Ziya Zhang
Water Research Center
P.O.Box 755860
University of Alaska
Fairbanks
AK 99775-5860
Phone: +1 907-474-7975 or -7979
Fax : +1 907 474-7979
email: zhang@arsc.edu
The Arctic plays an important role in global climate dynamics. The system as a whole is a combination of many processes including terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric processes. In addition, the hydrologic and thermal processes are the main linkages between the biosphere and the atmosphere. A physically based, spatially distributed hydrologic model is constructed to quantitatively simulate the energy and mass transfer processes of the hydrologic regime in an arctic region. This model may then be coupled with the biogeochemical processes of a watershed to help us better understand the mechanisms that impact global climate change. This hydrologic model deals mainly with the processes of subsurface, overland, and channel flow and other energy driven processes. During periods of rainfall and intense melting of snow, soils become saturated and three different flow regimes exist. At the same time, many other processes such as evapotranspiration, snow ablation and soil thawing may occur. This hydrologic model considers the dynamic interactions of each of these processes.
Author of the abstract: Ziya Zhang