CHANGING COLD REGIONS NETWORK

Report on the Targeted Process Studies Workshop 12, 13 September, 2013

McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Summary This workshop on Targeted Process Studies was hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and included the attendance of 25 CCRN participants. The workshop was organized in response to a need to move the CCRN Theme B agenda forward (specifically B1: targeted process studies, but also the other sub-theme work plans as well), and to plan out specific activities and deliverables as part of this Theme. It included a number of presentations and group discussions, organized into four sessions over the course of two days. The first session involved a review of the 14 CCRN Water, Ecosystem, Climate, and Cryosphere (WECC) observatories and the process studies that have been done or are planned at each of them. The next session was aimed at synthesizing our understanding of current multi-scale dynamics of hydrological, cryospheric, atmospheric, and ecological process over the CCRN domain. On day 2 of the workshop, the third session began in the morning and focused on specific individual cold regions processes and their sensitivity and response to climate change. Finally the workshop included a short fourth session devoted to the initial planning and implementation of a coordinated enhanced observation period (CEOP) across the observatories. The workshop was largely successful in achieving its objectives, and preliminary plans and timelines for moving forward on these issues were established. Presentations given by individuals helped to exemplify the past and ongoing work at the WECC observatories, as well as the understanding and uncertainties in process interactions, dynamics, and sensitivities at multiple scales in the CCRN domain. The follow up discussions were helpful in identifying the needs and gaps, focusing efforts at effectively addressing the issues and advancing the state of understanding, and strategically planning activities to maximize the potential of a CEOP. This report provides a summary of the workshop, including the presentations that were given (available at http://www.ccrnetwork.ca/science-programme/workshops/targeted-process-studies), key points made in the follow up discussions, initial planning for synthesis and review papers and other focal efforts, and action items arising from the workshop. Special thanks are due to Sean Carey and McMaster University for hosting the event and organizing the logistics, Jeff McDonnell and John Pomeroy for organizing the agenda, Warren Helgason, Sean Carey, Masaki Hayashi, and Chris Spence for rapporteuring, and to all the participants for their contributions, which made the workshop a success. Chris M. DeBeer, CCRN Manager

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Workshop Attendees Baltzer, Jennifer Berg, Aaron Black, Andy Bruce, Jim Carey, Sean DeBeer, Chris Hayashi, Masaki Helgason, Warren Ireson, Andrew

Johnson, Ed Marsh, Phil McDonnell, Jeff McNickle, Gordon Pomeroy, John Quinton, Bill Rowlandson, Tracy Seulall, Bhaleka Shatilla, Nadine

Spence, Chris Stewart, Ron Thériault, Julie Wheater, Howard Woo, Ming-Ko Xie, Changwei Zdravkovic, Branko

Workshop Welcome and Introduction Sean Carey first gave a brief welcome to Hamilton and McMaster University. This was followed by a short presentation by Howard Wheater, which reviewed the 5 themes of the CCRN programme along with the WECC observatories, some key issues for Theme B and its connection with the other Themes, some international connections, and the participants in the Network. John Pomeroy then gave a short presentation to introduce the workshop and its objectives. His talk included an overview of Theme B’s overarching goals, the sub-theme work plans and milestones, some critical analysis of where we are presently at with Theme B1 (the focus of this workshop), and the primary objectives of the workshop. Session 1: Presentations/Discussion on WECC Observatories and Process Observations Chair: John Pomeroy Talks in this session reviewed various details of the current observation programme at the sites, what surface hydrology, sub-surface, cryospheric, terrestrial ecology, and atmospheric processes are being characterized at the sites (what understanding has been established and what is planned), and needs or requests for support from the network. The following presentations were given:

• Columbia Icefield and Brintnell-Bologna Icefield o Presenter: Chris DeBeer on behalf of Mike Demuth

• Marmot Creek, Peyto Glacier, and the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory o Presenter: John Pomeroy

• Lake O’Hara and West Nose Creek o Presenter: Masaki Hayashi

• Wolf Creek o Presenter: Sean Carey

• Boreal Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Sites (BERMS) o Presenter: Andy Black

• St. Denis National Wildlife Area o Presenter: Andrew Ireson

• Kenaston Mesonet Site/Brightwater Creek o Presenter: Warren Helgason

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• Trail Valley Creek and Havikpak Creek o Presenter: Phil Marsh

• Scotty Creek o Presenter: Masaki Hayashi on behalf of Bill Quinton

• Baker Creek o Presenter: John Pomeroy on behalf of Chris Spence

• CCRN Data Management System and Framework o Presenter: Branko Zdravkovic

• Summary Presentation on Process Observations at WECC Observatories o Presenter: John Pomeroy

