Groundwater Flow Mechanisms Research Articles

Quantitative separation of the local vadose zone water storage changes using the superconductive gravity technique

The quantitative study of vadose zone water (i.e., the water contained in the rock formation between the ground surface and the groundwater level) is of vital importance for understanding the groundwater flow mechanism, mass exchange, and circulation. However, the vadose zone is closely related to the saturated zone, and it is difficult to directly observe the vadose zone water, causing the quantitative separation of the vadose zone water storage to be a challenging problem. Considering the insufficient spatial resolution of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), we draw on the practice of converting the observed groundwater level changes into the water storage changes in the study of groundwater storage changes using GRACE data, and propose a new method for implementing the quantitative separation of vadose zone water storage changes based on a single superconducting gravimeter and groundwater level observation data. This new method is validated with measurement data collected using a superconducting gravimeter (GWR-C032) at the National Geodetic Observation Station in Wuhan, China (Wuhan SG Station) and groundwater level observation data obtained during the same period. The calculation results show that the changes in the vadose zone water storage obtained using the superconductive gravity technique are in good agreement with that obtained using the local hydrological modeling method, indicating that the quantitative separation of the changes in the local vadose zone water storage can be achieved using superconductive gravity and groundwater level observations. During the study period from May 2008 to April 2010, the peak-to-peak changes of the vadose zone water storage at Wuhan SG Station reached 1580 mm, and the seasonal variations were the inverse of the variations of the total groundwater storage changes and the saturated zone water storage changes, indicating that the vadose zone plays a pronounced role in slowing down the total groundwater storage changes.

Using Environmental Tracers to Characterize Groundwater Flow Mechanisms in the Fractured Crystalline and Karst Aquifers in Upper Crocodile River Basin, Johannesburg, South Africa

Environmental isotope tracers were applied in the Upper Crocodile River Basin, Johannesburg, South Africa, to understand the groundwater recharge conditions, flow mechanisms and interactions between surface and subsurface water. Stable isotope analysis indicated that recharge into the fractured quartzite aquifer occurs through direct mechanisms. The high variability in the stable isotope signature of temporal samples from Albert Farm spring indicated the importance of multiple samples for groundwater characterization, and that using a single sample may be yielding biased conclusions. The observed inverse relationship between spring discharge and isotope signature indicated the traces of rainfall amount effect during recharge, thereby suggesting piston groundwater flow. It is deduced that a measured discharge value can be used in this relationship to calculate the isotopic signature, which resembles effective rainfall. In the shallow alluvial deposits that overlie the granitic bed-rock, piezometer levels and stable isotopes revealed an interaction between Montgomery stream and interflow, which regulates streamflow throughout the year. This suggests that caution should be taken where hydrograph separation is applied for baseflow estimates, because the stream flow that overlies such geology may include significant interflow. The hydrochemistry evolution was observed in a stream fed by karst springs. As pH rises due to CO2 degassing, CaCO3 precipitates, thereby forming travertine moulds. The values of saturation indices that were greater than zero in all samples indicated supersaturation by calcite and dolomite and hence precipitation. Through 14C analysis, groundwater flow rate in the karst aquifer was estimated as 11 km/year, suggesting deep circulation in karst structures.

Hydrogeochemistry and groundwater flow mechanisms in shallow aquifer in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract Hydrogeochemical processes and flow mechanisms of groundwater in the urban area of Yaoundé were investigated using major chemical constituents, stable isotopes (18O and 2H), and multivariate statistical analysis. Thirty five groundwater samples were collected and analysed for various parameters. Hydrogeochemical evolution visualized with the Gibbs diagram showed that the groundwater is mainly controlled by water–rock interactions. Factor analysis on the other hand identified three major groups of geochemical constituents and showed that weathering and anthropogenic inputs are the dominant factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the study area. Isotopic analyses revealed that oxygen-18 of groundwater (18O = −2.96 ‰ VSMOW) is close to that of rainfall (18O = −2.47), indicating that the groundwater is recharged by rainwater without evaporation. The geogenic composition of urban groundwater in Yaoundé is modified by secondary processes and anthropogenic input.

