Estimates of River Discharge to the Arctic Ocean and Northern Seas (original) (raw)

2004

Abstract

Several estimates of pan-Arctic freshwater flux to the ocean are made using observed river discharge data, modeled results, and a composite of the two. For observed data we report on an updated version of the R-ArcticNet river discharge database. This database now contains over 5000 gauges from Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia. Modeled results use the Permafrost Water Balance Model (P/WBM) to characterize runoff, and other key hydrological variables, throughout the pan-Arctic region. The composite runoff field uses a hybrid of the observed data and modeled results to provide a "best guess" river discharge estimate. All estimates are carried out using the 25 km resolution digital river network based on the NSIDC Northern Hemisphere EASE grid. This river network contains over 3089 drainage basins within 18 Sea Basins throughout the pan-Arctic drainage system. An intercomparison of the different methods of estimating discharge to the ocean provides us with a range in expected outcomes which will yield those regions with increased uncertainty in discharge. The resultant database will be of use to Arctic Ocean modelers and those interested in the flux of freshwater continental shelves in the Arctic Seas.

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