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Article
Mid-Holocene Hydrologic Model of the Shingobee Watershed, Minnesota
Quaternary Research
  • Sheryl K. Filby, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • Sharon Locke, University of Southern Maine
  • Mark Person, Indiana University
  • Thomas C. Winter, United States Geological Survey
  • Donald Rosenberry, United States Geological Survey
  • John L. Nieber, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  • William J. Gutowski, Jr., Iowa State University
  • Emi Ito, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
11-1-2002
DOI
10.1006/qres.2002.2377
Abstract

A hydrologic model of the Shingobee Watershed in north-central Minnesota was developed to reconstruct mid-Holocene paleo-lake levels for Williams Lake, a surface-water body located in the southern portion of the watershed. Hydrologic parameters for the model were first estimated in a calibration exercise using a 9-yr historical record (1990–1998) of climatic and hydrologic stresses. The model reproduced observed temporal and spatial trends in surface/groundwater levels across the watershed. Mid-Holocene aquifer and lake levels were then reconstructed using two paleoclimatic data sets: CCM1 atmospheric general circulation model output and pollen-transfer functions using sediment core data from Williams Lake.

Calculated paleo-lake levels based on pollen-derived paleoclimatic reconstructions indicated a 3.5-m drop in simulated lake levels and were in good agreement with the position of mid-Holocene beach sands observed in a Williams Lake sediment core transect. However, calculated paleolake levels based on CCM1 climate forcing produced only a 0.05-m drop in lake levels. We found that decreases in winter precipitation rather than temperature increases had the largest effect on simulated mid-Holocene lake levels. The study illustrates how watershed models can be used to critically evaluate paleoclimatic reconstructions by integrating geologic, climatic, limnologic, and hydrogeologic data sets.

Comments

This article is from Quaternary Research 58 (2002): 246–254, doi:10.1006/qres.2002.2377. Posted with permission.

Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Sheryl K. Filby, Sharon Locke, Mark Person, Thomas C. Winter, et al.. "Mid-Holocene Hydrologic Model of the Shingobee Watershed, Minnesota" Quaternary Research Vol. 58 Iss. 3 (2002) p. 246 - 254
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/william-gutowski/50/