Evaluation of a hydrodynamic threshold in the Zhaidi karst aquifer (Guangxi Province, China)

Understanding how the discharge-rate and the hydraulic gradient of a karst aquifer varies in response to rainfall events is important for the efficient management of water resources in these aquifers. The relationship between discharge and hydraulic gradient is related to aquifer properties such as the physical characteristics of the karstic matrix, hydraulic conductivity and the extent to which water is exchanged between conduits and the matrix. In this study, discharge and hydraulic gradient data were monitored at 4-h intervals for 476 continuous days in the Zhaidi karst aquifer located in Guilin, Guangxi Province, China. These data showed that the relationship between flow rate and hydraulic gradient in the aquifer became increasing non-linear with increasing flow rates. After analyzing the time series data, a hydrodynamic threshold between quickflow- and baseflow conditions was found to take place at a discharge rate of 0.80 m3/s. The linear law and nonlinear equations were obtained between discharge and hydraulic gradient which reflected the flow mechanism of groundwater flow in this karst aquifer.

Groundwater flow mechanism in the well-developed karst aquifer system in the western Croatia: Insights from spring discharge and water isotopes

Karst aquifers have a fundamental importance to water supply in many countries. Due to their specific hydrogeologic properties, these aquifers are sometimes difficult to use because of the high discharge variations of the karst springs and are almost always sensitive to pollution. With an aim to better understand karst aquifers, different research methods are used to study the karst groundwater system in Croatia.The spring hydrograph and the stable isotope (δ18O, δ2H) compositions in the water samples collected from the Rječina and Zvir springs and precipitation were analysed and used to characterize the karst aquifer. The recession coefficient obtained from the hydrograph analysis indicates only a fast-flow spring component at the Rječina spring. The lack of the base-flow spring component is the primary reason for the spring drying out during the dry periods. The low recession coefficient of the Zvir spring indicates a base-flow and discharge from well-drained fissures and fractures in the spring catchment area during the low water stage. A mean residence time (MRT) of groundwater was calculated for stable isotope δ18O using lumped parameter approach by applying the exponential model, combined exponential-piston and dispersion models to isotopic input (rainfall) and output (spring) data sets during 2011–2013. The MRT of 3.24 and 3.6months for the Rječina spring and 7.2months for the Zvir spring suggests recent groundwater recharge from precipitation.

One-dimensional analytical solution for hydraulic head and numerical solution for solute transport through a horizontal fracture for submarine groundwater discharge

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has been recognized as a major pathway of groundwater flow to coastal oceanic environments. It could affect water quality and marine ecosystems due to pollutants and trace elements transported through groundwater. Relations between different characteristics of aquifers and SGD have been investigated extensively before, but the role of fractures in SGD still remains unknown. In order to better understand the mechanism of groundwater flow and solute transport through fractures in SGD, one-dimensional analytical solutions of groundwater hydraulic head and velocity through a synthetic horizontal fracture with periodic boundary conditions were derived using a Laplace transform technique. Then, numerical solutions of solute transport associated with the given groundwater velocity were developed using a finite-difference method. The results indicated that SGD associated with groundwater flow and solute transport was mainly controlled by sea level periodic fluctuations, which altered the hydraulic head and the hydraulic head gradient in the fracture. As a result, the velocity of groundwater flow associated with SGD also fluctuated periodically. We found that the pollutant concentration associated with SGD oscillated around a constant value, and could not reach a steady state. This was particularly true at locations close to the seashore. This finding of the role of fracture in SGD will assist pollution remediation and marine conservation in coastal regions.

Analyses of groundwater flow and plant evapotranspiration in a vegetated soil slope

Understanding seasonal hydrogeological responses of vegetated soil slopes is vital to slope stability because pore-water pressure (PWP) varies from positive values upon rainfall in wet seasons to negative values upon plant evapotranspiration (ET) in dry seasons. There are, however, few case histories that report seasonal performance of vegetated soil slopes. In this study, a vegetated slope situated in Hong Kong was instrumented to analyse (i) groundwater flow during rainfall in the wet season and (ii) effects of plant ET on PWP in the dry season. Two- and three-dimensional anisotropic transient seepage analyses are conducted to identify groundwater flow mechanism(s) during a heavy rainstorm. Through water and energy balance calculations, measured plant-induced suction is interpreted with plant characteristic and climatic data. During the rainstorm, substantial recharge of the groundwater table was recorded, likely due to preferential water flow along relict joints and three-dimensional cross-slope groundwater flow. During the dry season, the peak suction induced by plant ET is up to 200 kPa and the depth of influence is shallower than 200% of the root depth. For the range of suctions monitored, root-water uptake is revealed to have been restricted by suction not very significantly and was driven mainly by the climatic variation.

