Groundwater Flux Research Articles

Characterization of recharge mechanisms in a Precambrian basement aquifer in semi-arid south-west Niger

In the central part of the semi-arid Dargol Basin of southwestern Niger, most of the groundwater resource is contained in the fractured aquifers of the Precambrian basement. The groundwater resource is poorly characterized and this study is the first attempt to better describe the recharge mechanisms and hydrogeochemical behaviour of the aquifers. Hydrogeochemical and piezometric methods were combined to determine changes in recharge rate and origin of groundwaters for the shallow weathered aquifer and the deep fissured/fractured aquifer. At the basin scale, the groundwater fluxes towards the Niger River are influenced mainly by topography, with no visual long-term trend in groundwater levels (1980–2009). The hydro-geochemical signature is dominated by the calcic-bicarbonate to magnesian (70%) type. It shows evolution from an open environment with CO2 and low mineralized water (granitoids, alterites) towards a more confined environment with more mineralized waters (schists). Stable water isotopes (δ18O, δ2H) analysis suggests two main groundwater recharge mechanisms: (1) direct recharge with nearly no post-rainfall fractionation signature and (2) indirect recharge from evaporated surface waters and/or stream-channel beds. Groundwater tritium content indicates that recharge is mostly recent, with an age less than 50 years (3H > 3 TU), with only 10% indicating low or even no recharge for the past decades. A median value of the groundwater renewal rate estimated from individual values of tritium is equivalent to 1.3% year−1, close to the one determined for groundwater samples dating to the early 1980s, thus indicating no measurable long-term change.

Groundwater contribution keeps trophic status low in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada

Water well drilling records combined with geologic observation around Sylvan Lake suggest a permeable, fractured groundwater-bearing channel sandstone extends along the northeast margin of the lake, and is surrounded by a matrix of shale with small sandy interbeds. Chloride and water isotope mass-balance approaches found groundwater fluxes were 37 to 43% of total annual lake water inputs, and were consistent with Darcy flux estimates for the channel sandstone. The groundwater contribution to the lake water budget contributes to an estimated lake-water residence time ranging from 22 to 30 years, which is much lower than other lakes in the region and lakes of similar size. Groundwater through-flow in the hydraulically connected channel sandstone unit of the Paskapoo Formation appears to play a critical role in maintaining the relatively low total dissolved solids (and trophic status) of Sylvan Lake, as compared to other lakes in south-central Alberta. Due to the hydraulic connection of the sandstone channel with Sylvan Lake, land use along the north side of the lake (above the sandstone channel unit) should be carefully considered to mitigate groundwater (and consequently lake water) quality impacts.

Factors controlling seasonal groundwater and solute flux from snow‐dominated basins

AbstractCritical zone influences on hydrologic partitioning, subsurface flow paths and reactions along these flow paths dictate the timing and magnitude of groundwater and solute flux to streams. To isolate first‐order controls on seasonal streamflow generation within highly heterogeneous, snow‐dominated basins of the Colorado River, we employ a multivariate statistical approach of end‐member mixing analysis using a suite of daily chemical and isotopic observations. Mixing models are developed across 11 nested basins (0.4 to 85 km2) spanning a gradient of climatological, physical, and geological characteristics. Hydrograph separation using rain, snow, and groundwater as end‐members indicates that seasonal contributions of groundwater to streams is significant. Mean annual groundwater flux ranges from 12% to 33% whereas maximum groundwater contributions of 17% to 50% occur during baseflow. The direct relationship between snow water equivalent and groundwater flux to streams is scale dependent with a trend toward self‐similarity when basins exceed 5.5 km2. We find groundwater recharge increases in basins of high relief and within the upper subalpine where maximum snow accumulation is coincident with reduced conifer cover and lower canopy densities. The mixing model developed for the furthest downstream site did not transfer to upstream basins. The resulting error in predicted stream concentrations points toward weathering reactions as a function of source rock and seasonal shifts in flow path. Additionally, the potential for microbial sulfate reduction in floodplain sediments along a low‐gradient, meandering portion of the river is sufficient to modify hillslope contributions and alter mixing ratios in the analysis. Soil flushing in response to snowmelt is not included as an end‐member but is identified as an important mechanism for release of solutes from these mountainous watersheds. End‐member mixing analysis used in combination with high‐frequency observations reveals important aspects of catchment hydrodynamics across scale.

