Title: Quantifying relative contributions of source waters from a subalpine wetland to downstream water bodies
Citation: The data presented in this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.
Study Site: Kananaskis region of Alberta
Purpose: Subalpine regions of the Canadian Rocky Mountains are expected to experience continued changes in hydrometeorological processes due to anthropogenically mediated climate warming. As a result, fresh water supplies are at risk as snowmelt periods occur earlier in the year, and glaciers contribute less annual meltwater, resulting in longer growing seasons and greater reliance on rainfall to generate runoff. In such environments, wetlands are potentially important components that control runoff processes, but due to their location and harsh climates their hydrology is not well studied. We used stable water isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen (δ2H and δ18O), coupled with MixSIAR, a Bayesian mixing model, to understand relative source water contributions and mixing within Burstall Wetland, a subalpine wetland (1900 m a.s.l.), and the larger Burstall Valley. These results were combined with climate data from the Burstall Valley to understand hydrometeorological controls on Burstall Wetland source water dynamics over spatiotemporal timescales.
Abstract: Hydrometric data, Isotopic samples, and vegetation surveys for source waters from a subalpine wetland to downstream water bodies in Kananaskis region of Alberta, data collected from May to 2019 to September 2020
Supplemental Information Summary:
Research: Global Water Futures, Mountain Water Futures Program, and CREATE
Further Info: Hathaway, J.M., Westbrook, C.J., Rooney, R.C., Petrone, R.M., & Langs, L.E. (2022). Quantifying relative contributions of source waters from a subalpine wetland to downstream water bodies. Hydrological Processes: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14679
Status: Complete
Keywords:
vegetation,
meteorology,
hydrology,
Isotopes,
Subapline wetland,
Geographical coordinates: North: 50.774910598754275, South: 50.774910598754275 East: -115.34630626516356 West: -115.34630626516356
Bounding Temporal Extent: Start Date: 2019-05-01, End
Date: 2020-09-30
