Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
12-16-2002
Abstract
Arctic hydrology plays a central role in the earth’s heat balance and ocean circulation (Vörösmarty et al. 2001). Future changes associated with human influence on the climate system are also predicted to cause major changes in the energy and hydrologic mass balance of Arctic catchments. Climate change will likely affect permafrost and snowmelt, which dominate Arctic hydrology and control the chemistry of surface runoff (and hence streams and lakes) as water percolates through the active layer. However, the controls and dynamic impact of snowmelt are poorly understood, because this critical timeframe is often missed by sampling programs. In the Søndre Strømfjord area only the broadest aspects of hydrologic variability have so far been documented (Hasholt & Søgaard 1976).
Comments
Published in Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin 191, 144–149 (2002). Copyright © GEUS, 2002. Used by permission.