Northern Northern EcohydrologyEcohydrology

Jessica M. Cable and W. Robert BoltonJessica M. Cable and W. Robert Bolton

International Arctic Research Center (Fairbanks)International Arctic Research Center (Fairbanks)

Environment and Natural Resources Institute Environment and Natural Resources Institute (Anchorage)(Anchorage)

University of Alaska University of Alaska

permafrostpermafrost

Miriam Jones

J. Cable

J. Cable

J. Cable

J. Cable L. Hinzman L Hinzman

freshwater systems in freshwater systems in AlaskaAlaska

Map by Robert Simmon

D. White

freshwater systems in freshwater systems in AlaskaAlaska

ecologyecology

climateclimate

permafrostpermafrost

hydrologyhydrology

boreal hydrologyboreal hydrologyHow does permafrost distribution and active layer dynamics impact streamflow and soil moisture?

Discontinuous warm permafrost region with boreal forestStorage dominated watersheds, on the margins

Caribou Poker Creek Research Watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska

boreal hydrologyboreal hydrologystreamflowstreamflow

Permafrost dominated watersheds - higher specific discharge, lower specific base flow, and longer recessions than low permafrost watersheds

boreal hydrologyboreal hydrologysoil moisturesoil moisture

Permafrost free systems – lower soil moisture than systems with permafrost

Permafrost free area Area with permafrost

5cm, organic soil40cm, mineral soil

ecologyecologyecosystem water useecosystem water use

transpirationtranspiration(vascular plants)physiologically

controlled

evaporationevaporation(moss, soil)physically controlled

evapotranspiration = evaporation + transpirationET affects soil moisture

E → surface moisture (0-15cm)T → surface & deep moisture

(> 5cm)

How are plants tied into soil moisture?Where in the soil do plants take water?

water uptake profileswater uptake profiles

a. C. bigelowii

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50 moundtrough

b. V. uliginosum

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50moundtrough

c. B. nanamound and trough

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

d. R. chamaemorusmound and trough

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

a. C. bigelowii

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50 moundtrough

b. V. uliginosum

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50moundtrough

c. B. nanamound and trough

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

d. R. chamaemorusmound and trough

fractional uptake from each layer

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Dep

th (

cm)

0-5

5-10

10-20

20-30

30-40

40-50

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Sedge,blueberrySedge,

blueberry

shrubshrub

EcoHydrologyEcoHydrology

Permafrost free area

Surface and subsurface soil moisture are disconnected

EcoHydrologyEcoHydrology

How do vegetation water use and permafrost dynamics How do vegetation water use and permafrost dynamics impact stream flow in the boreal forest discontinuous impact stream flow in the boreal forest discontinuous permafrost zone? permafrost zone?

Holistic approach by integrating ecological and hydrological processes, Holistic approach by integrating ecological and hydrological processes, including storage, soil moisture, active layer dynamics, and transpirationincluding storage, soil moisture, active layer dynamics, and transpiration

“water limited”, less residual soil water

Not “water limited”, more residual soil water for other processes

EcoHydrologyEcoHydrology

Soil drainage poor wellPermafrost yes noTranspiration low high

coniferous deciduous

ConiferousCDE

DeciduousDDE

Likely varies over the growing season

Changes in permafrost AND vegetation

senesce, T decreases

DD

E- P

lants leaf out, T increases

CD

E - A

ctive layer deepens

Springsnow melt period

Growing season

Autumn

Integration

Field work

Data analysis

Model integration

Bayesian

Plant water use Hydrological variables

Pathway and timing of water movement

Ti ~ N (i,) Storage-based model

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Alaska EPSCoR NSF OPP International Arctic Research Center Larry Hinzman Kiona Ogle Bill Cable Miriam Jones Arctic Regions Supercomputing

Center