Current Magnitude and Mechanisms of Groundwater Discharge in the Arctic: Case Study from Alaska.
Environ Sci Technol
; 49(20): 12036-43, 2015 Oct 20.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26372173
ABSTRACT
To better understand groundwater-surface water dynamics in high latitude areas, we conducted a field study at three sites in Alaska with varying permafrost coverage. The natural groundwater tracer ((222)Rn, radon) was used to evaluate groundwater discharge, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used to examine subsurface mixing dynamics. Different controls govern groundwater discharge at these sites. In areas with sporadic permafrost (Kasitsna Bay), the major driver of submarine groundwater discharge is tidal pumping, due to the large tidal oscillations, whereas at Point Barrow, a site with continuous permafrost and small tidal amplitudes, fluxes are mostly affected by seasonal permafrost thawing. Extended areas of low resistivity in the subsurface alongshore combined with high radon in surface water suggests that groundwater-surface water interactions might enhance heat transport into deeper permafrost layers promoting permafrost thawing, thereby enhancing groundwater discharge.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Agua Subterránea
/
Hidrología
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Technol
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos