A distributed analysis of lateral inflows in an Alaskan Arctic watershed underlain by continuous permafrost

Lateral inflows control the spatial distribution of river discharge, and understanding their patterns is fundamental for accurately modelling instream flows and travel time distributions necessary for evaluating impacts of climate change on aquatic habitat suitability, river energy budgets, and fate of dissolved organic carbon. Yet, little is known about the spatial distribution of lateral inflows in Arctic rivers given the lack of gauging stations. With a network of stream gauging and meteorological stations within the Kuparuk River watershed in northern Alaska, we estimated precipitation and lateral inflows for nine subcatchments from 1 July to 4 August,2013, 2014, and 2015. Total precipitation, lateral inflows, runoff ratios (area-normalized lateral inflow divided by precipitation), percent contribution to total basin discharge, and lateral inflow per river kilometre were estimated for each watershed for relatively dry, moderate, or wet summers. The results show substantial variability between years and subcatchments. Total basin lateral inflow depths ranged 24-fold in response to a threefold change in rainfall between dry and wet years, whereas within-basin lateral inflows varied fivefold from the coastal plain to the foothills. General spatial trends in lateral inflows were consistent with previous studies and mean summer precipitation patterns. However, the spatially distributed nature of these estimates revealed that reaches in the vicinity of a spring-fed surficial ice feature do not follow general spatial trends and that the coastal plain, which is typically considered to produce minimal runoff, showed potential to contribute to total river discharge. These findings are used to provide a spatially distributed understanding of lateral inflows and identify watershed characteristics that influence hydrologic responses.     

Biogeochemical responses over 37 years to manipulation of phosphorus concentrations in an Arctic river: The Upper Kuparuk River Experiment

The climate of the Arctic region is changing rapidly, with important implications for permafrost, vegetation communities, and transport of solutes by streams and rivers to the Arctic Ocean. While research on Arctic streams and rivers has accelerated in recent years, long-term records are relatively rare compared to temperate and tropical regions. We began monitoring the upper Kuparuk River in 1983 as part of a long-term, low-level, whole-season phosphorus enrichment of a 4–6 km experimental reach, which was subsequently incorporated into the Arctic Long-Term Ecological Research (Arctic LTER) programme. The phosphorus enrichment phase of the Upper Kuparuk River Experiment (UKRE) ran continuously for 34 seasons, fundamentally altering the community structure and function of the Fertilized reach. The objectives of this paper are to (a) update observations of the environmental conditions in the Kuparuk River region as revealed by long-term, catchment-level monitoring, (b) compare long-term trends in biogeochemical characteristics of phosphorus-enriched and reference reaches of the Kuparuk River, and (c) report results from a new ‘ReFertilization’ experiment. During the UKRE, temperature and discharge did not change significantly, though precipitation increased slightly. However, the UKRE revealed unexpected community state changes attributable to phosphorus enrichment (e.g., appearance of colonizing bryophytes) and long-term legacy effects of these state changes after cessation of the phosphorus enrichment. The UKRE also revealed important biogeochemical trends (e.g., increased nitrate flux and benthic C:N, decreased DOP flux). The decrease in DOP is particularly notable in that this may be a pan-Arctic trend related to permafrost thaw and exposure to new sources of iron that reduce phosphorus mobility to streams and rivers. The trends revealed by the UKRE would have been difficult or impossible to identify without long-term, catchment level research and may have important influences on connections between Arctic headwater catchments and downstream receiving waters, including the Arctic Ocean.     

Variable effects of forest canopies on snow processes in a valley of the central Spanish Pyrenees

Snowpacks and forests have complex interactions throughout the large range of altitudes where they co-occur. However, there are no reliable data on the spatial and temporal interactions of forests with snowpacks, such as those that occur in nearby areas that have different environmental conditions and those that occur during different snow seasons. This study monitored the interactions of forests with snowpacks in four forest stands in a single valley of the central Spanish Pyrenees during three consecutive snow seasons (2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018). Daily snow depth data from time-lapse cameras were compared with snow data from field surveys that were performed every 10–15 days. These data thus provided information on the spatial and temporal changes of snow–water equivalent (SWE). The results indicated that forest had the same general effects on snowpack in each forest stand and during each snow season. On average, forest cover reduced the duration of snowpack by 17 days, reduced the cumulative SWE of the snowpack by about 60% and increased the spatial heterogeneity of snowpack by 190%. Overall, forest cover reduced SWE total accumulation by 40% and the rate of SWE accumulation by 25%. The forest-mediated reduction of the accumulation rate, in combination with the occasional forest-mediated enhancement of melting rate, explained the reduced duration of snowpacks beneath forest canopies. However, the magnitude and timing of certain forest effects on snowpack had significant spatial and temporal variations. This variability must be considered when selecting the location of an experimental site in a mountainous area, because the study site should be representative of surrounding areas. The same considerations apply when selecting a time period for study.     

