Drivers of Historical and Future Coastal Runoff Across the Arctic and Sub‐Arctic Subregions of Alaska, <scp>USA</scp>

ABSTRACT This study investigates historical and future coastal runoff across the Arctic and sub‐Arctic subregions of Alaska, USA, emphasising changes in terrestrial hydrology and their implications for coastal discharge. Using the physically based SnowModel‐HydroFlow framework, historical (1991–2020) and future (2071–2100) coastal discharge climatologies were simulated, incorporating meteorological, topographic, and land cover inputs. Results reveal distinct seasonal and spatial patterns in temperature, precipitation, and snow dynamics across the Beaufort, Chukchi, Yukon, and Bristol subregions. Future projections suggest significant warming and shifts in hydrological regimes, such as increased annual precipitation and coastal discharge totals. Following a high emissions, business as usual pathway (SSP5‐8.5), coastal discharge hydrographs in the Beaufort and Yukon subregions remain snow dominated with increases in discharge in nearly all months, while Chukchi and Bristol subregions shift from snow dominated to rain dominated. These changes are linked to rising temperatures, decreasing snow precipitation fractions, and altered freezing levels, with implications for water storage, timing, and availability. This research provides insights into the drivers and consequences of hydrological changes in a rapidly warming Arctic, supporting efforts to predict and mitigate the impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Hydrological Processes
Published
2025-09-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70199
Primary Topic
Climate change and permafrost
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Drivers of Historical and Future Coastal Runoff Across the Arctic and Sub‐Arctic Subregions of Alaska, USA

D. F. Hill, Ryan Crumley, Christina M. Aragon
Hydrological Processes
Climate change and permafrost
article

Drivers of Historical and Future Coastal Runoff Across the Arctic and Sub‐Arctic Subregions of Alaska, USA

D. F. Hill, Ryan Crumley, Christina M. Aragon
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates historical and future coastal runoff across the Arctic and sub‐Arctic subregions of Alaska, USA, emphasising changes in terrestrial hydrology and their implications for coastal discharge. Using the physically based SnowModel‐HydroFlow framework, historical (1991–2020) and future (2071–2100) coastal discharge climatologies were simulated, incorporating meteorological, topographic, and land cover inputs. Results reveal distinct seasonal and spatial patterns in temperature, precipitation, and snow dynamics across the Beaufort, Chukchi, Yukon, and Bristol subregions. Future projections suggest significant warming and shifts in hydrological regimes, such as increased annual precipitation and coastal discharge totals. Following a high emissions, business as usual pathway (SSP5‐8.5), coastal discharge hydrographs in the Beaufort and Yukon subregions remain snow dominated with increases in discharge in nearly all months, while Chukchi and Bristol subregions shift from snow dominated to rain dominated. These changes are linked to rising temperatures, decreasing snow precipitation fractions, and altered freezing levels, with implications for water storage, timing, and availability. This research provides insights into the drivers and consequences of hydrological changes in a rapidly warming Arctic, supporting efforts to predict and mitigate the impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.

Hydrological ProcessesVol. 39(9)
Oregon State University (US), Los Alamos National Laboratory (US), Boise Bible College (US)
Oregon State University, North Pacific Research Board
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Climate change and permafrost
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