Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
HESS
Articles | Volume 28, issue 10
Articles | Volume 28, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2239-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2239-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 28, issue 10
Research article
 | 
28 May 2024
Research article |  | 28 May 2024

Elevational control of isotopic composition and application in understanding hydrologic processes in the mid Merced River catchment, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Fengjing Liu, Martha H. Conklin, and Glenn D. Shaw

Data sets

Isotopic Composition in Streamflow, Groundwater, and Precipitation in the Merced River, Sierra Nevada, California, USA Fengjing Liu and Martha Conklin https://doi.org/10.4211/hs.1cafaccac14a4748a5260faf88f04781

California Data Exchange Center - Precipitation California Data Exchange Data Center https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow_rain.html

California Data Exchange Center - Snow California Data Exchange Data Center https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/index.html

California Data Exchange Center - River Stages/Flow California Data Exchange Data Center https://cdec.water.ca.gov/riv_flows.html

The National Map-Data Delivery US Geological Survey https://www.usgs.gov/the-national-map-data-delivery/gis-data-download

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Short summary
Mountain snowpack has been declining and more precipitation falls as rain than snow. Using stable isotopes, we found flows and flow duration in Yosemite Creek are most sensitive to climate warming due to strong evaporation of waterfalls, potentially lengthening the dry-up period of waterfalls in summer and negatively affecting tourism. Groundwater recharge in Yosemite Valley is primarily from the upper snow–rain transition (2000–2500 m) and very vulnerable to a reduction in the snow–rain ratio.
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