Investigating the impacts of glacier melt on stream temperature in a cold-region watershed: coupling a glacier melt model with a hydrological model

2021 ◽  
pp. 127303
Author(s):  
Xinzhong Du ◽  
Gunjan Silwal ◽  
Monireh Faramarzi
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Cold Region ◽  
Glacier Melt

scholarly journals Impacts of Hydrological Processes on Stream Temperature in a Cold Region Watershed Based on the SWAT Equilibrium Temperature Model

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1112
Author(s):  
Xinzhong Du ◽  
Greg Goss ◽  
Monireh Faramarzi
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Equilibrium Temperature ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Hydrological Process ◽  
Temperature Model ◽  
Cold Region ◽  
Global Parameter ◽  
Lapse Rates

Variance in stream temperature from historical norms, which reflects the impacts from both hydrological and meteorological factors, is a significant indicator of the stream ecosystem health. Therefore, it is imperative to study the hydrological processes controlling stream temperature in the watershed. The impacts of hydrological processes on stream temperature in the cold region of Western Canada were investigated based on the previously developed Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) equilibrium temperature model. The model was calibrated and validated for streamflow and stream temperature based on the observations and a global parameter sensitivity analysis conducted to identify the most important hydrological process governing the stream temperature dynamics. The precipitation and air temperature lapse rates were found to be the most sensitive parameters controlling the stream temperature, followed by the parameters regulating the processes of soil water dynamics, surface runoff, and channel routing. Our analysis showed an inverse relationship between streamflow volume and stream temperature, and different runoff components have different impacts on temporal regimes of stream temperatures. This study elaborates on the response of the stream temperature to changes in hydrological processes at the watershed scale and indicates that hydrological processes should be taken into account for prediction of stream temperatures.

scholarly journals The Canadian Hydrological Model (CHM) v1.0: a multi-scale, multi-extent, variable-complexity hydrological model – design and overview

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Marsh ◽  
John W. Pomeroy ◽  
Howard S. Wheater
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Distributed Model ◽  
Hydrological Process ◽  
Cold Region ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Distributed Models ◽  
Spatially Distributed ◽  
Multiple Process

Abstract. Despite debate in the rainfall–runoff hydrology literature about the merits of physics-based and spatially distributed models, substantial work in cold-region hydrology has shown improved predictive capacity by including physics-based process representations, relatively high-resolution semi-distributed and fully distributed discretizations, and the use of physically identifiable parameters that require limited calibration. While there is increasing motivation for modelling at hyper-resolution (< 1 km) and snowdrift-resolving scales (≈ 1 to 100 m), the capabilities of existing cold-region hydrological models are computationally limited at these scales. Here, a new distributed model, the Canadian Hydrological Model (CHM), is presented. Although designed to be applied generally, it has a focus for application where cold-region processes play a role in hydrology. Key features include the ability to do the following: capture spatial heterogeneity in the surface discretization in an efficient manner via variable-resolution unstructured meshes; include multiple process representations; change, remove, and decouple hydrological process algorithms; work at both a point and spatially distributed scale; scale to multiple spatial extents and scales; and utilize a variety of forcing fields (boundary and initial conditions). This paper focuses on the overall model philosophy and design, and it provides a number of cold-region-specific features and examples.

Physically Based Mountain Hydrological Modeling Using Reanalysis Data in Patagonia

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian A. Krogh ◽  
John W. Pomeroy ◽  
James McPhee
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Hydrologic Model ◽  
Total Precipitation ◽  
Blowing Snow ◽  
Cold Region ◽  
Canopy Interception ◽  
Physically Based ◽  
Weather Stations ◽  
The Impact

Abstract A physically based hydrological model for the upper Baker River basin (UBRB) in Patagonia was developed using the modular Cold Regions Hydrological Model (CRHM) in order to better understand the processes that drive the hydrological response of one of the largest rivers in this region. The model includes a full suite of blowing snow, intercepted snow, and energy balance snowmelt modules that can be used to describe the hydrology of this cold region. Within this watershed, snowfall, wind speed, and radiation are not measured; there are no high-elevation weather stations; and existing weather stations are sparsely distributed. The impact of atmospheric data from ECMWF interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) on improving model performance by enhancing the representation of forcing variables was evaluated. CRHM parameters were assigned for local physiographic and vegetation characteristics based on satellite land cover classification, a digital elevation model, and parameter transfer from cold region environments in western Canada. It was found that observed precipitation has almost no predictive power [Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NS) &lt; 0.3] when used to force the hydrologic model, whereas model performance using any of the reanalysis products—after bias correction—was acceptable with very little calibration (NS &gt; 0.7). The modeled water balance shows that snowfall amounts to about 28% of the total precipitation and that 26% of total river flow stems from snowmelt. Evapotranspiration losses account for 7.2% of total precipitation, whereas sublimation and canopy interception losses represent about 1%. The soil component is the dominant modulator of runoff, with infiltration contributing as much as 73.7% to total basin outflow.

scholarly journals Stream temperature evolution in Switzerland over the last 50 years

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Michel ◽  
Tristan Brauchli ◽  
Michael Lehning ◽  
Bettina Schaefli ◽  
Hendrik Huwald
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Strengthening Effect ◽  
Temperature Trends ◽  
Glacier Melt ◽  
Hydrological Variable ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Alpine Rivers

