Separation of the surface and subsurface flow from snowmelt by the use of radioactive tracers

Submitted by Armida on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:59
TitleSeparation of the surface and subsurface flow from snowmelt by the use of radioactive tracers
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1972
AuthorsHolecek, G. R., and Moujaim A. A.
Conference Name40th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 40th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1972
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationPhoenix, Arizona
KeywordsFlow analysis, Flow separation, Groundwater, Runoff, Snowmelt
Abstract

The separation of surface and subsurface flow resulting from snowmelt for a 15 acre plot in north central Alberta was accomplished by means of a radioisotope tracer. The snow cover was sprayed with 50 to 150 millicuries of Iodine-125. Surface flow retained its radioactive characteristics while the subsurface flows lost its contamination because of filtering action by the soil mantle. This method can be used to study the impact of land utilization on the hydrologic cycle.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1972Holecek.pdf