These talks were helpful in establishing what measurement programmes and process studies have been previously conducted and/or are ongoing at the different WECC observatories, what common strengths or critical gaps exists regarding the observations among them, and what is needed next to organize and catalogue meta-data regarding past and ongoing observations and process studies. A few important points raised during follow up discussions after some of the presentations included: 1) the lack of local meteorological data at the Columbia and Brintnell-Bologna Icefield sites is a critical gap that may limit the type of process studies (e.g. blowing snow redistribution) that can be conducted there; 2) we need to ensure that for the purposes of the future planned CEOP, we compare eddy covariance flux measurement techniques at various sites with the methods used by Environment Canada (BERMS), and reach a consensus on standardization; and 3) there is an urgent need for observatory leaders to provide details on the available data at their sites for the CCRN meta-data catalogue (a simple procedure for providing standardized information was demonstrated in the presentation by Branko Zdravkovic). The session was summarized and closed by John Pomeroy with a couple of overview slides and some discussion on the issues raised here (see Appendix A). Essentially, there is presently a need to review and intercompare historical data, and provide key data to the CCRN database in standard formats. There will also be a need to coordinate measurement strategies during a future CEOP. There was also discussion among the group on previous CEOP’s as part of the MAGS initiative (e.g. 1994-95 and 1998-99), and a suggestion that the data from these should be put into the CCRN database. Session 2: Multi-Scale Dynamics of Hydrological, Cryospheric, Atmospheric, and Ecological Processes Chair: Jeff McDonnell Overview talks to begin this session provided a synthesis on the known multi-scale dynamics and interaction of hydrological, ecological, cryospheric, and atmospheric processes within each of the four biomes in the CCRN domain, exemplified at the WECC observatories. These were given to set the stage and form the basis of more in-depth discussion and the formulation of plans for short summary paper. The following presentations were given:

• Western Cordillera o Presenters/Contributors: John Pomeroy, Masaki Hayashi

• Boreal Forest o Presenters/Contributors: Andrew Ireson, Warren Helgason, Jenn Baltzer

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• Prairies o Presenters/Contributors: Warren Helgason, Andrew Ireson, Aaron Berg

• Arctic and Sub-Arctic o Presenters/Contributors: Phil Marsh, Bill Quinton, Jenn Baltzer, Aaron Berg

• Summary and Ideas for Discussion o Presenter: Jeff McDonnell

These talks stimulated some very insightful discussions among the participants, which highlighted what is well-known and what is lesser-known about the process interactions, and which also delved into some of the misconceptions about changing paradigms in cold regions due to a lack of consideration of detailed process studies and understanding. Some of the speculated misconceptions were noted to include, for example, permafrost thaw leading to increasing baseflow discharge in the north, treeline extension on short timescales high into the alpine zone and to mountain summits (and also to the Arctic coast), warmer climate leading to drier conditions (this depends on many things such as geographic location, e.g. Rockies, vs. Prairies or the north), deglaciation leading to reductions in river discharge (e.g. this cannot be considered in isolation, and needs to be placed in context of changing climate and snow regime, as well as groundwater contributions), wetland decline and loss as a result of climate warming, and forested areas becoming a carbon source after disturbance (e.g. they quickly become a sink with new and rapid growth). It was generally thought that more insight and realistic predictions of such paradigm changes could be gained by taking a close look at what we are observing at the process level within the observatories and in other detailed studies. It was thought this could form the basis for part of a broad scope summary paper. An important outcome from this session was the formulation of initial plans for this summary paper. Jeff McDonnell produced a summarization and overview of the major points covered in the discussion and the direction that the group was leading towards. This is outlined in his summary presentation, along with his vision for the structure and content of the paper (see Appendix B). Essentially, the paper would be a broad vision paper, highlighting some grand challenges and future research directions in the context of the current and future process dynamics within the CCRN domain, but it should also have direct relevance to other similar cold regions across the globe. There were still a number of finer details left to work out later, but the end result here was for Jeff McDonnell to take the leading role in organizing, assigning tasks to individuals, and driving this initiative forward. By the end of the workshop, Jeff had put together a draft outline of the paper. It was decided that this paper could be submitted to a journal such as Nature Climate Change or something similar. Session 3: Potential Changes and Sensitivity of Processes and their Interactions at the Observatories Chair: Howard Wheater The session included brief presentations on various individual processes and environmental variables, reviewing the sensitivity and responses to changing climate and landcover conditions. Discussions among the group followed each of the presentations, focusing on measurement and data characteristics at the WECC observatories, understanding of the past and future responses of the processes to change, and how we can improve our predictive capabilities (e.g. through coordinated studies among the observatories,

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remote sensing techniques, and the use of existing and improved models). The following presentations were given:

