Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation
Spring snowmelt has a significant impact on the hydrological cycle in seasonally frozen soil areas. However, scholars hold differing, and even opposing, views on the role of snowmelt during the thawing period in groundwater recharge. To explore the potential recharge effects of spring snowmelt on gr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Hydrology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/11/12/201 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846104388243816448 |
|---|---|
| author | Yongjun Fang Xinqiang Du Xueyan Ye Enbo Wang |
| author_facet | Yongjun Fang Xinqiang Du Xueyan Ye Enbo Wang |
| author_sort | Yongjun Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spring snowmelt has a significant impact on the hydrological cycle in seasonally frozen soil areas. However, scholars hold differing, and even opposing, views on the role of snowmelt during the thawing period in groundwater recharge. To explore the potential recharge effects of spring snowmelt on groundwater in seasonal frozen soil areas, this study investigated the vadose zone dynamics controlled by soil freeze–thaw processes and snowmelt infiltration in the Northeast of China for 194 days from 31 October 2020 to 12 May 2021. Responses of groundwater level and soil moisture to snowmelt infiltration show that most snowmelt was infiltrated under the site despite the ground being frozen. During the unstable thawing period, surface snow had already melted, and preferential flow in frozen soil enabled the recharge groundwater by snowmelt (rainfall), resulting in a significant rise in groundwater levels within a short time. The calculated and simulated snowmelt (rainfall) infiltration coefficient revealed that during the spring snowmelt period, the recharge capacity of snowmelt or rainfall to groundwater at the site is 3.2 times during the stable thawing period and 4.5 times during the non-freezing period. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c9dfff730b1d499687aee2b110ca0f8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-5338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9dfff730b1d499687aee2b110ca0f8b2024-12-27T14:29:46ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382024-11-01111220110.3390/hydrology11120201Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical SimulationYongjun Fang0Xinqiang Du1Xueyan Ye2Enbo Wang3Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaGuangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, ChinaGuangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaSpring snowmelt has a significant impact on the hydrological cycle in seasonally frozen soil areas. However, scholars hold differing, and even opposing, views on the role of snowmelt during the thawing period in groundwater recharge. To explore the potential recharge effects of spring snowmelt on groundwater in seasonal frozen soil areas, this study investigated the vadose zone dynamics controlled by soil freeze–thaw processes and snowmelt infiltration in the Northeast of China for 194 days from 31 October 2020 to 12 May 2021. Responses of groundwater level and soil moisture to snowmelt infiltration show that most snowmelt was infiltrated under the site despite the ground being frozen. During the unstable thawing period, surface snow had already melted, and preferential flow in frozen soil enabled the recharge groundwater by snowmelt (rainfall), resulting in a significant rise in groundwater levels within a short time. The calculated and simulated snowmelt (rainfall) infiltration coefficient revealed that during the spring snowmelt period, the recharge capacity of snowmelt or rainfall to groundwater at the site is 3.2 times during the stable thawing period and 4.5 times during the non-freezing period.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/11/12/201spring snowmelt infiltrationgroundwater rechargeseasonal frozen soil areaswater balancegroundwater numerical simulation |
| spellingShingle | Yongjun Fang Xinqiang Du Xueyan Ye Enbo Wang Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation Hydrology spring snowmelt infiltration groundwater recharge seasonal frozen soil areas water balance groundwater numerical simulation |
| title | Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation |
| title_full | Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation |
| title_short | Groundwater Response to Snowmelt Infiltration in Seasonal Frozen Soil Areas: Site Monitoring and Numerical Simulation |
| title_sort | groundwater response to snowmelt infiltration in seasonal frozen soil areas site monitoring and numerical simulation |
| topic | spring snowmelt infiltration groundwater recharge seasonal frozen soil areas water balance groundwater numerical simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/11/12/201 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yongjunfang groundwaterresponsetosnowmeltinfiltrationinseasonalfrozensoilareassitemonitoringandnumericalsimulation AT xinqiangdu groundwaterresponsetosnowmeltinfiltrationinseasonalfrozensoilareassitemonitoringandnumericalsimulation AT xueyanye groundwaterresponsetosnowmeltinfiltrationinseasonalfrozensoilareassitemonitoringandnumericalsimulation AT enbowang groundwaterresponsetosnowmeltinfiltrationinseasonalfrozensoilareassitemonitoringandnumericalsimulation |