Seasonal movement and groundwater flow mechanism in an unsaturated saprolitic hillslope

Numerous field monitoring programs have been conducted to investigate the performance of an unsaturated soil slope subjected to rainfalls in wet seasons. Most case histories focus on the response of matric suction, which is one of the two stress-state variables governing unsaturated soil behaviour. However, effects due to another variable, net normal stress, are often ignored. Also, slope performance under alternative wet and dry seasons is rarely reported and analysed. In this study, a saprolitic hillslope situated in Hong Kong was instrumented heavily to investigate its seasonal movement due to changes of the two variables and also groundwater flow mechanism. Two-year seasonal variations of matric suction and net normal stress were monitored by tensiometers together with heat dissipation matric water potential sensors and earth pressure cells, respectively. During heavy rainstorms in wet season, there was a substantial recharge of the main groundwater table, causing a significant increase of positive pore-water pressure in deeper depths. Rupture surface likely developed at depths between 5.5 and 6 m, hence resulting in a “deep-seated” mode of downslope movement. The downslope movement resulted in a peak increase of horizontal stress. In dry seasons, matric suction of up to 190 kPa was recorded, and the associated soil shrinkage led to substantial upslope rebounds. The stress built up in wet seasons hence reduced. After monitoring period of 2 years, downslope ratcheting is identified. Up to 40 % of the downslope displacements were recovered by the upslope rebounds.

Evolution model of δ 34S and δ 18O in dissolved sulfate in volcanic fan aquifers from recharge to coastal zone and through the Jakarta urban area, Indonesia

The sources of sulfate in an aquifer system, and its formation/degradation via biogeochemical reactions, were investigated by determining sulfate isotope ratios (δ 34S SO4 and δ 18O SO4) in dissolved sulfate in groundwater from the Jakarta Basin. The groundwater flow paths, water ages, and geochemical features are well known from previous studies, providing a framework for the groundwater chemical and isotopic data, which is supplemented with data for spring water, river water, hot spring water, seawater, detergents, and fertilizers within the basin. The sulfate isotope composition of groundwater samples varied widely from − 2.9‰ to + 33.4‰ for δ 34S SO4 and + 4.9‰ to + 17.8‰ for δ 18O SO4 and changed systematically along its flow direction from the mountains north to the coastal area. The groundwater samples were classified into three groups showing (1) relatively low and narrow δ 34S SO4 (+ 2.3‰ to + 7.6‰) with low and varied δ 18O SO4 (+ 4.9‰ to + 12.9‰) compositions, (2) high and varied δ 34S SO4 (+ 10.2‰ to + 33.4‰) with high δ 18O SO4 (+ 12.4‰ to + 17.3‰) compositions, and (3) low δ 34S SO4 (<+6.1‰) with high δ 18O SO4 (up to + 17.8‰) compositions. These three types of groundwater were observed in the terrestrial unconfined aquifer, the coastal unconfined and confined aquifers, and the terrestrial confined aquifer, respectively. A combination of field measurements, concentrations, and previously determined δ 15N NO3 data, showed that the observed isotopic heterogeneity was mainly the result of contributions of pollutants from domestic sewage in the rural area, mixing of seawater sulfate that had experienced previous bacterial sulfate reduction in the coastal area, and isotopic fractionation during the formation of sulfate through bacterial disproportionation of elemental sulfur. Our results clearly support the hypothesis that human impacts are important factors in understanding the sulfur cycle in present-day subsurface environments. A general model of sulfate isotopic evolution along with groundwater flow has rarely been proposed, due to the complicated hydrogeological research setting that causes varied isotope ratios, although its understanding has recently received great attention. This pioneer study on a simple volcanic fan aquifer system with a well-understood groundwater flow mechanism provides a useful model for future studies.

A Comparison Between Probabilistic and Dempster-Shafer Theory Approaches to Model Uncertainty Analysis in the Performance Assessment of Radioactive Waste Repositories

Model uncertainty is a primary source of uncertainty in the assessment of the performance of repositories for the disposal of nuclear wastes, due to the complexity of the system and the large spatial and temporal scales involved. This work considers multiple assumptions on the system behavior and corresponding alternative plausible modeling hypotheses. To characterize the uncertainty in the correctness of the different hypotheses, the opinions of different experts are treated probabilistically or, in alternative, by the belief and plausibility functions of the Dempster-Shafer theory. A comparison is made with reference to a flow model for the evaluation of the hydraulic head distributions present at a radioactive waste repository site. Three experts are assumed available for the evaluation of the uncertainties associated with the hydrogeological properties of the repository and the groundwater flow mechanisms.

