Streamflow Monitoring in the McMurdo Dry Valleys

USGS cooperative activities with the MCMLTER NSF-funded project

USGS hydrologist gauging Onyx River

Streamflow monitoring in McMurdo Dry Valleys

• Onyx River in Wright Valley- in 1970 by New Zealand Antarctic Research Program

• Streams in Fryxell basin in Taylor Valley-in 1990 by USGS program supported by NSF

• All major streams in Taylor Valley and Onyx River- in 1993 by MCMLTER with USGS (Wyoming District since 1997)

Glacial meltwater streams:climatic connection between the glaciers and the lakes

Creek

Canada Glacier

Commonwealth

Glacier

Crescent GlacierHoward

Glacier

Gre

en

Del

ta

Stre

amH

arnishStream

Von

GuerardStream

AikenCreek

Huey

Canada

Cre

ek

Stream

Stre amSeal

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st

McK

nigh

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sce n

tSt

reamN

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RelictChannel

USGS-MCMLTER Streamflow Monitoring Activities

• USGS hydrologist (or hydrologic technician) in the field for 1 month, working with graduate students in water resources from MCMLTER

• Graduate students analyze stage data following USGS protocols (using ADAPS) with guidance from hydrologists at Wyoming District office

McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Polar desert: • Dry (<10 cm precip. Annually)• Cold (average air temp. = -20oC)

– Meltwater streams flow for 6 to 14 weeks– Streamflow is 0.01 to 5 cfs (ft3/s), water

temperature is 0.1 to 14 oC– High flows (>20 cfs) occur at decadal intervals– Habitat for benthic algae mats– Source and control of solute input to the lakes

Parshall flume used to obtain accurate discharge at low flow

Santa Fe Creek on 12/21/00: 35 cfs

Filamentous cyanobacteria (blue-green algae): orange algal mats

USGS Expertise Maintains Record Quality for Difficult Measurements

• Challenge-Extreme range of flows and unstable substrate

• Parshall flumes with weirs in cutoff wall-compound rating

• Natural channel controls

• High sediment load during high flow

• Temporary sites near glaciers

Maintenance of gauges to maintain record

Green Creek gauge moveddue to lake level riseSanta Fe gauge pummeled by 100 cfs (cubic feet/sec)

Streamflow monitoring in McMurdo Dry Valleys

• Streamflow data managed in MCMLTER relational database (Oracle) and available on MCMLTER website

• Future plans- upgrade measurement technology (acoustic doppler) and telemeter data in real time via satellite

Fryxell basin: streamflow greater during 89-92 than during 93-present

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90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99

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3 )

CommonwealthLost SealHueyCanadaGreenAndersen

Wright Valley: Onyx River flow has also been lower since 93

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90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99

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Onyx River at Vanda

Onyx River at Lower Wright

Hyporheic zone, wetted zone adjacent to stream, stores water and enhances evaporation

In cold summers, streams retain water and nutrients, limiting inputs to lakes

The Stream Team (USGS & University of Colorado) acknowledges logistical support by PHI, ASA and Raytheon, and field assistance from other MCMLTER investigators