Isotope-based partitioning of streamflow in the oil sands region, northern Alberta: Towards a monitoring strategy for assessing flow sources and water quality controls

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dc.contributor.authorGibson, J.J.
dc.contributor.authorYi, Y.
dc.contributor.authorBirks, S.J.
dc.date.accessioned2018-03-26T20:44:35Z
dc.date.available2018-03-26T20:44:35Z
dc.date.copyright2016en_US
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractStudy region This study is based on the rapidly developing Athabasca Oil Sands region, northeastern Alberta. Study focus Hydrograph separation using stable isotopes of water is applied to partition streamflow sources in the Athabasca River and its tributaries. Distinct isotopic labelling of snow, rain, groundwater and surface water are applied to estimate the contribution of these sources to streamflow from analysis of multi-year records of isotopes in streamflow. New hydrological insights for the region The results provide new insight into runoff generation mechanisms operating in six tributaries and at four stations along the Athabasca River. Groundwater, found to be an important flow source at all stations, is the dominant component of the hydrograph in three tributaries (Steepbank R., Muskeg R., Firebag R.), accounting for 39–50% of annual streamflow. Surface water, mainly drainage from peatlands, is also found to be widely important, and dominant in three tributaries (Clearwater R., Mackay R., Ells R.), accounting for 45–81% of annual streamflow. Fairly limited contributions from direct precipitation illustrate that most snow and rain events result in indirect displacement of pre-event water by fill and spill mechanisms. Systematic shifts in regional groundwater to surface-water ratios are expected to be an important control on spatial and temporal distribution of water quality parameters and useful for evaluating the susceptibility of rivers to climate and development impacts.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipFunding was obtained via an NSERC Discovery Grant to JJG and via an Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) Program Investment Grant.en_US
dc.identifier.citationGibson, J.J., Yi, Y. & Birks, S.J., (2016). Isotope-based partitioning of streamflow in the oil sands region, northern Alberta: Towards a monitoring strategy for assessing flow sources and water quality controls. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 5, 131-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.12.062en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.12.062
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/9159
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studiesen_US
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_US
dc.subjectHydrograph separationen_US
dc.subjectGroundwateren_US
dc.subjectSurface wateren_US
dc.subjectSnowmelten_US
dc.subjectOil sandsen_US
dc.titleIsotope-based partitioning of streamflow in the oil sands region, northern Alberta: Towards a monitoring strategy for assessing flow sources and water quality controlsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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