Approche quantitative et géochimique du gradient altitudinal des précipitations sur un bassin versant partiellement englacé sur la côte occidentale du Spitsberg

Quantitative and geochemical approach of altitude precipitation on a catchment area partially covered by a glacier on the occidental coast of Spitsberg

¹ Laboratoire Environnement Paysage, Théma, CNRS, Besançon
² Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie isotopique, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay

Abstract

In order to study water circulation of a small catchment, partially covered by a glacier in the Brogger peninsula area (Svalbard), quantitative and isotopie approaches give information on the recharge water of the hydrological and glaciological systems e.g. the meteoric water. The altitude effect has heen identified by different parameters as the snow amount and the isotopie composition in ¹⁸O and ²H. The area at 400 ma.s.l seems to receive more precipitation than the other altitudes of the catchment. If the snowfall appears to be more depleated in heavy isotopes in altitude, the effect of both strong winds and morphology of the catchment can induce a disruption of the initial geochemical signal.