A paper led by Masaki Tsujimura, Professor in the Environmental Dynamics Prediction Division, has recently been featured in a press release.
In this study, river discharge and water isotope ratios were analyzed in adjacent alpine catchments on Mt. Norikura in the Northern Japan Alps to investigate water circulation processes in alpine environments.
The results revealed that although the primary source of river water shifts seasonally from snowmelt water to rainfall, groundwater sustains river flow during both the snowmelt and rainy seasons. The study also showed that the contribution of groundwater to river discharge varies greatly among catchments, suggesting that factors such as vegetation, geology, and topography influence these differences.
These findings provide important insights into understanding how climate change-driven variations in snowfall, rainfall, and vegetation may affect water cycles in alpine regions and downstream water resources.
Source: University of Tsukuba Press Release (October 7, 2026)
For further details, please refer to the press release and the published paper below.
Press Release
- University of Tsukuba (October 7, 2026)
https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/journal/biology-environment/20261007140000.html - Press release document（PDF 986KB）