Cochrane, Jessica J听1听;听Ge, Shemin听2
1听University of Colorado
2听University of Colorado
It is widely accepted that the global climate is changing, yet our understanding of the effect of climate change on groundwater resources is limited. Many questions remain regarding the size of groundwater reservoirs in high altitude regions and how groundwater is recharged and stored in mountain watersheds. The predominant goal of my research is to examine the impact of climate change on groundwater storage and flux rate in high altitude regions. We are currently in the process of conducting a hydrologic field study of the groundwater system of the Niwot Ridge National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological AV名湿 Site. The site is located in the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies just east of the Continental Divide at an elevation greater than 4,000 meters. It receives abundant snowfall and remains cool throughout the year. We are monitoring the climatic patterns as well as diurnal and seasonal fluctuations of the water table on the Ridge. We will use these field data to assess the rate of snow melt-water recharge to groundwater. In addition, these data will serve as input parameters for a mathematical model which will simulate the response of groundwater storage and flow rate in mountain regions on a variety of spacial and temporal scales.