Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2007WY37B

Tracing Glacial Ice and Snow Meltwater with Isotopes

Institute: Wyoming
Year Established: 2007 Start Date: 2007-03-01 End Date: 2009-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $7,930 Total Non-Federal Funds: $117,232

Principal Investigators: David Williams

Abstract: There is still considerable uncertainty about how changes in snowpack, loss of alpine glaciers and forest disturbances such as fire or insect outbreaks are likely to translate into changes in stream and river discharge. Efforts to predict how streamflow is likely to change in response to these factors hinges on our ability to reduce the level of uncertainty in hydrological models in snowmelt-dominated catchments. This proposal explores the use of isotopic tracers as a means to identify the contribution of glacial melt, snowmelt and baseflow to stream discharge. The work will complement efforts currently underway in the Wind River range in the glacially fed Dinwwody Creek catchment. The principal scientific objective of this proposed work is to evaluate several isotopic tracers for their ability to distinguish sources of stream discharge in a snow/glacier fed watershed. One graduate student will be trained on this project and results will demonstrate to stakeholders how isotope tracers and the newly upgraded Stable Isotope Facility at the University of Wyoming can provide key information on processes affecting streamflow in the state.