Title: Data for peatland - forestland hydraulic gradient study
Citation: Hokanson, Kelly, 2019, "HU", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/NOEANZ, Harvard Dataverse
Study Site: Utikuma Region Study Area, Alberta
Purpose: It is common to conceptualize the water table as a subdued replica of surface topography, where groundwater recharges at, and flows from, topographic highs and flows to, and discharges at, topographic lows, in humid (i.e. wetter) environments. This concept is also regularly applied to peatland hydrology, where hydraulic gradients are shown to be towards the peatland. However, this may not be a realistic representation of hydrology for low-relief and sub-humid regions. While it is widely accepted that peatlands maintain internal water tables in drought conditions through a system of autogenic negative feedback loops, there is a general lack of knowledge concerning the controls on, and patterns of, forestland hydrologic process that drive the hydraulic gradients between wetlands and their adjacent forestlands in water-limited conditions in low-relief areas. This study identifies the hydrologic function (i.e. source or sink of water) of forested uplands and peatlands in the Boreal Plains region of Canada and demonstrates that during a mesic (non-drought) year most peatlands are, in fact, potential sources of groundwater to adjacent forestlands.
Abstract: Sixteen forestland-peatland pairs were selected to represent a spectrum of forested hummock and peatland morphometries, topographic positions, and geologic settings. Contains daily precip and 30min resolution WT elevation for each peatland and forested hummock site.
Supplemental Information Summary:
Research:
Further Info: Hokanson, K.J., Peterson, E.S., Devito, K.J., & Mendoza, C.A. (2020). Forestland-peatland hydrologic connectivity in water-limited environments: hydraulic gradients often oppose topography. Environmental Research Letters, 15: DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ab699a
Status: Complete
Keywords:
hydrology,
meteorology,
Geographical coordinates: North: 56, South: 56 East: -115 West: -115
Bounding Temporal Extent: Start Date: 2017-11-01, End
Date: 2018-10-31