On the hydrological difference between catchments above and below the intermittent-persistent snow transition

Because of the importance of snow for river discharge in mountain regions, hydrological research often focuses on seasonally snow-covered zones. However, in many basins the majority of the land surface area is intermittently snow-covered. Discharge monitoring in these areas is less common, so their contributions to downstream rivers remain largely unknown. We evaluated hydrological differences between three intermittently snow-covered (mean annual Jan 1–Jul 3 snow persistence <60%) and two seasonally snow-covered headwater catchments in the Colorado Front Range. We compared water balance variables to evaluate how and why discharge differs between the snow zones and estimated the relative contributions from each snow zone to regional river discharge. We focused on water years 2016–2019 and used a combination of in situ sensors and regional climate datasets. Annual discharge from the intermittent snow zone was low for all three catchments (10–77 mm), despite covering a wide range in annual snow persistence (25%–64%), whereas annual discharge from the seasonal snow zone was up to 73 times higher. Soil moisture in the seasonal snow zone was above field capacity for longer periods of time than in the intermittent snow zone, and the intermittent snow zone was uniquely subject to soil freezing (up to 102 days per year). For most of the year, potential evapotranspiration exceeded rainfall and snowmelt inputs in the intermittent snow zone, but was lower than rainfall and snowmelt inputs in the seasonal snow zone. This is likely a primary driver of the differences in soil moisture and discharge for catchments with a seasonal versus intermittent snow cover. Despite the large difference in discharge between these two snow zones, the intermittent snow zone contributed about a quarter of the discharge in the regional river, highlighting the importance of studying discharge generation across all elevations.     

Photogrammetric Bathymetry for the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

Remote sensing is becoming common in the estimation of bathymetry for navigational charting through a process known as Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB). Most SDB techniques currently used by hydrographic offices employ an empirical approach, requiring the use of in-situ data to calibrate a relationship between spectral information and coincident depths. This article reports on a multi-site test of an alternative SDB method which uses photogrammetry to extract depths from stereo WorldView-2 imagery. In areas with heterogeneous seafloors, the empirical approach faces difficulties in establishing the relationship between colour and depth, while the photogrammetric approach uses the contrasting seafloor features for triangulation. Additionally, the photogrammetric method may be applied in areas lacking previous survey data. Five study areas in Nunavut, Canada were selected to test the robustness of the method in different environments and under different imaging conditions. Study areas were (with resulting RMSE/Bias given in metres) Coral Harbour (0.84/?0.47), Cambridge Bay (1.16/?0.15), Queen Maud Gulf (0.97/0.06), Arviat (0.99/?0.009), and Frobisher Bay, where extraction largely failed due to environmental conditions. Accuracies demonstrated here are similar to those seen using the empirical approach, suggesting that these two methods may be used in conjunction, each applied to regions where they are better suited.     

Broad-band calibration of marine seismic sources used by R/V Polarstern for academic research in polar regions

Air guns and air-gun arrays of different volumes are used for scientific seismic surveys with R/V Polarstern in polar regions. To assess the potential risk of these research activities on marine mammal populations, knowledge of the sound pressure field of the seismic sources is essential. Therefore, a broad-band (0–80 kHz) calibration study was conducted at the Heggernes Acoustic Range, Norway. A GI (2.4 l), a G (8.5 l) and a Bolt gun (32.8 l) were deployed as single sources, 3 GI (7.4 l), 3 G (25.6 l) and 8 VLF™ Prakla-Seismos air guns (24.0 l) as arrays. Each configuration was fired along a line of 3–4 km length running between two hydrophone chains with receivers in 35, 100, 198 and 263 m depth. Peak-to-peak, zero-to-peak, rms and sound exposure levels (SEL) were analysed as functions of range. They show the typical dipole-like directivity of marine seismic sources with amplitude cancellation close to the sea surface, higher amplitudes in greater depths, and sound pressure levels which continuously decrease with range. Levels recorded during the approach are lower than during the departure indicating a shadowing effect of Polarsterns's hull. Backcalculated zero-to-peak source levels range from 224–240 dB re 1 μPa @ 1 m. Spectral source levels are highest below 100 Hz and amount to 182–194 dB re 1 μPa Hz^–1. They drop off continuously with range and frequency. At 1 kHz they are ∼30 dB, at 80 kHz ∼60 dB lower than the peak level. Above 1 kHz amplitude spectra are dominated by Polarstern's self-noise. From the rms and sound exposure levels of the deepest hydrophone radii for different thresholds are derived. For a 180 dB rms-level threshold radii maximally vary between 200 and 600 m, for a 186 dB SEL threshold between 50 and 300 m.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of the melt onset dates over Arctic sea ice from 1979 to 2017

