AbstractGravel terrain in the polar desert region of Arctic Canada supports many features such as saturated zones, wetlands, ponds and streams, all of which are associated with local seepage of suprapermafrost groundwater. Gravels have high specific yield and large hydraulic conductivity to facilitate water flow, but a shallow frost table prevents deep percolation so that, given adequate water supply from snowmelt or rainfall, seepage will occur where the topographic surface intersects the water table. Such seepage can be seen on concave slopes to produce local saturated zones. Where seepage is focused, wetlands, ponds and small streams are maintained. Water balance computation for a wetland and a pond shows that seepage from their upslope gravel zones is a major water source. Continual seepage alters the soil, vegetation and moisture characteristics of the site, and the resulting thermal and hydrological feedbacks perpetuate the various features discussed.
