Spatial Trends in Surface Water Quality, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska

Stottlemyer, Robert; Binkley, Dan; Suarez, Frank

With completion of study in 1992, field work addressing the original 1988-89 study objectives will be complete. While it would still be desirable to complete some additional studies mentioned in the 1990 progress report and 1991 research plan, to conduct them adequately would require additional funding. In all of our studies in Alaska, the primary objective has been to establish baseline surface water quality over rather extensive regions. The purpose was to establish a high quality assessment of surface water character against which change, be it of human or non-human origin, could be detected. A good example of the application of such a database occurred at Lake Clark in the assessment of the effect of Redoubt Volcano ash on the depth of the Lake Clark euphotic zone. Secondary objectives include a) some identification of major factors responsible for observed spatial variation in surface water chemistry, notably geomorphology and vegetation, and b) assessing the sensitivity of surface waters for detecting change in terrestrial ecosystem function (processes). For the Noatak Preserve, in 1991 we focused on objective b, and in 1992, the concluding year for this phase of study, we will focus on the primary objective and objective b). In 1992, we will conduct more detailed analyses of seasonal change in surface water chemistry, examining the potential sensitivity of surface water in detecting change in terrestrial processes, and gain a better understanding of taiga-tundra ecosystems and the possible ramifications of change due to chronic stress as might be induced by atmospheric contaminant inputs or climate shifts.