Effects of Frozen Soil on the Groundwater Recharge in Alpine Areas

Bayard, Daniel; Stähli, Manfred

doi:10.1002/0470858249.ch7

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…According to our field observations, such an ice layer has a thickness of 1 to a few cm. Its influence on surface runoff was confirmed by water balance measurements on 6-m 2 plots, where surface runoff was collected with slopeparallel drain gutters (Bayard and Stähli, 2004). During the period with a basal ice layer, we measured 20 to 25% of the total runoff occurring at the surface, whereas in the previous year almost 100% of the snowpack outflow infiltrated the soil.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

“…Consequently, enhanced surface runoff was observed. These observations go hand in hand with surface runoff measurements on an adjacent plot using slope-parallel drain gutters (Bayard and Stähli, 2004): From these plots, approximately 20% of the total runoff occurred at the surface in this early stage of the snowmelt. Until 15 April, the zone of concentrated dye tracer moved somewhat downward (Fig.…”

Section: Field Profiles Hannigalpmentioning

confidence: 71%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Snowmelt Infiltration into Alpine Soils Visualized by Dye Tracer Technique

Stähli¹,

Bayard²,

Wydler³

et al. 2004

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Snowmelt infiltration into alpine soils can be severely reduced and even impeded by soil frost. In order to learn more about the true nature of infiltration pathways into alpine soils, dye tracer experiments were set up at 2 locations in southern Switzerland: at Hannigalp (2100 m) and at Gd St Bernard. Over the course of two winters (2000-2001 and 2001-2002) we excavated vertical soil profiles during snowmelt to examine the distribution of a dye tracer (Brilliant Blue FCF) that had been applied on the surface of a 7-m 2 plot at the beginning of the winter. Soil conditions varied between the winters, with the soils remaining unfrozen during the first and a significant frozen layer forming during the second. With this method the dominant infiltration processes at these 2 sites were identified. During the first winter the water infiltration at Hannigalp showed a pronounced preferential behavior, whereas at Gd St Bernard we found a more homogeneous front-like infiltration. During the second winter the impeding impact of the frozen soil was clearly seen at the Hannigalp site-however, only in the first stage of the snowmelt. More decisive for the formation of lateral surface runoff was the buildup of an ice layer on the soil surface due to melting and refreezing. Cold-chamber experiments, in which intact soil columns were irrigated with a dye tracer and a fluorescent tracer solution, confirmed our in situ observations with regard to heterogeneity and soil frost effect on the infiltration pattern. Our study showed that both tracers can be applied to frozen soil in the laboratory, whereas at the remote alpine locations only the dye tracer method was applicable.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Field Profiles Hannigalpmentioning

confidence: 71%

Snowmelt Infiltration into Alpine Soils Visualized by Dye Tracer Technique

Stähli¹,

Bayard²,

Wydler³

et al. 2004

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…In alpine settings, soil freezing impedes water infiltration and tends to focus runoff into localized areas (such as sinkholes) (e.g. Bayard and St ahli, 2005). Besides, part of the winter ice and snow may sublimate and wind storms may relocate snow into specific areas.…”

Section: Magnesium Concentrationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoclimate variability during the Blake geomagnetic excursion (MIS 5d) deduced from a speleothem record

Rossi¹,

Mertz‐Kraus²,

Osete³

2014

Quaternary Science Reviews

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“…Also, Jyrkämä and Sykes () found it important to account for frost–related reduction in groundwater recharge in their spatially distributed groundwater simulations. One of the few experimental setups designed to investigate groundwater recharge processes in steep terrain during snowmelt was performed in the Swiss Alps by Bayard and Stähli (). They investigated two sites with gneiss underground: (1) Hanningalp with slope 23°; and (2) Bernard with slope 65°.…”

Section: Frost Properties and Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snow and frost: implications for spatiotemporal infiltration patterns – a review

Lundberg

Ala‐aho

Eklo

et al. 2015

Hydrological Processes

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Vast regions of the northern hemisphere are exposed to snowfall and seasonal frost. This has large effects on spatiotemporal distribution of infiltration and groundwater recharge processes as well as on the fate of pollutants. Therefore, snow and frost need to be central inherent elements of risk assessment and management schemes. However, snow and frost are often neglected or treated summarily or in a simplistic way by groundwater modellers. Snow deposition is uneven, and the snow is likely to sublimate, be redistributed and partly melt during the winter influencing the mass and spatial distribution of snow storage available for infiltration, the presence of ice layers within and under the snowpack and, therefore, also the spatial distribution of depths and permeability of the soil frost. In steep terrain, snowmelt may travel downhill tens of metres in hours along snow layers. The permeability of frozen soil is mainly influenced by soil type, its water and organic matter content, and the timing of the first snow in relation to the timing of sub-zero temperatures. The aim with this paper is to review the literature on snow and frost processes, modelling approaches with the purpose to visualize and emphasize the need to include these processes when modelling, managing and predicting groundwater recharge for areas exposed to seasonal snow and frost.

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Effects of Frozen Soil on the Groundwater Recharge in Alpine Areas

Cited by 8 publications

References 13 publications

Snowmelt Infiltration into Alpine Soils Visualized by Dye Tracer Technique

Snowmelt Infiltration into Alpine Soils Visualized by Dye Tracer Technique

Paleoclimate variability during the Blake geomagnetic excursion (MIS 5d) deduced from a speleothem record

Snow and frost: implications for spatiotemporal infiltration patterns – a review

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