Stable Water Isotope Study of a Mesoscale Precambrian Shield Basin for Improved Model Predictions of Water Quantity and Quality

中尺度前寒武纪地盾盆地稳定水同位素研究，改进水量和水质模型预测

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-06449
• 负责人: James, April
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: Nipissing University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754793
• 关键词: Stable; Water; Isotope; Study; Mesoscale

The study of the cycling of water through our watersheds is critical to improve our ability to predict the impact of human activities (e.g. urban and agricultural landuse, climate change) on freshwater resources. Regionally, Precambrian shield lakes are showing an increasing number of harmful algae blooms (HABs) with nutrient inputs (e.g phosphorus) and climate conditions likely contributing factors. Computer models are primary tools that help predict future impacts on water resources but their use comes with large uncertainties. Water cycling studies can generate important insights into how water is stored and released to our waterways, improving these models. Recent technology has reduced the cost and improved the ability to analyze water and vapor samples for isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen of the water molecule. Ratios of naturally occurring water isotopes can distinguish the mixture of water sources in streamflow (e.g. snowmelt, groundwater) and the influence of evaporation which provides new evidence of important hydrological processes at scales relevant to watershed management and decision making. Lake Nipissing and the French River are part of an important headwater tributary that flows into Georgian Bay. The lake, and its 13,000 km2 watershed is the source of water to local municipalities and First Nation communities, home to a First Nations fishery and 5% of Ontario's recreational angling, and contributes an estimated $100 million/year to Ontario's economy. Based at Nipissing University's new Watershed Analysis Centre, this research program will apply water isotope technology to improve understanding of water movement in the Sturgeon River-Lake Nipissing-French River (SNF) basin. It will specifically evaluate contributions of snowmelt, groundwater and surface water (e.g. lakes, wetlands, reservoirs) to seasonal streamflow during high and low flows and over several years, capturing inter- and intra-year variability in inputs. The influence of landscape characteristics (geology, soils, topography, natural and human-induced landcover/use) on streamflow generation will be assessed. Findings from the SNF basin will provide new insights into water cycling for Precambrian shield basins with significant influences of anthropogenic activities (urbanization, agricultural activity) and advance research approaches in assessing impacts on water cycling that will be used for improved predictions of the future of our freshwater resources on a broad scale.

研究流域的水循环对于提高我们预测人类活动（例如城市和农业土地利用、气候变化）对淡水资源影响的能力至关重要。从区域来看，前寒武纪盾状湖的有害藻华（HAB）数量不断增加，养分输入（例如磷）和气候条件可能是促成因素。计算机模型是帮助预测未来对水资源影响的主要工具，但其使用存在很大的不确定性。水循环研究可以对水如何储存和释放到水道中产生重要的见解，从而改进这些模型。最近的技术降低了成本并提高了分析水和蒸汽样品中水分子的氧和氢同位素的能力。天然存在的水同位素比率可以区分水流中水源的混合物（例如融雪水、地下水）和蒸发的影响，这为与流域管理和决策相关的尺度上的重要水文过程提供了新的证据。尼皮辛湖和法国河是流入乔治亚湾的重要源头支流的一部分。该湖及其 13,000 平方公里的流域是当地市政当局和原住民社区的水源，也是原住民渔业的所在地和安大略省 5% 的休闲钓鱼场所，每年为安大略省的经济贡献约 1 亿加元。该研究项目以尼皮辛大学新的流域分析中心为基础，将应用水同位素技术来增进对斯特金河-尼皮辛湖-法国河 (SNF) 流域水运动的了解。它将专门评估融雪、地下水和地表水（例如湖泊、湿地、水库）在高流量和低流量期间以及几年内对季节性水流的贡献，捕获输入的年际和年内变化。将评估景观特征（地质、土壤、地形、自然和人为土地覆盖/使用）对水流生成的影响。 SNF盆地的研究结果将为人类活动（城市化、农业活动）产生重大影响的前寒武纪地盾盆地的水循环提供新的见解，并推进评估水循环影响的研究方法，这些方法将用于改进对我们未来的预测广泛的淡水资源。