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Trends in discharge and flow season timing of the Onyx River, Wright Valley, Antarctica since 1969

Open-File Report 2007-1047-SRP-088
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20071047SRP088

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Abstract

Flow records at the two stream gauges on the Onyx River represent the longest actively collected environmental records in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. The downstream gauge, near Lake Vanda, has been collecting data since 1969, and the upstream gauge, at Lower Wright Glacier (LWRT), has collected data since 1972. We analyzed these records to assess the long-term trends in annual discharge, flow season length, flow season start, and flow season end. Our results indicate overall decreasing trends in annual discharge (0.4x106 m3 /decade at LWRT, 0.8 x106 m3 /decade at Vanda), and increasing flow season lengths (by 7 d/decade at LWRT, and 2.7 d/decade at Vanda), influenced by earlier start and later end dates (5.2 and 0.8 d/decade, respectively at LWRT; 4.8, 1.4 d/decade, respectively at Vanda). This suggests that flow season climate patterns in the Dry Valleys are decreasing glacier melt intensity overall, but extending the period of meltwater generation

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Trends in discharge and flow season timing of the Onyx River, Wright Valley, Antarctica since 1969
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2007-1047-SRP-088
DOI 10.3133/ofr20071047SRP088
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title Antarctica: A Keystone in a Changing World--Online Proceedings for the Tenth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences. Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.--August 26 to September 1, 2007
Other Geospatial Antarctica
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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