Describing alpine lake influence on stream network temperatures: A statistical modelling approach

Carlson, Sam; Poole, Geoffrey C.

doi:10.1002/hyp.14072

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Previous studies have examined the distinct thermal characteristics of lake‐headed stream temperatures (Dripps & Granger, 2013; Garrett, 2010; Leach et al, 2021; Mellina et al, 2002) and the thermal effects of lakes within lake‐stream networks (Carlson & Poole, 2021). This study presents an example of an indirectly lake‐headed stream, where the interaction of groundwater and lake water, and the hydraulic gradient determine the resulting stream temperature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of lake‐groundwater interaction on the thermal regime of a sub‐alpine headwater stream

Roesky

2022

Hydrological Processes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stream thermal regimes are critical to the stability of freshwater habitats. There is growing concern that climate change will result in stream warming due to rising air temperatures, decreased shading in forested areas due to wildfires, and changes in streamflow. Groundwater plays an important role in controlling stream temperatures in mountain headwaters, where it makes up a considerable portion of discharge. This study investigated the controls on the thermal regime of a headwater stream, and the surrounding groundwater processes, in a catchment on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Groundwater discharge to the headwater spring is partially sourced by a seasonal lake. Spring, stream and lake temperature, water level, discharge and chemistry data were used to build a conceptual model of the system. Meteorological data was used to set up a stream temperature model. This study presents a unique example of an indirectly lake‐headed stream, that is, a lake that only has transient subsurface hydrologic connections to the stream and no surface connections. The interaction of groundwater and lake water, and the subsurface connectivity between the lake and the headwater spring determine the resulting stream temperature. Radiation dominated the non‐advective fluxes in the stream energy balance. Sensible and latent heat fluxes play a secondary role, but their effects generally cancel out. During snowfall events, the latent heat associated with melting of direct snowfall onto the water surface was responsible for rapid stream cooling. An increase in advective inputs from groundwater and hillslope pathways did not result in observed cooling of stream water during rainfall events. The results from this study will assist water resource and fisheries managers in adapting to stream temperature changes under a warming climate.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of lake‐groundwater interaction on the thermal regime of a sub‐alpine headwater stream

Roesky

2022

Hydrological Processes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As lake storage capacity is being filled, the lake influence on downstream temperature will be minimal, but once the storage capacity thresholds are exceeded and lake outflows are initiated, the potential for a persistent downstream lake effect is high. If lake outlet and hillslope temperatures are similar during certain periods, the downstream thermal influence will be negligible regardless of the discharge contributions (Carlson & Poole, 2021). In our summer‐autumn study, the lake had a well‐developed thermal stratification, resulting in persistent outflow of warm water.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We demonstrated that lake influences on downstream temperatures vary in time and diminish with distance downstream due to the increasing influence of hillslope tributary contributions and surface energy exchanges. Generalizing to other lake‐influenced streams, this downstream persistence should vary as a function of lake characteristics (surface area, volume, and residence time), magnitude and distribution of hillslope contributing areas and associated lateral inputs, groundwater and surface water connectivity, and location and size of tributaries (Carlson & Poole, 2021; Leach & Laudon, 2019). Although our study focused on one lake‐stream system, other studies from northern regions have documented downstream cooling patterns below lakes during summer and autumn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the stream reach scale, there is currently a good understanding of, and ability to model stream surface energy exchanges, in particular net radiation (Garner et al., 2017; Leach & Moore, 2010; Li et al., 2012), and progress has been made on understanding and modeling the influence of groundwater discharge (Caissie & Luce, 2017; Harrington et al., 2017; Kurylyk et al., 2015; Leach & Moore, 2011; MacDonald et al., 2014), hyporheic exchange (King & Neilson, 2019; Neilson et al., 2010; Story et al., 2003), and lateral hillslope inflows (Gallice et al., 2016; King et al., 2016; Leach & Moore, 2015; St‐Hilaire et al., 2000; Westhoff et al., 2007). However, little research has focused on lake‐stream networks as an integrated system, especially in relation to thermal regimes (Arora et al., 2018; Carlson & Poole, 2021; Jones, 2010; Pépino et al., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Heterogeneities can also be due to changes in surface energy exchange, such as those found locally in riparian clearings along an otherwise forested stream segment or regionally where the lower reaches of a river flow through a coastal fog zone. Lakes and reservoirs can have significant influences on temperature in downstream reaches and thus, can modify network‐scale longitudinal temperature trends (Carlson & Poole, 2021). In the case of reservoirs, the effects can be complex, depending on the position of the reservoir in the network, the nature of stratification, the elevation of the reservoir outlet relative to the thermocline, and water release operations (Cheng et al., 2020; Maheu et al., 2016; Niemeyer et al., 2018; Null et al., 2013; Webb & Walling, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Lake Outflow and Hillslope Lateral Inflows Dictate Thermal Regimes of Forested Streams Draining Small Lakes

