The unique landscape controls and meltwater contributions associated with glacial landcover along the coast of southeast Alaska were examined to better understand in-stream processing of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrients during downstream transport. Specifically, this study paired glacial streams with nearby non-glacial streams and compared differences in landscape controls to: 1) evaluate the impact of glacial landcover and meltwater contributions on in-stream metabolism and uptake potential of proglacial streams; 2) quantify changes in DOM composition and concentration in glacial runoff during precipitation-driven flushing of a glaciated landscape; and 3) characterize the impact of glacial landcover and meltwater contributions on longitudinal trends in the physical and chemical signature of streamwater through changing watershed landscapes. Stream metabolism estimates suggested glacial streams receive little DOM from landscape sources and have the potential to function as net autotrophic systems under low flow regimes with unobstructed sunlight. Unlike most watersheds, shallow organic soils and low in-stream respiration rates associated with glacial systems resulted in near equilibrium dissolved CO₂ concentrations, with little flux to the atmosphere. Longitudinal stream analyses concluded low-elevation landscape discharge contributions had little influence on glacial streams compared to non-glacial streams. High specific discharge from glacial landscapes controlled streamwater chemistry throughout proglacial watersheds suggesting meltwater was delivered from the terminus of coastal glaciers downstream to the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) with little dilution or in-stream processing. Uniform concentrations of DOM and nutrients were found during increased discharge driven by precipitation on the glaciated watershed. This was in contrast to the non-glacial watershed, where streamwater DOM concentrations were largely controlled by connections to DOM-rich landscape sources during storm flows. Results from this study enhance the understanding of in-stream processes and landscape controls in watersheds that deliver freshwater to an ecologically productive marine zone and valuable commercial fishery. Furthermore, this study provides information about watersheds undergoing glacial recession to GOA basin-wide estimates of DOM export and future research initiatives focusing on in-stream DOM processing. / Ph. D.

Shrinking alpine glaciers alter the geochemistry of sensitive mountain streams by exposing reactive freshly-weathered bedrock and releasing decades of atmospherically-deposited trace elements from glacier ice. Changes in the timing and quantity of glacial melt also affect discharge and temperature of alpine streams. To investigate the effects of glacier ice melt on the geochemistry and hydrology of proglacial streams in the arid Intermountain West, we sampled supraglacial meltwaters and proglacial streams in the Dinwoody Creek watershed in the Wind River Range, Wyoming during late summer 2015, when the contributions of glacier meltwater were highest. Supraglacial meltwater was enriched in 8 trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, MeHg, Mn, Pb, THg, Zn) relative to proglacial meltwaters. Concentrations of major ions (Mg2+, K+, Na+, Ca2+, SO42-) and the remaining 30+ analyzed trace elements were enriched in proglacial streams relative to supraglacial meltwater. To evaluate the diurnal effects of glacial meltwater on the chemistry and hydrology of proglacial streams, we collected hourly water samples of Dinwoody Creek and deployed loggers to monitor water depth, temperature, and specific conductance (SPC) at 15-min intervals over a 1-week period. The influx of glacial meltwater between 10:00 and 20:00 diluted solute concentrations and affected the relative enrichment/depletion of highly soluble elements (major ions, alkaline earth elements), less than REEs. Stable isotopes of H and O (δD, δ18O) in Dinwoody Creek were more depleted during peak runoff (10:00 – 20:00) than base flow, reflecting contributions from isotopically depleted glacial meltwaters. Looping hysteresis patterns were observed between water depth versus DO, pH, temperature and SPC in glaciated streams. Hysteresis patterns were affected by changes in weather and varied depending on the type of stream (glaciated versus non-glaciated) and the distance to glacier toe. Combination of multiple hydrologic tracers (solute concentrations, high frequency logger data, stable isotopes) shows strong potential to improve estimates of glacial meltwater contributions to Dinwoody Creek. Our results suggest that elevated concentrations of heavy metals in glacier ice melt across the Intermountain West may negatively impact sensitive alpine streams.

