| Abstract: | Watersheds along the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) are undergoing climate warming, glacier volume loss, and shifts in the timing and volume of freshwater delivered to the eastern North Pacific Ocean. We estimate recent mean annual freshwater discharge to the GOA at 870 km3 yr-1. Small distributed coastal drainages contribute 78% of the freshwater discharge with the remainder delivered by larger rivers penetrating coastal ranges. Discharge from glaciers and icefields accounts for 47% of total freshwater discharge, with 10% coming from glacier volume loss associated with rapid thinning and retreat of glaciers along the GOA. Our results indicate the region of the GOA from Prince William Sound to the east, where glacier runoff contributes 371 km3 yr -1, is vulnerable to future changes in freshwater discharge as a result of glacier thinning and recession. Changes in timing and magnitude of freshwater delivery to the GOA could impact coastal circulation as well as biogeochemical fluxes to near-shore marine ecosystems and the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Copyright ?? 2010 by the American Geophysical Union. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70037469 |
| Citation Author: | Neal, E. G.; Hood, E.; Smikrud, K. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | 6 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Contribution of glacier runoff to freshwater discharge into the Gulf of Alaska; 2010; Article; Journal; Geophysical Research Letters; Neal, E. G.; Hood, E.; Smikrud, K. |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | 37 |
| Citation Year: | 2010 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Contribution of glacier runoff to freshwater discharge into the Gulf of Alaska; 2010; Article; Journal; Geophysical Research Letters; Neal, E. G.; Hood, E.; Smikrud, K. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010GL042385 |
| Date Other: | Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | |
