Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region
Study region: Water sampling for stable isotopes (18O and 2H) was carried out during 2009–2019 across Alberta, Canada, as part of a survey targeting 1022 open water wetlands. The study presents the first site-specific wetland water balance assessment spanning Grassland, Parkland, Foothills, Mountain...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822000490 |
| _version_ | 1828774147247833088 |
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| author | J.J. Gibson P. Eby S.J. Birks C. Twitchell C. Gray J. Kariyeva |
| author_facet | J.J. Gibson P. Eby S.J. Birks C. Twitchell C. Gray J. Kariyeva |
| author_sort | J.J. Gibson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Water sampling for stable isotopes (18O and 2H) was carried out during 2009–2019 across Alberta, Canada, as part of a survey targeting 1022 open water wetlands. The study presents the first site-specific wetland water balance assessment spanning Grassland, Parkland, Foothills, Mountains, and Boreal regions, including the oil sands region, a corridor of rapid development. Study focus: Climate reanalysis, watershed data, and isotopic data for wetlands were incorporated into a steady-state isotope mass balance model, and applied to estimate site-specific evaporation losses from the wetlands, as well as runoff, groundwater inflow, total outflow, and seasonal drawdown. Regional-scale water balance fluxes, water balance indicators and site-specific classifications were mapped and described. New hydrological insights for the region: Systematic variations in evaporation losses, watershed runoff to wetlands, wetland discharge, and net groundwater inflow are revealed across the major subregions of Alberta including the oil sands region. Isotope balance calculations suggest that 13% of wetlands are predominantly evaporative, 87% have surface and/or groundwater outflow, 90% have positive water yields, 47% likely have groundwater inflow, and 2% are apparently fed by allochthonous water sources (either snow or glacial melt). For the 3 oil sands regions, a scoping survey suggests that between 20% and 40% of wetlands within the bitumen zones are detectably groundwater reliant compared to 35–50% in the wider vicinity of the deposits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:16:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4271aa0995c542429167e7b11040913f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:16:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-4271aa0995c542429167e7b11040913f2022-12-22T01:00:34ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182022-04-0140101036Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands regionJ.J. Gibson0P. Eby1S.J. Birks2C. Twitchell3C. Gray4J. Kariyeva5InnoTech Alberta, 3-4476 Markham Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, Canada; University of Victoria, Geography, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada; Correspondence to: InnoTech Alberta, 3-4476 Markham Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, Canada.InnoTech Alberta, 3-4476 Markham Street, Victoria, BC V8Z 7X8, CanadaUniversity of Victoria, Geography, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 Canada; InnoTech Alberta, 3608 - 33 St NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2A6, CanadaInnoTech Alberta, P.O Box 4000, Vegreville, AB T9C 1T4, CanadaAlberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, CanadaAlberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, CanadaStudy region: Water sampling for stable isotopes (18O and 2H) was carried out during 2009–2019 across Alberta, Canada, as part of a survey targeting 1022 open water wetlands. The study presents the first site-specific wetland water balance assessment spanning Grassland, Parkland, Foothills, Mountains, and Boreal regions, including the oil sands region, a corridor of rapid development. Study focus: Climate reanalysis, watershed data, and isotopic data for wetlands were incorporated into a steady-state isotope mass balance model, and applied to estimate site-specific evaporation losses from the wetlands, as well as runoff, groundwater inflow, total outflow, and seasonal drawdown. Regional-scale water balance fluxes, water balance indicators and site-specific classifications were mapped and described. New hydrological insights for the region: Systematic variations in evaporation losses, watershed runoff to wetlands, wetland discharge, and net groundwater inflow are revealed across the major subregions of Alberta including the oil sands region. Isotope balance calculations suggest that 13% of wetlands are predominantly evaporative, 87% have surface and/or groundwater outflow, 90% have positive water yields, 47% likely have groundwater inflow, and 2% are apparently fed by allochthonous water sources (either snow or glacial melt). For the 3 oil sands regions, a scoping survey suggests that between 20% and 40% of wetlands within the bitumen zones are detectably groundwater reliant compared to 35–50% in the wider vicinity of the deposits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822000490Stable isotopesWater balanceWetlandsEvaporationRunoffGroundwater |
| spellingShingle | J.J. Gibson P. Eby S.J. Birks C. Twitchell C. Gray J. Kariyeva Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Stable isotopes Water balance Wetlands Evaporation Runoff Groundwater |
| title | Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| title_full | Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| title_fullStr | Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| title_short | Isotope-based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across Alberta: Regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| title_sort | isotope based water balance assessment of open water wetlands across alberta regional trends with emphasis on the oil sands region |
| topic | Stable isotopes Water balance Wetlands Evaporation Runoff Groundwater |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822000490 |
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