Hydrological Modeling in Data-Scarce Catchments: The Kilombero Floodplain in Tanzania

Deterioration of upland soils, demographic growth, and climate change all lead to an increased utilization of wetlands in East Africa. This considerable pressure on wetland resources results in trade-offs between those resources and their related ecosystem services. Furthermore, relationships between catchment attributes and available wetland water resources are one of the key drivers that might lead to wetland degradation. To investigate the impacts of these developments on catchment-wetland water resources, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to the Kilombero Catchment in Tanzania, which is like many other East African catchments, as it is characterized by overall data scarcity. Due to the lack of recent discharge data, the model was calibrated for the period from 1958–1965 (R2 = 0.86, NSE = 0.85, KGE = 0.93) and validated from 1966–1970 (R2 = 0.80, NSE = 0.80, KGE = 0.89) with the sequential uncertainty fitting algorithm (SUFI-2) on a daily resolution. Results show the dependency of the wetland on baseflow contribution from the enclosing catchment, especially in dry season. Main contributions with regard to overall water yield arise from the northern mountains and the southeastern highlands, which are characterized by steep slopes and a high share of forest and savanna vegetation, respectively. Simulations of land use change effects, generated with Landsat images from the 1970s up to 2014, show severe shifts in the water balance components on the subcatchment scale due to anthropogenic activities. Sustainable management of the investigated catchment should therefore account for the catchment–wetland interaction concerning water resources, with a special emphasis on groundwater fluxes to ensure future food production as well as the preservation of the wetland ecosystem.

Assessing groundwater storage in the Kairouan plain aquifer using a 3D lithology model (Central Tunisia)

The aquifer of the semi-arid Kairouan plain has been exploited for decades to supply the growing irrigated agriculture and the need of drinking water. In parallel, the major hydraulic works drastically changed the natural groundwater recharge processes. The continuous groundwater level drop observed since the 1970s naturally raises the question of groundwater storage sustainability. To date, hydrogeological studies focused on groundwater fluxes, but the total amount of groundwater stored in the aquifer system has never been fully estimated. This is the purpose of the present paper. A complete database of all available geological, hydrogeological and geophysical data was created to build a 3D lithology model. Then, the lithological units were combined with the hydraulic properties to estimate the groundwater storage. Over the 700 km2 of the modelled area, the estimated storage in 2013 was around 18 × 109 m3 (equivalent to 80 times the annual consumption of 2010) with a highly variable spatial distribution. In 45 years (1968–2013), 12% of the amount of groundwater stored in the aquifer has been depleted. According to these results, individual farms will face strong regional disparities for their access to groundwater in the near future.

Groundwater flux estimation in streams: A thermal equilibrium approach

Stream and groundwater interactions play an essential role in regulating flow, temperature, and water quality for stream ecosystems. Temperature gradients have been used to quantify vertical water movement in the streambed since the 1960s, but advancements in thermal methods are still possible. Seepage runs are a method commonly used to quantify exchange rates through a series of streamflow measurements but can be labor and time intensive. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a thermal equilibrium method as a technique for quantifying groundwater flux using monitored stream water temperature at a single point and readily available hydrological and atmospheric data. Our primary assumption was that stream water temperature at the monitored point was at thermal equilibrium with the combination of all heat transfer processes, including mixing with groundwater. By expanding the monitored stream point into a hypothetical, horizontal one-dimensional thermal modeling domain, we were able to simulate the thermal equilibrium achieved with known atmospheric variables at the point and quantify unknown groundwater flux by calibrating the model to the resulting temperature signature. Stream water temperatures were monitored at single points at nine streams in the Ozark Highland ecoregion and five reaches of the Kiamichi River to estimate groundwater fluxes using the thermal equilibrium method. When validated by comparison with seepage runs performed at the same time and reach, estimates from the two methods agreed with each other with an R2 of 0.94, a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.08 (m/d) and a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.93. In conclusion, the thermal equilibrium method was a suitable technique for quantifying groundwater flux with minimal cost and simple field installation given that suitable atmospheric and hydrological data were readily available.

