HR: 1330h
AN: NB33L-15    [Abstracts]
TI: Comparison of Transient Storage Analyses Using Slug and Constant Rate Tracer Methods in two Arctic Tundra Streams
AU: * Payn, R A
EM: robpayn@cc.usu.edu
AF: Utah State University, Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources Department Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5210 United States
AU: Zarnetske, J P
EM: zarnetske@cc.usu.edu
AF: Utah State University, Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources Department Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5210 United States
AU: Hill, K
EM: kenhill@cc.usu.edu
AF: Utah State University, Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources Department Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5210 United States
AU: Gooseff, M N
EM: mgooseff@mines.edu
AF: Colorado School of Mines, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401 United States
AU: Bowden, W B
EM: Breck.Bowden@uvm.edu
AF: University of Vermont, The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405 United States
AB: Stream ecosystem processes depend on the variability in flow paths that determine hydraulic storage. Conservative tracers are used to quantify storage by inferring hydraulics from tracer concentration dynamics. This study was designed to evaluate differences between two tracer application methods: slug releases (SR) and constant rate injections (CR). Each was performed in two morphologically different streams. Stream I8 had gravel/cobble substrate with frequent runs, and stream IS had fine substrate with frequent pools. After termination of each tracer application, six channel storage sites were sampled as tracer concentrations declined. Downstream tracer concentrations were monitored throughout all applications. In I8, the relative storage capacity (A_s/A) was modeled as 0.16 from SR data and 0.12 from CR data. In IS, A_s/A was modeled as 0.30 from SR data and 0.32 from CR data. During SR applications, storage samples demonstrated higher peak tracer concentrations in upstream sites than downstream, but during CR applications storage concentrations were relatively uniform. For these streams, the two methods did not estimate different storage extent relative to the comparison between stream morphologies. However, the tracer concentrations in channel storage suggest care should be taken with slugs in heterogeneous reaches due to preferential loading of upstream storage zones.
UR: http://www.mines.edu/~mgooseff/arctic_proj.html
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly