Stable isotope characterization of the Vermigliana catchment

Characterizing the hydrological behavior of streams in small Alpine catchments spanning a wide range of elevations is a difficult task, often hampered by the intrinsic variability of streamwater sources. Stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen have been sampled monthly in order to determine the spatial and temporal hydrological behavior and the mean residence time of water in the Vermigliana catchment, North-Eastern Italy. This study aims at separating contributions to streamflow originating from Presena and Presanella glaciers, both exerting a strong control on the hydrologic budget of the study site. The isotopic signature of precipitation has been collected at two locations at different altitudes (1176 m a.s.l. and 2731 m a.s.l.), while stream water was sampled at 11 locations, 8 along the main course of the Vermigliana creek and 3 along the two tributaries of the Vermigliana creek: the Presanella and Presena creeks. Groundwater was sampled monthly in a single location, whilst the waters of two small lakes, Capanna Presena and Cantiere, both located in the proximity of the Presena glacier, were sampled during summer, when the sites were accessible. Isotope analysis evidenced that Presena and Presanella creeks are the main contributors to the Vermigliana creek. The contribution of the Presanella creek is 44% of the total flow at the confluence with the Vermigliana, while the contribution of the Presena creek rises to 75% of the total flow immediately after the confluence. The mean residence times computed for the Vermigliana and the tributaries vary between 7 and 5 months, respectively. This work allows us to investigate the main components in the hydrological cycle of the Vermigliana catchment and constitutes the basis for future modeling and climate change impact studies on this important Alpine catchment. The methodology can be exported to other sites with the aim to provide additional data, with respect to streamflow at the catchment outlet, to reduce epistemic uncertainty of hydrological models.