plants or subject to downslope transport. Warmer summer air temperatures can increase the thickness of the active layer and alter the partitioning of water into evapotranspiration and discharge by increasing the potential evapotranspiration, the depth to the water table, and changing the flow paths but the interacting processes are poorly understood. In this study, a numerical model for surface‐ and subsurface cryo‐hydrology is calibrated based on field observations from a discontinue permafrost area in West Greenland considered sensitive to future climate changes. The validated model is used to simulate the effect of three summers with contrasting temperature regimes to quantify the variations in the active layer thickness, the resulting changes in the water balance, and the implications on solute transport. We find that an increase of summer air temperature by1.6°C, under similar precipitation can increase the active layer thickness by 0.25 m, increase evapotranspiration by 5%, and reduce the total discharge compared to a colder summer by 9%. Differences in soil moisture and evapotranspiration between upslope and downslope were amplified in a warm summer. These hydrological differences impact solute transport which is 1.6 times faster in a cold summer. Surprisingly, we note that future warmer summer with increase in permafrost thaw may not necessary lead to an increase in discharge along a hill slope with underlying permafrost.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036147permafrostmodelhydrologyarcticGreenlandclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian F. Zastruzny Ylva Sjöberg Karsten H. Jensen Yijing Liu Bo Elberling Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland Water Resources Research permafrost model hydrology arctic Greenland climate change |
| title | Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland |
| title_full | Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland |
| title_short | Impact of Summer Air Temperature on Water and Solute Transport on a Permafrost‐Affected Slope in West Greenland |
| title_sort | impact of summer air temperature on water and solute transport on a permafrost affected slope in west greenland |
| topic | permafrost model hydrology arctic Greenland climate change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036147 |
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