Characterization of Meltwater Chemistry at Haig Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains

Abstract

With rising temperatures, Alberta’s glaciers are under stresses which alter the timing, amount, and composition of meltwater contributions to rivers flowing from the Rocky Mountains. This study took place on Haig Glacier, located at the headwaters of Kananaskis River, feeding into the Bow River downstream. Hydrochemical analyses were used to partition the runoff into supra and sub-glacial fractions. This study found that at Haig Glacier, water isotopes are not useful for partitioning glacial runoff, and that basal runoff is best identified by sulphate from the bedrock. The basal portion in bulk runoff increased from 5.5% in early July to 10.5% in late August. This study improves knowledge of the glacier’s internal hydrologic pathways and processes during the melt season, as well as the chemical signature of glacier meltwater in the Canadian Rockies, which will serve as a contribution to basin-scale studies in the future.