Measurement of unsaturated meltwater percolation flux in seasonal snowpack using self-potential

• Published in: Journal of glaciology Vol. 68; no. 267; pp. 25 - 40
• Main Author: Clayton, Wilson S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-02-2022
• Subjects: Ablation; Avalanches; Balance studies; Daily precipitation; Energy balance; Feasibility studies; Field strength; Flow velocity; Fluctuations; Fluxes; Freezing; glacier hydrology; Glaciers; Groundwater; Hydraulics; Laboratories; Landslides; Mass balance; Mass balance of glaciers; Mathematical models; Meltwater; melt–surface; Methods; Percolation; Physics; Saturation; Snow; Snow avalanches; Snowmelt; Snowpack; Surface energy; Surface properties; Surface water; Surface-groundwater relations; Vertical profiles; Water shortages; Wetting; Wetting front; Energy balance; glacier hydrology; melt–surface; snow
• ISSN: 0022-1430; 1727-5652
• DOI: 10.1017/jog.2021.67

This paper presents a feasibility study of in situ field measurements of unsaturated meltwater percolation flux within the vertical profile of a snowpack, using the self-potential (SP) method. On-site snowmelt column tests calibrated the SP measurements. The SP data measured electrical field strength with an electrode spacing of 20 cm, and coincident water saturation (Sw) measurements using time domain reflectometry allowed calculation of SP-modeled vertical percolation flux (qsp), expressed as Darcy velocity. The results reflected transient diurnal snowmelt dynamics, with peak flux lagging arrival of a saturation wetting front. Peak daily qsp was 60 to >300 mm d−1, whereas daily snowmelt was 20–50 mm w.e. Surface refreezing events appeared to cause upward flow, possibly representing water redistribution toward the freezing boundary. Calculated fluxes were comparable to actual fluxes, although average errors ranged from −15 to +46% compared to average of melt expected from surface energy-balance and ablation stake measurements. By advancing method development to measure unsaturated meltwater percolation flux in snowpacks this study creates opportunities to study fundamental snowmelt processes, may improve mathematical modeling and may supplement glacier mass-balance studies and studies of snowmelt interactions with avalanches, groundwater and surface water.