Hydrological Processes in Cold Regions

Cold regions hydrological cycles are driven by the seasonal accumulation and melt of snow and ice, and by interactions between frozen ground and flowing water. In winter, snowpacks form through snowfall, wind redistribution and metamorphism, storing water that is released during spring melt. The melt process depends on net radiation, air temperature and heat exchanges at the snow–air and snow–ground interfaces. Meltwater infiltration is controlled by the frozen state of soils: ice can block pore spaces, while macropores and cracks may enable preferential flow and early subsurface transport. Permafrost and seasonally frozen ground form low‐permeability barriers that affect groundwater recharge, runoff generation and streamflow dynamics. Processes such as canopy interception, sublimation and snow redistribution modulate the quantity and timing of meltwater. During snow‐free periods, evapotranspiration and soil thaw determine moisture storage and groundwater connectivity. These processes interact at scales from small catchments to entire river basins, impacting water supply, flood risk, infrastructure stability and ecological habitats. Climate warming is reducing snow duration, altering precipitation regimes and triggering more rain‐on‐snow events, with cascading effects on water availability and hazard management. Recent advances in measurement techniques, remote sensing and physically based modelling are enabling a more integrated understanding of cold‐region hydrology, supporting improved forecasts and adaptation strategies.

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Hydrological Processes in Cold Regions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in hydrological processes in cold regions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Snowpack: Accumulated layered snow on the ground that stores water and controls the timing and rate of meltwater release.

Permafrost: Subsurface soil or rock that remains at or below 0 °C for at least two consecutive years, restricting soil permeability and groundwater movement.

Seasonally frozen ground: Soil that freezes during winter months and thaws in spring, influencing infiltration, runoff and subsurface flow.

Freeze–thaw cycle: Repeated seasonal freezing and thawing of soil or snowpack, which alters soil structure, porosity and hydrological connectivity.

Macropore: Large soil conduits such as fractures or root channels that enable rapid water movement, bypassing the finer soil matrix.

Preferential flow: Focused movement of water along specific pathways (e.g. macropores), allowing rapid infiltration or subsurface transport outside of the bulk soil matrix.

References

1. Impact of climate change on snowpack dynamics in coastal Central-Western Greenland. The Science of The Total Environment (2023).
2. Application of an improved distributed hydrological model based on the soil–gravel structure in the Niyang River basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (2023).
3. Higher Frozen Soil Permeability Represented in a Hydrological Model Improves Spring Streamflow Prediction From River Basin to Continental Scales. Water Resources Research (2023).
4. Effects of preferential flow on snowmelt partitioning and groundwater recharge in frozen soils. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (2019).