HR: 1340h
AN: H23D-1463 [Abstracts]
TI: Origin for Kuparuk River Basin Springs, North Slope of Alaska
AU: * Rodman, A
EM: fsaar@uaf.edu
AF: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Water and Environmental Research Center, 306 Tanana Drive, rm 437, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5860
United States
AU: Kane, D
EM: ffdlk@uaf.edu
AF: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Water and Environmental Research Center, 306 Tanana Drive, rm 437, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5860
United States
AU: Hinzman, L
EM: ffldh@uaf.edu
AF: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Water and Environmental Research Center, 306 Tanana Drive, rm 437, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5860
United States
AB:
In the foothills of the Brooks Range of northern Alaska, an abundance of spring discharge occurs year-round. This current
research focuses on hydrologic conditions, source of the springs, its residence time and geometry. Possible sources for the
spring water are sub-permafrost groundwater and baseflow and groundwater flow immediately adjacent to the Kuparuk River.
Water samples were collected in 2005 from the Kuparuk River Watershed, including Imnavait Creek, prior to snowmelt (April),
during/after snowmelt (June) and late summer (August). Electric conductivity (EC) values ranged between 50-65 mS/cm for
spring water, while EC values at the Kuparuk River ranged from 34.6-235 mS/cm. Alkalinity readings of water from the Kuparuk
River ranged from 13.9-64 mg/L; this is compared with spring water values of 24.3-39.9 mg/L. Variations in chemical
properties (total and dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, pH, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen)
suggest that local spring water is related to the baseflow of Kuparuk River during summer periods. Preliminary data collected
in the 2005 field season demonstrates interaction between the flow of the Kuparuk River, nearby spring discharge, aufeis
development and permafrost dynamics.
DE: 1824 Geomorphology: general (1625)
DE: 1825 Geomorphology: fluvial (1625)
DE: 1830 Groundwater/surface water interaction
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005