Leach

Neilson

Buahin

et al. 2021

Water Resources Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Empirical studies have highlighted the important influence of lakes on stream temperature at landscape scales, even when lakes comprise just a small fraction of the catchment area. However, only a few studies have focused on the hydrologic and thermal processes underpinning these landscape patterns. We collected detailed field measurements at a boreal stream that drains a headwater lake and used these data within a process-based stream temperature model to, (a) document the downstream extent of lake influences at both seasonal and event-based timescales, (b) assess the hydrologic and thermal processes that control the observed downstream variability, and (c) compare downstream temperature for streams with and without a headwater lake. Summer and autumn lake outlet temperatures were elevated compared to hillslope lateral inflow temperatures. During periods of low lake outflow, stream temperatures decreased rapidly downstream as local energy fluxes, primarily lateral inflows from the hillslopes and hyporheic exchange, overwhelmed the lake effects. The lake influence on downstream temperature was the greatest during periods of high lake outflow and persisted at least 1.4 km downstream. Since lakes can moderate and delay upstream rainfall runoff response, periods of high lake outflow and high hillslope inflow rates were generally out-of-phase. This difference in timing of warm lake outlet and cool hillslope water creates a dynamic thermal environment downstream of the small lake. Such lakes are ubiquitous in northern landscapes, and accounting for the competing influence of lake and hillslope contributions on downstream water temperature is critical for predicting how network-scale thermal regimes will respond to environmental change.Plain Language Summary Climate change and forest disturbance are altering stream thermal regimes and this impacts ecologically, culturally, and economically important fish species, such as salmon and trout. Decades of research have provided important insights on how stream temperatures respond to environmental change; however, more insight is needed, particularly for complex stream network structures, such as lake-stream systems. We collected detailed field measurements at a forested stream that drains a lake in northern Sweden to quantify the energy exchanges controlling stream temperature below a lake. We found that warm water coming from the lake, cool water from the hillslopes, and stream water exchanged with the streambed sediments had the most influence on stream temperature. The lake delays and moderates runoff from the catchment upstream of the lake; therefore, the lake and hillslopes deliver water to the stream at different times, creating a dynamic thermal environment below lakes. Such information is highly relevant for building better models to predict how stream temperatures will respond to environmental change and management interventions, particularly for the extensive lake-dominated landscapes in northern regions.LEACH ET AL.

show abstract

Streamflow regime of a lake‐stream system based on long‐term data from a high‐density hydrometric network

Hudson

Leach

Webster

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Northern landscapes are dominated by a mosaic of lakes and streams, yet only a limited number of studies have explored how these lake-stream networks influence streamflow regimes. In order to gain further insight into the hydrologic behaviour of lake-stream systems, we conducted a study using long-term streamflow data to investigate the annual-, seasonal-and event-scale streamflow regimes of a lakestream network at the Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) in central Ontario, Canada.Streamflow metrics were compared for seven lake and 12 no-lake catchments within the TLW, in addition to 14 no-lake catchments from other forested landscapes. It was difficult to attribute patterns in annual streamflow regimes to the influence of lakes due to the confounding influence of catchment size; however, streamflow regimes appeared to be less flashy at locations with more lake influence. In addition,

show abstract

Describing alpine lake influence on stream network temperatures: A statistical modelling approach

Cited by 7 publications

References 43 publications

Effects of lake‐groundwater interaction on the thermal regime of a sub‐alpine headwater stream

Effects of lake‐groundwater interaction on the thermal regime of a sub‐alpine headwater stream

Lake Outflow and Hillslope Lateral Inflows Dictate Thermal Regimes of Forested Streams Draining Small Lakes

Streamflow regime of a lake‐stream system based on long‐term data from a high‐density hydrometric network

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About