What conditions favor the influence of seasonally frozen ground on hydrological partitioning? A systematic review

Abstract

The influence of seasonally frozen ground (SFG) on water, energy, and solute fluxes is important in cold climate regions. The hydrological role of permafrost is now being actively researched, but the influence of SFG has received less attention. Intuitively, SFG restricts (snowmelt) infiltration, thereby enhancing surface runoff and decreasing soil water replenishment and groundwater recharge. However, the reported hydrological effects of SFG remain contradictory and appear to be highly site- and event-specific. There is a clear knowledge gap concerning under what physiographical and climate conditions SFG is more likely to influence hydrological fluxes. We addressed this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing published work examining the role of SFG in hydrological partitioning. We collected data on environmental variables influencing the SFG regime across different climates, land covers, and measurement scales, along with the main conclusion about the SFG influence on the studied hydrological flux. The compiled dataset allowed us to draw conclusions that extended beyond individual site investigations. Our key findings were: (a) an obvious hydrological influence of SFG at small-scale, but a more variable hydrological response with increasing scale of measurement, and (b) indication that cold climate with deep snow and forest land cover may be related to reduced importance of SFG in hydrological partitioning. It is thus increasingly important to understand the hydrological repercussions of SFG in a warming climate, where permafrost is transitioning to seasonally frozen conditions.

Subarctic catchment water storage and carbon cycling – Leading the way for future studies using integrated datasets at Pallas, Finland

“…Understanding the complex linkages and interactions between water inputs, storages, water turnover times and outputs, and how hydrology controls biogeochemical cycles and vegetation water usage represents a major challenge in ecohydrology (Guswa et al, 2020). However, substantial progress has been made using water isotope forensics (Ala‐Aho et al, 2021a, 2021b; Bailey et al, 2019; Jespersen et al, 2018; Penna et al, 2018). A better understanding of hydrological processes is especially important in subarctic mosaic landscapes with high variability in connectivity between diverse landscape elements (Laudon & Sponseller, 2018; Lyon et al, 2010).…”

Very High Spatial Resolution Soil Moisture Observation of Heterogeneous Subarctic Catchment Using Nonlocal Averaging and Multitemporal SAR Data

“…Soil moisture estimates are very important for various applications including climate, hydrological, biogeochemical, and management purposes [71], [72]. As subarctic areas are facing very drastic changes due to climate change, including changes in precipitation and snowmelt timing [73], it is essential to have high-resolution estimates from soil moisture conditions in time and space [74]. Our methodology could be further applied to other subarctic and arctic landscapes to provide soil moisture estimates for: 1) ecohydrological and vegetation water usage studies [75]; 2) to improve greenhouse gas estimates from forest lands; 3) to map influences of different land use actions such as logging at the landscape level; and 4) to assess the forest fire risk.…”

Hydrology under change: long-term annual and seasonal changes in small agricultural catchments in Norway

“…Seasonal snow cover and snowfall are in some catchments (Kolstad, Mørdre, and Volbu) an important part of the water cycle (in Norway 30% of the annual P falls as snow) and the runoff is dominated by meltwater (e.g., Volbu). Changes in climate will affect snow and soil frost conditions, influencing infiltration capacities and discharge event participation (Ala-aho et al 2021). The mountainous catchment (Volbu) was the only catchment where SWE increased, despite increasing winter temperature.…”