Field investigation of preferential fissure flow paths with hydrochemical analysis of small-scale sprinkling experiments

D M Krzeminska,V Marc,T A Bogaard,T.-H Debieche,J.-P Malet,F Cervi

doi:10.5194/esurf-2-181-2014

D M Krzeminska, V Marc + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-181-2014

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Abstract

Abstract. The unsaturated zone largely controls groundwater recharge by buffering precipitation while at the same time providing preferential flow paths for infiltration. The importance of preferential flow on landslide hydrology is recognised in the literature; however, its monitoring and quantification remain difficult. This paper presents a combined hydrological and hydrochemical analysis of small-scale sprinkling experiments. It aims at showing the potential of such experiments for studying the spatial differences in dominant hydrological processes within a landslide. This methodology was tested in the highly heterogeneous black marls of the Super-Sauze landslide. The tests were performed in three areas characterised by different displacement rates, surface morphology and local hydrological conditions. Special attention was paid to testing the potential of small-scale sprinkling experiments for identifying and characterising preferential flow patterns and dominant hydrological processes.

Highlights

In the last two decades, the understanding of hydrological processes in hillslopes has advanced due to improved monitoring techniques (McDonnell, 1990; Kirchner, 2003; Tromp-van Meerveld and McDonnell, 2006) and, improved understanding of mass movement dynamics (Haneberg 1991; Uchida et al, 2001; Bogaard et al, 2004; Malet et al, 2005; de Montety et al, 2007; Wienhofer et al, 2011)
This paper shows the potential of combined hydrological and hydrochemical analyses by means of small-scale 1 × 1 m2 sprinkling experiments for studying the spatial differences in hydrological response to precipitation input
Dual or multiple permeability systems can be found in many hillslopes and they steer the hydrological dynamics of the hillslope

Summary

Introduction

In the last two decades, the understanding of hydrological processes in hillslopes has advanced due to improved monitoring techniques (McDonnell, 1990; Kirchner, 2003; Tromp-van Meerveld and McDonnell, 2006) and, improved understanding of mass movement dynamics (Haneberg 1991; Uchida et al, 2001; Bogaard et al, 2004; Malet et al, 2005; de Montety et al, 2007; Wienhofer et al, 2011). Current knowledge is still incomplete, especially concerning infiltration and percolation processes, subsurface flow paths and residence time of groundwater (Bogaard et al, 2004). The main difficulties stem from strong heterogeneity of hillslope lithology and spatio-temporal variation of hydrological properties as well as dominant hydrological processes. This is true when dealing with highly heterogeneous, unconsolidated, partly weathered silty-clay sediments, such as black marls.

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