Catchment hydrology of a High Arctic lake

In small lake catchments of the High Arctic, hydrologic processes are highly variable both spatially and temporally, so that single site measurements of hydrologic phenomena are seldom representative of the catchment averages. Throughout spring and summer, snow and ice melts often occur alongside evaporation and runoff from bare ground. The evaluation of various hydrologic quantities therefore is prerequisite upon an incorporation of the changing spatial patterns of the major hydrologic processes.Through budgeting the water inputs and losses of a typical lake and its catchment, this study demonstrates the dependence of small High Arctic lakes upon their catchments for water supplies. In turn, the lakes modify storage and thus alter the outflow regime of their catchments.