Kamel et al. (2026) Climate Sensitivity of Humid Boreal Forest Stream Water Sourcing Informed by Variation in Air‐Stream Temperature Regression

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Hydrological Processes
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-06-29
• Authors: Helia Kamel, K. L. Prestegaard, Susan E. Ziegler
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.70607

Research Groups

• Department of Geography, University of Toronto
• Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor

Short Summary

This study investigates the relationship between air-stream temperature (AST) regressions and geomorphic structure in nine boreal headwater catchments across eastern Canada, revealing that thermal and hydrological responses to climate variability depend on basin area, steepness, and snowpack duration.

Objective

• Investigate how AST regressions are influenced by geomorphic structure and baseline stream thermal behavior in boreal headwater catchments.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Nine boreal headwater catchments across three regions of a north–south climate transect in eastern Canada.
• Temporal Scale: Ice-free period data spanning 5–7 years.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned, analysis based on observational data.
• Data sources: Air-stream temperature (AST) regressions derived from ice-free period data, satellite and observation-based datasets not specified.

Main Results

• AST slopes and intercepts vary with basin area and steepness, indicating greater groundwater contributions and thermal buffering in small, steep catchments.
• Interannual variability reveals climate controls on stream water sources and thermal responses that depend on geomorphic setting.
• Shallow flowpath contributions in thermally buffered small, steep headwaters are sensitive to evapotranspiration and precipitation.
• Larger, low-relief headwaters may be more sensitive to changing snowpacks.

Contributions

This study provides new insights into the coupled thermal and hydrological sensitivity of boreal landscapes, supporting predictions of hydrological and carbon fluxes in these regions.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

Citation

@article{Kamel2026Climate,
  author = {Kamel, Helia and Prestegaard, K. L. and Ziegler, Susan E.},
  title = {Climate Sensitivity of Humid Boreal Forest Stream Water Sourcing Informed by Variation in Air‐Stream Temperature Regression},
  journal = {Hydrological Processes},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1002/hyp.70607},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70607}
}