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Max Barczok - Master Thesis.pdf (2.28 MB)

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Water Cycle of Closed-basin Lakes in the Northern Great Plains: A Model-Based Approach

Barczok, Maximilian R
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-921X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430745741

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Geological Sciences.
Powerful and new hydrological codes have been developed over the last 15 years to help simulate complex hydrological problems. In this study, ParFlow (Ashby and Falgout, 1996), one of these codes, is used to research lakes, or “potholes,” in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of central North America. The PPR is of great importance to wildlife (Batt et al., 1989), but not well described due to its large size. These potholes fluctuate greatly throughout seasons and changing climates. ParFlow is used to study the behavior of these lakes in a prairie setting. The purpose and scope of this study is to better understand the role and patterns of surface and groundwater under changing climatic and geological settings. This work builds upon the classic studies of Winter (1978; 1983). These simplified representations of lakes do not represent the complexity of the PPR and this study aims to improve knowledge of these systems using ParFlow and improving upon the groundwork laid out by Winter. ParFlow, a less commonly used hydrological code, is also examined for strengths and weaknesses in this setting. To achieve these goals, a hypothetical model of a hill slope with a depression in the center, serving as the lake, was created with ParFlow. Climatic data from 1985 to 2005 was taken of the PPR region to simulate realistic climatic forcing. Four different trials are used to research these problems. The first three trials are concerned with the effect of different geological features on the lake. The last trial investigates the question of time lag between a precipitation event and the reaction a lake experiences. This study determines that closed basin lakes appear to be sensitive to the geological setting of the area. Small changes in this setting resulted in significant changes of the lake. The behavior of the unsaturated zone and moisture content adds a complex relationship between precipitation and the response of a lake. Disappearing storage in the shallow subsurface shifts the system to create more surface runoff. It was also determined that the response of the lake does not only depend on the strength of the precipitation event, but also on the precipitation in the preceding years. As a region experiences a wetter climate, the response to precipitation events increases. ParFlow was examined for weaknesses and strengths. Its ability to be coupled with the Common Land Model (CLM) to realistically simulate climatic forcing is impressive, but its inability to realistically simulate lakes and to deal with sinkholes represents a significant weakness in this study. It is my conclusion therefore that additional modifications to ParFlow are necessary before it can be considered for use in a lake study.
Frank Schwartz (Advisor)
Durand Michael (Committee Member)
Motomu Ibaraki (Committee Member)
78 p.
Earth; Geology
ParFlow; groundwater; Nothern Great Plains;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Barczok, M. R. (2015). Water Cycle of Closed-basin Lakes in the Northern Great Plains: A Model-Based Approach [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430745741

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Barczok, Maximilian. Water Cycle of Closed-basin Lakes in the Northern Great Plains: A Model-Based Approach. 2015. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430745741.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Barczok, Maximilian. "Water Cycle of Closed-basin Lakes in the Northern Great Plains: A Model-Based Approach." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1430745741

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1430745741
783
© 2015, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Water Cycle of Closed-basin Lakes in the Northern Great Plains: A Model-Based Approach by Maximilian R Barczok is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.