The melt onset dates(MOD) over Arctic sea ice plays an important role in the seasonal cycle of sea ice surface properties, which impacts Arctic surface solar radiation absorbed by the ice-ocean system. Monitoring interannual variations in MOD is valuable for understanding climate change. In this study, we investigated the spatio-temporal variability of MOD over Arctic sea ice and 14 Arctic sub-regions in the period of 1979 to 2017 from passive microwave satellite data. A set of mathematical and ...     

冬季中国东部与北极之间近地面温度变化的年际联系

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和国家气象信息中心整编的425站气温资料,借助经验正交函数分解（EOF）、相关分析和回归分析等方法探讨1956~2015年冬季北极及中高纬度近地面温度、西伯利亚高压的变化特征以及两者与中国东部气温直接和间接的年际联系。为此定义了3个西伯利亚高压指数,即西伯利亚高压中心强度指数（SHCI）、西伯利亚高压面积指数（SHA）和西伯利亚高压东边界指数（SHEB）。结果表明:从1998年开始冬季巴伦支海、喀拉海迅速增温,并在年际尺度上与中国东部气温存在显著的负相关关系,即北极近地面温度与中国东部气温的直接联系。同时,西伯利亚高压的3个指数也与北极地区近地面温度和中国东部气温有较好的年际关系,体现了西伯利亚高压是联系北极和东亚气候的桥梁,当北极近地面温度升高（降低）时,西伯利亚高压中心强度增强（减弱）,面积扩大（缩小）,东边界东伸（西退）,中国东部气温降低（升高）,即北极近地面温度（西伯利亚高压）与中国东部气温的间接（直接）联系。最后,讨论了北极近地面温度变化影响中国东部气温的可能物理机制。     

Cluster analysis of Tropical Cyclones making landfall on the Korean Peninsula

Cluster analysis has been performed on the tracks of 51 Tropical Cyclones (TCs) that made landfall on the Korean Peninsula (KP) for the period of 1951–2004. The classification technique of the landfalling tracks used in this study was the fuzzy clustering method (FCM) and the resultant silhouette coe?cient suggested four clusters as an optimal cluster number. Most TCs of Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 (C-23) tended to pass through mainland China before landfall, but those of Cluster 1 and Cluster 4 (C-14) tended t...     

A model-based study of ice and freshwater transport variability along both sides of Greenland

We investigate some aspects of the variability of the Arctic freshwater content during the 1965–2002 period using the DRAKKAR eddy admitting global ocean/sea-ice model (12 km resolution in the Arctic). A comparison with recent mooring sections shows that the model realistically represents the major advective exchanges with the Arctic basin, through Bering, Fram and Davis Straits, and the Barents Sea. This allows the separate contributions of the inflows and outflows across each section to be quantified. In the model, the Arctic freshwater content variability is explained by the sea-ice flux at Fram and the combined variations of ocean freshwater inflow (at Bering) and outflow (at Fram and Davis). At all routes, except trough Fram Strait, the freshwater transport variability is mainly accounted for by the liquid component, with small contributions from the sea-ice flux. The ocean freshwater transport variability through both Davis and Fram is controlled by the variability of the export branch (Baffin Island Current and East Greenland Current, respectively), the variability of the inflow branches playing a minor role. We examine the respective role of velocity and salinity fluctuations in the variability of the ocean freshwater transport. Fram and Davis Straits offer a striking contrast in this regard. Freshwater transport variations across Davis Strait are completely determined by the variations of the total volume flux (0.91 correlation). On the other hand, the freshwater transport through Fram Strait depends both on variations of volume transport and salinity. As a result, there is no significant correlation between the variability of freshwater flux at Fram and Davis, although the volume transports on each side of Greenland are strongly anti-correlated (−0.84). Contrary to Davis Strait, the salinity of water carried by the East Greenland Current through Fram Strait varies strongly due to the ice-ocean flux north of Greenland.