Pingos on Earth and Mars

Pingos are massive ice-cored mounds that develop through pressurized groundwater flow mechanisms. Pingos and their collapsed forms are found in periglacial and paleoperiglacial terrains on Earth, and have been hypothesized for a wide variety of locations on Mars. This literature review of pingos on Earth and Mars first summarizes the morphology of terrestrial pingos and their geologic contexts. That information is then used to asses hypothesized pingos on Mars. Pingo-like forms (PLFs) in Utopia Planitia are the most viable candidates for pingos or collapsed pingos. Other PLFs hypothesized in the literature to be pingos may be better explained with other mechanisms than those associated with terrestrial-style pingos.

Using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6) to characterise groundwater movement and residence time in a lowland Chalk catchment

Summary Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) provide a technique for dating groundwaters up to 50 years old. When used together, CFCs and SF6 can help to resolve the extent to which groundwater mixing occurs, and therefore provide indications of the likely groundwater flow mechanisms. Modelling shows that diffusive retardation of these age tracers is likely to be low owing to the high moisture content of the chalk unsaturated zone. Data collected from groundwater and surface water from a lowland Chalk catchment in southern England suggest that groundwater movement can be divided into three regimes: on the interfluves of the catchment, ‘piston’ flow dominates, with a bulk groundwater age of several decades; at the valley bottom, there is mixing between shallow groundwater and stream water; and in an intermediate zone between the top and the bottom of the valley there is approximately 3:1 mixing between new and pre-tracer groundwaters. A conceptual model of groundwater movement has been developed to describe the catchment processes. Surface water–groundwater interactions are found to take place down to depths in excess of 10 m bgl. The nitrate found at the greatest depth is thought to date from the mid-1950s.

Characterisation of recharge processes and groundwater flow mechanisms in weathered-fractured granites of Hyderabad (India) using isotopes

In order to address the problem of realistic assessment of groundwater potential and its sustainability, it is vital to study the recharge processes and mechanism of groundwater flow in fractured hard rocks, where inhomogeneties and discontinuities have a dominant role to play. Wide variations in chloride, δ18O and 14C concentrations of the studied groundwaters observed in space and time could only reflect the heterogeneous hydrogeological setting in the fractured granites of Hyderabad (India). This paper, based on the observed isotopic and environmental chloride variations of the groundwater system, puts forth two broad types of groundwaters involving various recharge processes and flow mechanisms in the studied granitic hard rock aquifers. Relatively high 14C ages (1300 to ∼6000 yr B.P.), δ18O content (−3.2 to −1.5‰) and chloride concentration (<100 mg/l) are the signatures that identified one broad set of groundwaters resulting from recharge through weathered zone and subsequent movement through extensive sheet joints. The second set of groundwaters possessed an age range Modern to ∼1000 yr B.P., chloride in the range 100 to ∼350 mg/l and δ18O from −3.2 to +1.7‰. The δ18O enrichment and chloride concentration, further helped in the segregation of the second set of groundwaters into three sub-sets characterized by different recharge processes and sources. Based on these processes and mechanisms, a conceptual hydrogeologic model has evolved suggesting that the fracture network is connected either to a distant recharge source or to a surface reservoir (evaporating water bodies) apart from overlying weathered zone, explaining various resultant groundwaters having varying 14C ages, chloride and δ18O concentrations. The surface reservoir contribution to groundwater is evaluated to be significant (40 to 70%) in one subset of groundwaters. The conceptual hydrogeologic model, thus evolved, can aid in understanding the mechanism of groundwater flow as well as migration of contaminants to deep groundwater in other fractured granitic areas.

Seepage laws in aquifer near a partially penetrating river with an intensive extraction of ground water

The intensive extraction of ground water from aquifers near a river is an efficient way to exploit ground water resources. A lot of problems, however, have arisen because the mechanism of ground water flow in this way has not been clear. A sand-box model and a numerical model are respectively used to simulate the extraction of ground water near a partially penetrating river physically and theoretically. The results show that the ground water will lose saturated hydraulic connection with the river water as the pumping intensity increases. The broken point of hydraulic connection is located in the interior of aquifers rather than on the riverbed. After hydraulic disconnection occurs, two saturated zones, a suspended saturated zone linked with river and an unconfined aquifer, are formed.