Abstract. Stream temperature is a key hydrological variable for ecosystem and water resources management and is particularly sensitive to climate warming. Despite the wealth of meteorological and hydrological data, few studies have quantified observed stream temperature trends in the Alps. This study presents a detailed analysis of stream temperatures in 52 catchments in Switzerland, a country covering a wide range of alpine and lowland hydrological regimes. The influence of discharge, precipitation, air temperature and upstream lakes on stream temperatures and their temporal trends is analysed from multi-decade to seasonal time scales. Stream temperature has significantly increased over the past 5 decades, with positive trends for all four seasons. The mean trends for the last 20 years are +0.37 °C per decade for water temperature, resulting from joint effects of trends in air temperature (+0.39 °C per decade) in discharge (−10.1 % per decade) and in precipitation (−9.3 % per decade). For a longer time period (1979–2018), the trends are +0.33 °C per decade for water temperature, +0.46 °C per decade for air temperature, −3.0 % per decade for discharge and −1.3 % per decade for precipitation. We furthermore show that in alpine streams, snow and glacier melt compensates air temperature warming trends in a transient way. Lakes, on the contrary have a strengthening effect on downstream water temperature trends at all elevations. The identified stream temperature trends are furthermore shown to have critical impacts on ecological temperature thresholds, especially in lowland rivers, suggesting that these are becoming more vulnerable to the increasing air temperature forcing. Resilient alpine rivers are expected to become more vulnerable to warming in the near future due to the expected reductions in snow- and glacier melt inputs.

scholarly journals Stream temperature and discharge evolution in Switzerland over the last 50 years: annual and seasonal behaviour

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Michel ◽  
Tristan Brauchli ◽  
Michael Lehning ◽  
Bettina Schaefli ◽  
Hendrik Huwald
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Stream Temperature ◽  
Mathematical Framework ◽  
Strengthening Effect ◽  
Temperature Trends ◽  
Glacier Melt ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Stream temperature and discharge are key hydrological variables for ecosystem and water resource management and are particularly sensitive to climate warming. Despite the wealth of meteorological and hydrological data, few studies have quantified observed stream temperature trends in the Alps. This study presents a detailed analysis of stream temperature and discharge in 52 catchments in Switzerland, a country covering a wide range of alpine and lowland hydrological regimes. The influence of discharge, precipitation, air temperature, and upstream lakes on stream temperatures and their temporal trends is analysed from multi-decadal to seasonal timescales. Stream temperature has significantly increased over the past 5 decades, with positive trends for all four seasons. The mean trends for the last 20 years are +0.37±0.11 ∘C per decade for water temperature, resulting from the joint effects of trends in air temperature (+0.39±0.14 ∘C per decade), discharge (-10.1±4.6 % per decade), and precipitation (-9.3±3.4 % per decade). For a longer time period (1979–2018), the trends are +0.33±0.03 ∘C per decade for water temperature, +0.46±0.03°C per decade for air temperature, -3.0±0.5 % per decade for discharge, and -1.3±0.5 % per decade for precipitation. Furthermore, we show that snow and glacier melt compensates for air temperature warming trends in a transient way in alpine streams. Lakes, on the contrary, have a strengthening effect on downstream water temperature trends at all elevations. Moreover, the identified stream temperature trends are shown to have critical impacts on ecological and economical temperature thresholds (the spread of fish diseases and the usage of water for industrial cooling), especially in lowland rivers, suggesting that these waterways are becoming more vulnerable to the increasing air temperature forcing. Resilient alpine rivers are expected to become more vulnerable to warming in the near future due to the expected reductions in snow- and glacier-melt inputs. A detailed mathematical framework along with the necessary source code are provided with this paper.

scholarly journals The relevance of glacier melt in the water cycle of the Alps: an example from Austria

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 2897-2913 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Koboltschnig ◽  
W. Schöner
Keyword(s):  
Hydrological Model ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Glacier Melt ◽  
The Alps ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. This paper gives an overview on available methods how the contribution of glacier melt to runoff can be calculated with and without glaico-hydrological models. Further we applied an approach, which shows the potential of glacier melt contribution during the extreme hot and dry summer of 2003 by calculating the quotient qA03 of the mean monthly August runoff in 2003 and the long-term mean August runoff. The extreme summer 2003 was worth to be analysed as from the meteorological and glaciological point of view an extraordinary situation was observed. During June and July nearly the entire snow-cover melted and during the hot and dry August mainly ice melt of glaciers contributed to runoff. The mean runoff in August 2003 was calculated from observed mean daily runoff data of a selected period in August 2003 (3 to 27 August). This was done for 27 Austrian gauging stations in the glacierized basins of the rivers Inn, Salzach and Drau with a degree of glaciation between 2 and 76%. The quotient qA03 was calculated between 0.63 and 1.82, which means for the lower value that only 63% of the long-term mean August runoff and for the higher value 82% more than the long-term mean August runoff was observed in 2003. Additionally two stations at river Danube (0.4 and 1% glacierized) and further six gauging stations in catchments with no glacier cover were investigated to define qA03 quotients for non-glacierized basins. These qA03 quotients were calculated between 0.31 and 0.54. Hence, it was possible to qualitatively visualize the decreasing impact of glacier melt for a decreasing degree of glaciation. Nevertheless, for the accurate calculation of the glacier melt contribution for a certain catchment scale and time a glaio-hydrological model is needed.

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