Khamis, K, Brown, LE, Milner, AM et al. (1 more author) (2015) Heat exchange processes and thermal dynamics of a glacier-fed alpine stream. Hydrological Processes, 29 (15). pp. 3306-3317. ISSN 0885-6087
Abstract
Glacier-fed river thermal regimes vary markedly in space and time; however, knowledge is limited on the fundamental processes controlling alpine stream temperature dynamics. To address the research gap, this study quantified heat exchanges at the water surface and bed of the Taillon glacier-fed stream, French Pyrénées. Hydro-meteorological observations were recorded at 15-min intervals across two summer melt seasons (2010 and 2011), and energy balance components were measured or estimated based on site-specific data. Averaged over both seasons, net radiation was the largest heat source (~80% of total flux); sensible heat (~13%) and friction (~3%) were also sources, while heat exchange across the channel–streambed interface was negligible (<1%). Latent heat displayed distinct interannual variability and contributed 5% in 2010 compared with 0.03% in 2011. At the sub-seasonal scale, latent heat shifted from source to sink, possibly linked to the retreating valley snowline that changed temperature and humidity gradients. These findings represent the first, multiyear study of the heat exchange processes operating in a glacier-fed stream, providing fundamental process understanding; the research highlights the direct control antecedent (winter) conditions that have on energy exchange and stream temperature during summer months. In particular, the timing and volume of snowfall/snowmelt can drive thermal dynamics by the following: (1) altering the length of the stream network exposed to the atmosphere and (2) controlling the volume and timing of cold water advection downstream. Finally, this study highlights the need to develop long-term hydro-meteorological monitoring stations to improve the understanding of these highly dynamic, climatically sensitive systems.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2015, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Khamis, K, Brown, LE, Milner, AM and Hannah, DM (2015) Heat exchange processes and thermal dynamics of a glacier-fed alpine stream. Hydrological Processes, 29 (15). pp. 3306-3317. ISSN 0885-6087, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10433. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | water temperature; snow; ice; energy balance; heat budget; Pyrenees |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 16 May 2016 11:17 |
Last Modified: | 31 Jan 2018 08:17 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10433 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/hyp.10433 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:98291 |