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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 34, L12402, doi:10.1029/2007GL030216, 2007

Increased groundwater to stream discharge from permafrost thawing in the Yukon River basin: Potential impacts on lateral export of carbon and nitrogen

Michelle A. Walvoord

U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, USA


Robert G. Striegl

U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, USA


Abstract

Arctic and subarctic watersheds are undergoing climate warming, permafrost thawing, and thermokarst formation resulting in quantitative shifts in surface water –groundwater interaction at the basin scale. Groundwater currently comprises almost one fourth of Yukon River water discharged to the Bering Sea and contributes 5–10% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) and 35–45% of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nitrogen (DIN) loads. Long-term streamflow records (>30 yrs) of the Yukon River basin indicate a general upward trend in groundwater contribution to streamflow of 0.7–0.9%/yr and no pervasive change in annual flow. We propose that the increases in groundwater contributions were caused predominately by climate warming and permafrost thawing that enhances infiltration and supports deeper flowpaths. The increased groundwater fraction may result in decreased DOC and DON and increased DIC and DIN export when annual flow remains unchanged.

Received 3 April 2007; accepted 1 May 2007; published 28 June 2007.

Keywords: Yukon River; climate warming; groundwater-surface water.

Index Terms: 1615 Global Change: Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling (0412, 0414, 0793, 4805, 4912); 1807 Hydrology: Climate impacts; 1830 Hydrology: Groundwater/surface water interaction; 1860 Hydrology: Streamflow.

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Citation: Walvoord, M. A., and R. G. Striegl (2007), Increased groundwater to stream discharge from permafrost thawing in the Yukon River basin: Potential impacts on lateral export of carbon and nitrogen, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L12402, doi:10.1029/2007GL030216.