The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
Return to Water or Landscape Science >> Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams. Landscapes and streams are warming, affecting plant growth and fish and wildlife habitat. HEAT aims to understand the impacts of warming on the ecosystems at the Arctic-boreal transition, in the Noatak Preserve in northwestern Alaska. Here, catchments are near the physiographic limit of where trees can grow, and thus vegetation is dominated either by tundra or forest, depending on aspect and elevation. These different land cover types impact water storage, and the movement of water and nutrients from the catchments to the streams. By considering differences in temperatures, stream inflows, biogeochemical cycling, and fish presence, growth, and movement, this project aims to understand the link between physical changes in stream chemistry and fish ecology, with an eye towards how these links will change in the future.
This product is in conjuction with Hydro-ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology
Arctic Coastal Plain Studies
Wolverine Glacier Ecosystem Studies
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Wetland Modeling
Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
Nome Creek Experimental Watershed
- Overview
The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams.
Return to Water or Landscape Science >> Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.The north fork of the Agashashok River.(Credit: Josh Koch, USGS. Public domain.) The Arctic is warming at higher rates than much of the rest of the world. For Alaska, this results in changes in hydrology and ecosystems – permafrost is thawing, changing landscapes and releasing nutrients to soils and streams. Landscapes and streams are warming, affecting plant growth and fish and wildlife habitat. HEAT aims to understand the impacts of warming on the ecosystems at the Arctic-boreal transition, in the Noatak Preserve in northwestern Alaska. Here, catchments are near the physiographic limit of where trees can grow, and thus vegetation is dominated either by tundra or forest, depending on aspect and elevation. These different land cover types impact water storage, and the movement of water and nutrients from the catchments to the streams. By considering differences in temperatures, stream inflows, biogeochemical cycling, and fish presence, growth, and movement, this project aims to understand the link between physical changes in stream chemistry and fish ecology, with an eye towards how these links will change in the future.
This product is in conjuction with Hydro-ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.Agashashok River watershed Installation Locations - 2016Public domain.) - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Arctic – Boreal Catchment Studies
Catchment hydrology focuses on the movement of water and solutes from landscapes to waterbodies. Our research addresses questions such as: Where is the stream water coming from? How long did it take to get here? What solutes, nutrients, and/or contaminants did the water pick up along the way? Because streams and lakes gather water and solutes, we can learn about the entire watershed by studying...Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Ecology
Permafrost thaw is leading to a myriad of changes in physical and chemical conditions throughout the Arctic.Arctic Coastal Plain Studies
The Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) is a large region of low-lying, lake-rich land on the North Slope of Alaska. This region is underlain by thick ground ice, which is susceptible to erosion and thaw. These physical changes are likely to alter ecosystems by changing the availability of habitats and food resources upon which wildlife depends. Our studies on the ACP aim to understand the link between...Wolverine Glacier Ecosystem Studies
This project is an extension of the long-term Wolverine Glacier Benchmark Glacier project and is improving our understanding of solutes and nutrients in glacier basins, and how they fuel downstream ecosystems.Matanuska-Susitna Borough Wetland Modeling
This project aims to improve our understanding of the role of wetlands in controlling streamflow in southcentral Alaska using a groundwater – surface water flow model that can recreate the dynamic interactions between streams and wetlands.Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
ABoVE: Vulnerability of inland waters and the aquatic carbon cycle to changing permafrost and climate across boreal northwestern North America. Carbon released from thawing permafrost may fuel terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems or contribute to greenhouse gas emission, leading to a potential warming feedback and further thaw.Nome Creek Experimental Watershed
The Nome Creek Experimental Watershed (NCEW) has been the site of multiple studies focused on understanding hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem changes related to permafrost thaw and fire in the boreal forest. - Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
- News