Groundwater distribution and flow dynamics were studied in a small watershed located in the discontinuous permafrost zone near Umiujaq in Nunavik (Québec), Canada, to assess the seasonal variations and perform a quantitative analysis of the water cycle in a subarctic watershed. Due to the complexity of the subsurface geology within the watershed, an integrated investigation was instrumental to provide a detailed understanding of the hydrogeological context as a basis for the water balance. Based on this water balance, for the two studied hydrological years of 2015 and 2016, the average values are 828 mm for precipitation, 337 mm for evapotranspiration, 46 mm for snow sublimation, 263 mm for runoff, 183 mm for groundwater exchange (losses with other aquifers outside the watershed), and 0 mm for change in water storage. Although these values likely have significant uncertainty and spatial variability, this water balance is shown to be plausible. It was also found that permafrost influences surface water and groundwater interaction, even if located in low-permeability sediments. It is expected that permafrost degradation will likely increase stream baseflow, especially in winter.

在加拿大努纳维克（魁北克）Umiujaq附近不连续多年冻土带的一个小流域中研究了地下水的分布和流动动力学，以评估季节变化并定量分析亚北极流域的水循环。由于流域内地下地质的复杂性，综合调查有助于提供对水文地质背景的详细了解，以此作为水平衡的基础。基于此水平衡，在2015年和2016年这两个研究的水文年中，降水的平均值为828 mm，蒸散量为337 mm，升华量为46 mm，径流为263 mm，地下水交换为183 mm（分水岭外的其他含水层），以及0毫米用于换水。尽管这些值可能具有显着的不确定性和空间变异性，但这种水平衡似乎是合理的。还发现即使位于低渗透性沉积物中，多年冻土也会影响地表水和地下水的相互作用。预计永久冻土的退化将可能增加河流的基流，特别是在冬季。