CLASP (Coupled Land-Atmosphere Simulation Program), a regional scale hydrologic model, has been developed to study feedbacks between atmosphere, land, surface, and subsurface hydrologic processes (Gutowski et al. 1996a). The model also permits us to investigate what spatial and temporal scales are needed to adequately represent various hydrologic transport processes. The CLASP model has been successfully applied to a 80x80 km study site which includes the FIFE (First International satellite land surface climatology Field Experiment) site near Manhattan, Kansas (Gutowski et al. 1996b). Simulation results show good agreement, over the course of a year, with observed Kansas River discharge, measured at gauging stations.
A modified version of this model, which incorporates active layer dynamics (heat transfer, multi-dimensional fluid flow, and evapotranspiration), will be used in an analysis of the Mackenzie River Basin hydrologic cycle. The primary goal of this field application is to understand the feedbacks between active layer dynamics and atmosphere hydrologic processes. Model results will be compared to available hydrologic and climatological data and other model studies conducted in this watershed (Kite et al. 1994). Extensive Arctic river monitoring datasets are being assembled, including for example, archives developed under the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme. This work is being done as part of an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional initiative by Earth and Atmospheric scientists at the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, and the University of New Hampshire. We will describe our model and present the results of initial simulations.
References
Jennifer P. York Dept. of Geology University of Minnesota 310 Pillsbury Drive S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 Phone: (612) 627-4777 Fax: (612) 625-3819 E-mail: jen@darcy.geo.umn.edu