Peven et al. (2025) Climate controls on seasonal groundwater–stream connectivity in snow-dominated semi-arid headwaters

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-09
• Authors: Grace Peven, Timothy E. Link, Danielle K. Hare, Glen E. Liston, Jan U.H. Eitel
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134575

Research Groups

• University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Colorado State University, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)

Short Summary

This study investigates how groundwater-stream connectivity in snow-dominated semi-arid headwaters responds to climate variability, particularly the 2021 extreme drought, using diel air–water temperature amplitude ratios. It found that groundwater connectivity can increase or remain stable during drought, buffering thermal extremes in some streams.

Objective

• To evaluate the influence of the 2021 extreme meteorological drought on groundwater-stream connectivity in central Idaho headwater streams.
• To explore the use of diel air–water temperature amplitude ratios as a method to assess groundwater connectivity.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 12 headwater stream sites in central Idaho, USA.
• Temporal Scale: Data analyzed from 2017 to 2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Linear mixed effects model, Wilcoxon signed rank test.
• Data sources: In-situ stream and air temperature measurements, snowmelt timing and rate, runoff data, and spring Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI).

Main Results

• Groundwater connectivity exhibited variable responses to the 2021 drought, increasing in some streams while remaining stable or declining in others.
• Streams with stronger groundwater connectivity showed reduced atmospheric coupling during low snow years, while others maintained consistent thermal dynamics.
• Streams with greater groundwater connectivity consistently exhibited lower maximum summer temperatures.
• These patterns suggest that streams with higher groundwater connectivity can buffer thermal extremes, such as those experienced during drought events.

Contributions

• Provides a novel application of diel air–water temperature amplitude ratios to assess groundwater connectivity in ungauged, snow-dominated headwater streams.
• Offers critical insights into the heterogeneous responses of groundwater-stream connectivity to extreme meteorological drought in semi-arid headwaters.
• Highlights the importance of groundwater connectivity in providing thermal refugia and buffering stream temperatures against climate variability, particularly in the context of increasing drought frequency.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Peven2025Climate,
  author = {Peven, Grace and Link, Timothy E. and Hare, Danielle K. and Liston, Glen E. and Eitel, Jan U.H.},
  title = {Climate controls on seasonal groundwater–stream connectivity in snow-dominated semi-arid headwaters},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134575},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134575}
}