<p dir="ltr">Alpine glacier meltwater is an important source of recharge supporting groundwater flow processes in the high mountains. In the face of rapid ice loss, knowledge of response times of mountain aquifers to loss of glacial ice is critical in evaluating the sustainability of alpine water resources for human communities and alpine ecosystems. Glaciers are very sensitive to changes in climate, they advance during periods of global or regional cooling, and they retreat in response to global or regional warming conditions. When the glaciers grow, the equilibrium-line altitude separating the zone of accumulation and zone of ablation on the glacier moves downslope; it moves upslope when they retreat. The latter is not a sustainable condition for the glacier. Previous studies have shown that glacial meltwater is an important source of groundwater recharge. However, we lack fundamental information on the importance of glacial meltwater in mountain groundwater processes such as supporting baseflow generation to alpine streams, perennial flow to alpine springs, and the geochemical evolution of groundwater in mountain aquifers. Thus, continued glacial ice loss may have severe consequences for alpine hydrological and hydrogeological systems.</p><p dir="ltr">Glacier National Park (GNP) and Mount Hood National Forest (MH), both have alpine glaciers. These two study sites show different responses to climate change since their glaciers are in different states of retreat. GNP glaciers are in advanced stages of retreat compared to MH glaciers. Groundwater samples were collected from springs, seasonal snow, glacial ice, and glacial melt (subglacial flow) in GNP and MH. The samples were analyzed for a suite of environmental isotopes and geochemical tracers to address the following questions: 1) How are isotopic fingerprints of glacial meltwater preserved in mountain-block aquifers? What does the isotopic fingerprint of subglacial flow tell us about melting, meltwater processes, and mixing processes? 2) Is the preservation of the isotopic fingerprint of glacial meltwater affected by aspect controls on ice preservation? Aspect is defined as the compass direction of the slope where the glacier is found. 3) What controls groundwater flow and flowpath connectivity from high elevations (near glacier) to lower elevations? What geologic units support groundwater flow to local- and regional-scale springs and flowpath connectivity across spatial scales in each study site?</p><p dir="ltr">The flow of groundwater in mountainous terrain is heavily dependent on the hydraulic properties of the bedrock including presence/absence of dipping layers and structural features, primary and secondary porosity, and presence/absence of ongoing tectonic activity. Strontium isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) were used to identify the rock units that host groundwater flowpaths and to quantify flowpath connectivity across spatial scales in both study sites. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data show that flowpaths in GNP are primarily hosted in the Helena Formation and permeable facies in the Snowslip Formation. Groundwater also flows through alluvium and younger bedrock units, and there is some flow along or through the volcanic sill in the Helena Formation. Hydrostratigraphy also affects groundwater flow and the spatial distribution of alpine springs in GNP. At MH, the rock units hosting flowpaths are young reworked volcanic rock units that are Quaternary in age. Flowpaths in MH appear to be connected across spatial scales since warm springs emerging along the lower southern slopes of Mount Hood preserve stable isotopic signatures of glacial meltwater. In comparison, nearly all the sampled springs in GNP emerge on south-facing slopes. This is not an indication of ice preservation, instead it’s controlled by hydrostratigraphy. In fact, it’s unlikely that high-elevation groundwater is strongly connected to low-elevation sites due to hydrostratigraphy. There are more springs on south-facing slopes at MH as well; however, they do not preserve an isotopic signature of recharge from glacial meltwater except for the warm springs. Springs on north-facing slopes in MH, however, do preserve the signature.</p><p dir="ltr">Tritium (³H) and chlorine-36 (³⁶Cl/Cl) were measured to assess how the isotopic fingerprint of glacial meltwater is preserved in mountain aquifers. The ³H activities in spring water are elevated in GNP and it’s difficult to differentiate between modern precipitation and glacial meltwater. Tritium activities are lower in MH, but it’s also difficult to differentiate between potential endmembers. This discrepancy could imply that glacial meltwater doesn’t contribute to groundwater recharge, but this doesn’t support the Bayesian stable isotope mixing model results of an earlier study. Instead, I infer that englacial mixing processes are affecting the isotopic fingerprint of subglacial melt. An englacial mixing model (EMM) was developed to explain how the isotopic fingerprint of subglacial flow (glacial meltwater) changes in relation to the stage of retreat. The stage of retreat is important because it controls the proportion of glacial meltwater to runoff from snowmelt and rain that enters the englacial network from the surface of the glacier. Mixing occurs in the englacial network, and the mixed water is transported to the base of the glacier. Englacial mixing in conduits, fractures, and moulins affects the ³H and ³⁶Cl/Cl fingerprint of subglacial flow and will, in turn, affect the isotopic fingerprint of recharge from glacial meltwater. For this study, the ³H is not robust by itself; however, ³⁶Cl/Cl shows some additional benefits over ³H. The EMM suggests that the impact of englacial mixing and the influence of modern precipitation on the isotopic composition of subglacial flow increases as the glacier retreats in both GNP and MH. This model is novel to the best of our knowledge. Additional testing of the EMM should be prioritized in the near future.</p>