• Precipitation o Presenters: Ron Stewart, Julie Thériault

• Snow and Ice o Presenter: John Pomeroy

• Evapotranspiration o Presenter: Andy Black

• Vegetation o Presenter: Ed Johnson

• Soils o Presenter: Bill Quinton

• Groundwater o Presenter: Masaki Hayashi

• Runoff o Presenter: Sean Carey

• Review of Changing Cold Regions Processes o Presenter: John Pomeroy

To summarize the presentations and discussions in this session and organize the ideas, John shared some slides highlighting the key points that were brought out on each of the processes. It was agreed that a detailed synthesis paper on the sensitivity and observed/anticipated changes would be useful to set the needs and direction of the research programme. The paper should provide a more in depth review than the paper discussed and planned in session 2 of this workshop, and provide input from the lessons learned in previous research initiatives, such as MAGS, DRI, and IP3, and a synthesis of the state of knowledge. It should also include examples from as many of the WECC observatories as possible. The paper is to be led by John Pomeroy, who will organize the structure and assign tasks, and it could possibly be submitted to a journal such as Journal of Hydrology or something similar. As this session closed, it was also decided that a meeting report to EOS for publication should be produced as a third product outcome of the workshop. Session 4: Discussion and Planning of a Coordinated Enhanced Observation Period (CEOP) Chairs: Ron Stewart, Phil Marsh This was a short session to close the workshop, reviewing how we might approach a CEOP, what are the benefits of this approach and what we might gain, and the timing of conducting a CEOP. In terms of the timing, it was discussed when this might be conducted in order to maximize the benefit of focused and coordinated studies over a common time frame and to enhance synergies with other planned initiatives (e.g. remote sensing campaigns, etc.), as well as the time needed for adequate logistics preparation. The discussion was guided by two short presentations given by Ron and Phil, which included:

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• CCRN Focal Period(s) o Presenter: Ron Stewart

• Coordinated Enhanced Observation Period o Presenter: Phil Marsh

These presentations and the follow-up discussion highlighted two issues that we could focus on: 1) a focal period/event of interest, and 2) a common observation period. With respect to the first of these issues, it was discussed and confirmed that CCRN will conduct an in-depth examination of the extreme events during the spring of 2013 (including the extreme temperatures in the north and the extreme rain and flooding in southern Alberta). A group of those to be involved with the investigation and analysis of these events was formed, consisting of Phil Marsh, Ron Stewart, John Pomeroy, Ed Johnson, Julie Thériault, Howard Wheater, Bill Quinton, Masaki Hayashi, Sean Carey, Andy Black, and Aaron Berg. Further planning will take place during a special session on the final day of the CCRN meeting in October. It was also decided after this workshop to hold a two-day workshop in Banff during the second week of February 2014 on these events. With respect to the second of these issues, it was decided that conducting the CEOP would indeed provide many benefits and that it would make the most sense to push the timing of this back by one year from now, focusing on the period October 2014 to September 2015. This would provide the necessary time to plan and prepare logistics, and would maximize the synergies with other planned initiatives in 2014 and 2015 (e.g. initial SMAP work, ABoVE initiatives and linkages, EC polarizing radar and precipitation experiments, among others). It was decided that we will call on WECC observatory leaders, with other expert advice for certain aspects, to plan and coordinate aspects of the CEOP, and that we will need to establish a management structure and follow up further at the CCRN meeting in October. Summary of Outcomes and Actions from the Targeted Process Studies Workshop The following is a list of the outcomes of the workshop and actions on individuals and groups for follow up:

• Meeting report to EOS for publication in fall 2013 o Chris DeBeer and Howard Wheater to prepare and submit

• Summary paper on multi-scale process dynamics in the different biomes for submission to Nature Climate Change or similar journal

o Jeff McDonnell to lead and coordinate • Synthesis paper on process sensitivity and response for submission to Journal of Hydrology or

similar Journal o John Pomeroy to lead and coordinate

• Confirmation of June 2013 extreme events as a focal period/event for CCRN and group of investigators established

o Follow up planning to occur at October CCRN meeting o Group includes Phil Marsh, Ron Stewart, John Pomeroy, Ed Johnson, Julie Thériault,

Howard Wheater, Bill Quinton, Masaki Hayashi, Sean Carey, Andy Black, and Aaron Berg o Two-day workshop to take place in Banff in second week of February 2014

• Timing and scope of CEOP established (October 2014 to September 2015)

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o Follow up discussion and planning to take place during Theme B session of October CCRN meeting

o Initiative to be led by WECC observatory leaders, with other expert advice, and coordination and planning to occur through Science Committee and special CEOP team

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Appendix A: Summary Slides on Session 1 by John Pomeroy

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Appendix B: Summary Slides on Session 2 by Jeff McDonnell

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