Local Hydrologic Conditions Associated with Seismic Line Disturbance in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta
Date
2024-04-24
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Abstract
Seismic lines are a prominent disturbance in the boreal forest, characterized by clearcut lines between 1.5-10 meters wide, fragmenting the landscape. After clearing, these seismic lines frequently exhibit low seedling recruitment and growth rates, due in part to the altered hydrological conditions on the line, resulting in a persistent disturbance that requires further understanding to facilitate recovery. As such, this research quantified soil and hydrologic properties on seismic lines at two sites south of Fort McMurray Alberta during 2021 and 2022. Water table levels were measured weekly, and were paired with measurements of bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and specific yield. A snow study, completed in March of 2022, analyzed snow depth, density and snow water equivalent across seismic lines. Bulk density increased on seismic lines by 16% and 124% in lowland and upland ecosites respectively, due to compression in lowlands, and moss removal in uplands. Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased on seismic lines by one order of magnitude for upland and lowland ecosites. Porosity decreased significantly at the rooting zone in upland ecosites. Specific yield decreased significantly at the surface of upland and lowland ecosites. Water table variability was increased on seismic lines, however depth to water table was more related to topographic position. Snow water equivalent was up to 90 mm higher than the natural area on wide East-West oriented lines. The results may provide information to researchers and industry partners on the alteration of important ecosite factors on seismic lines that may limit line recovery trajectories.
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Keywords
Seismic Lines, Soils, Peat soils, Snow
Citation
Weiland, L. M. (2024). Local hydrologic conditions associated with seismic line disturbance in the boreal forest of northern Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.