Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard

The significant recession of Arctic glaciers caused by climate warming is expanding their proglacial zones. Thus, their importance for the hydrology of glacierised basins is growing. In contrast to the surface waters in such areas, the role of groundwater in the hydrological balance of Svalbard catc...

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Main Authors: Katarzyna Stachniak, Sławomir Sitek, Dariusz Ignatiuk, Jacek Jania
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1514
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author Katarzyna Stachniak
Sławomir Sitek
Dariusz Ignatiuk
Jacek Jania
author_facet Katarzyna Stachniak
Sławomir Sitek
Dariusz Ignatiuk
Jacek Jania
author_sort Katarzyna Stachniak
collection DOAJ
description The significant recession of Arctic glaciers caused by climate warming is expanding their proglacial zones. Thus, their importance for the hydrology of glacierised basins is growing. In contrast to the surface waters in such areas, the role of groundwater in the hydrological balance of Svalbard catchments is poorly known. This paper presents the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow within the permafrost active layer in the forefield of the Werenskioldbreen glacier basin (44.1 km<sup>2</sup>), 61% of which is glacierised. Based on field studies of groundwater in the 2017 ablation season and laboratory analyses of the hydrogeological properties of proglacial sediments, a three-dimensional groundwater flow model (FEFLOW) for part of the glacier forefield (4.8 km<sup>2</sup>) was developed. The main results show the components and characteristics of the groundwater balance and indicate the preferential groundwater flow paths. The volume of water retained in the sediments of the marginal zone is 1.0073 mln m<sup>3</sup>. The maximum potential free pore space that could be filled by water is 2.0689 mln m<sup>3</sup>. The calculated groundwater discharge for average conditions is 6076.9 m<sup>3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, which is about 2% of the total seasonal catchment runoff from the main glacial river. The results of the spatial analysis for the groundwater depth and the groundwater flow directions are also presented. There need to be further detailed studies of hydrogeological processes in glacial basins in Svalbard in order to develop existing knowledge.
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spelling doaj.art-1969b5da5acf445fae347b7beaf240202023-11-23T09:36:55ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-05-01149151410.3390/w14091514Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, SvalbardKatarzyna Stachniak0Sławomir Sitek1Dariusz Ignatiuk2Jacek Jania3Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandFaculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandFaculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandFaculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandThe significant recession of Arctic glaciers caused by climate warming is expanding their proglacial zones. Thus, their importance for the hydrology of glacierised basins is growing. In contrast to the surface waters in such areas, the role of groundwater in the hydrological balance of Svalbard catchments is poorly known. This paper presents the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow within the permafrost active layer in the forefield of the Werenskioldbreen glacier basin (44.1 km<sup>2</sup>), 61% of which is glacierised. Based on field studies of groundwater in the 2017 ablation season and laboratory analyses of the hydrogeological properties of proglacial sediments, a three-dimensional groundwater flow model (FEFLOW) for part of the glacier forefield (4.8 km<sup>2</sup>) was developed. The main results show the components and characteristics of the groundwater balance and indicate the preferential groundwater flow paths. The volume of water retained in the sediments of the marginal zone is 1.0073 mln m<sup>3</sup>. The maximum potential free pore space that could be filled by water is 2.0689 mln m<sup>3</sup>. The calculated groundwater discharge for average conditions is 6076.9 m<sup>3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, which is about 2% of the total seasonal catchment runoff from the main glacial river. The results of the spatial analysis for the groundwater depth and the groundwater flow directions are also presented. There need to be further detailed studies of hydrogeological processes in glacial basins in Svalbard in order to develop existing knowledge.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1514glacierised basin modellingcold-region hydrogeologygroundwater balancehydraulic conductivity
spellingShingle Katarzyna Stachniak
Sławomir Sitek
Dariusz Ignatiuk
Jacek Jania
Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
Water
glacierised basin modelling
cold-region hydrogeology
groundwater balance
hydraulic conductivity
title Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
title_full Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
title_fullStr Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
title_short Hydrogeological Model of the Forefield Drainage System of Werenskioldbreen, Svalbard
title_sort hydrogeological model of the forefield drainage system of werenskioldbreen svalbard
topic glacierised basin modelling
cold-region hydrogeology
groundwater balance
hydraulic conductivity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1514
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AT sławomirsitek hydrogeologicalmodeloftheforefielddrainagesystemofwerenskioldbreensvalbard
AT dariuszignatiuk hydrogeologicalmodeloftheforefielddrainagesystemofwerenskioldbreensvalbard
AT jacekjania hydrogeologicalmodeloftheforefielddrainagesystemofwerenskioldbreensvalbard