Cryosphere–groundwater connectivity is a missing link in the mountain water cycle

van Tiel M, Aubry-Wake C, Somers L, Andermann C, Avanzi F, Baraer M, Chiogna G, Daigre C, Das S, Drenkhan F, Farinotti D, Fyffe CL, de Graaf I, Hanus S, Immerzeel W, Koch F, McKenzie JM, Müller T, Popp AL, Saidaliyeva Z, Schaefli B, Schilling OS, Teagai K, Thornton JM, Yapiyev V (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 2

Pages Range: 624-637

Article Number: 4669

Journal Issue: 7

DOI: 10.1038/s44221-024-00277-8

Abstract

The mountain cryosphere and groundwater play pivotal roles in shaping the hydrological cycle, yet their connectivity remains incompletely understood. Current knowledge on meltwater recharge and consequent groundwater discharge processes is better developed for snow–groundwater connectivity than for glacier–groundwater connectivity. Estimates of meltwater recharge vary considerably, which is probably a function of not only inherent catchment characteristics but also of the different spatio-temporal scales involved and the uncertainties in the methods used. This hinders a comprehensive understanding of the mountain water cycle. As glaciers retreat, permafrost thaws and snowpack diminishes, the relative importance of mountain groundwater is expected to increase. However, shifting and declining recharge from the cryosphere may decrease absolute groundwater amounts and fluxes with as-yet unknown effects on catchment-scale hydrological processes. We therefore stress the need to better quantify mountain cryosphere–groundwater connectivity to predict climate change impacts on mountain water supply and to support sustainable water resource management of downstream socio-ecological systems.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH) Switzerland (CH) Universiteit Utrecht (UU) / Utrecht University Netherlands (NL) Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) / University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna Austria (AT) McGill University Canada (CA) Université de Lausanne (UNIL) Switzerland (CH) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) / Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut Sweden (SE) University of Reading United Kingdom (GB) Universität Bern Switzerland (CH) Universität Basel Switzerland (CH) IFP Energies nouvelles France (FR) Nazarbayev University / Назарбаев Университеті Kazakhstan (KZ) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich Switzerland (CH) Dalhousie University Canada (CA) Géosciences Rennes (CNRS UMR 6118) France (FR) CIMA Research Foundation / Centro Internazionale in Monitoraggio Ambientale (Fondazione CIMA) Italy (IT) École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) de l'Université du Québec Canada (CA) Laboratoire de Géologie de l'École Normale Supérieure de Paris (LG ENS) (UMR CNRS 8538) France (FR) Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) India (IN) Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Peru (PE) Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) Austria (AT) Wageningen University & Research Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

van Tiel, M., Aubry-Wake, C., Somers, L., Andermann, C., Avanzi, F., Baraer, M.,... Yapiyev, V. (2024). Cryosphere–groundwater connectivity is a missing link in the mountain water cycle. Nature Water, 2(7), 624-637. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00277-8

MLA:

van Tiel, Marit, et al. "Cryosphere–groundwater connectivity is a missing link in the mountain water cycle." Nature Water 2.7 (2024): 624-637.

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