The Upwelling Water Flux Feeding Springs: Hydrogeological and Hydraulic Features

The upwelling groundwater flux has been investigated by deep piezometers in a spring area characterized by alluvial deposits covering a karst substratum in Southern Italy. The piezometers are of varying depth located in a flat area. They have been monitored for a long period (about 40 years), and when measured, a good relationship between spring discharge and hydraulic head was observed. The local upwelling groundwater flux has been deducted by the increasing of the hydraulic head in depth, which allows the estimation of ascendant hydraulic gradient and groundwater velocity during the dry and wet seasons. A specific analytical solution has been used to estimate the zone involved by the ascendant flow, and could also be used in other spring areas. Some physical and chemical characteristics of spring water have been collected, including the radon (222Rn) activity, to support the phenomenon of the ascendant flux. The man geological and hydrogeological features leading to ascendant flux in karst environments is also discussed for some areas of Southern Italy, where many springs are affected.

Long-term changes in pond permanence, size, and salinity in Prairie Pothole Region wetlands: The role of groundwater-pond interaction

Study RegionCottonwood Lake area wetlands, North Dakota, U.S.A. Study FocusFluctuations in pond permanence, size, and salinity are key features of prairie-pothole wetlands that provide a variety of wetland habitats for waterfowl in the northern prairie of North America. Observation of water-level and salinity fluctuations in a semi-permanent wetland pond over a 20-year period, included periods when the wetland occasionally was dry, as well as wetter years when the pond depth and surface extent doubled while volume increased 10 times. New hydrological insights for the study regionCompared to all other measured budget components, groundwater flow into the pond often contributed the least water (8–28 percent) but the largest amount (>90 percent) of specific solutes to the water and solute budgets of the pond. In drier years flow from the pond into groundwater represented > 10 percent of water loss, and in 1992 was approximately equal to evapotranspiration loss. Also during the drier years, export of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfate by flow from the pond to groundwater was substantial compared with previous or subsequent years, a process that would have been undetected if groundwater flux had been calculated as a net value. Independent quantification of water and solute gains and losses were essential to understand controls on water-level and salinity fluctuations in the pond in response to variable climate conditions.

Saltwater-freshwater mixing fluctuation in shallow beach aquifers

Field measurements and numerical simulations demonstrate the existence of an upper saline plume in tidally dominated beaches. The effect of tides on the saltwater-freshwater mixing occurring at both the upper saline plume and lower salt wedge is well understood. However, it is poorly understood whether the tidal driven force acts equally on the mixing behaviours of above two regions and what factors control the mixing fluctuation features. In this study, variable-density, saturated-unsaturated, transient groundwater flow and solute transport numerical models are proposed and performed for saltwater-freshwater mixing subject to tidal forcing on a sloping beach. A range of tidal amplitude, fresh groundwater flux, hydraulic conductivity, beach slope and dispersivity anisotropy are simulated. Based on the time sequential salinity data, the gross mixing features are quantified by computing the spatial moments in three different aspects, namely, the centre point, length and width, and the volume (or area in a two-dimensional case). Simulated salinity distribution varies significantly at saltwater-freshwater interfaces. Mixing characteristics of the upper saline plume greatly differ from those in the salt wedge for both the transient and quasi-steady state. The mixing of the upper saline plume largely inherits the fluctuation characteristics of the sea tide in both the transverse and longitudinal directions when the quasi-steady state is reached. On the other hand, the mixing in the salt wedge is relatively steady and shows little fluctuation. The normalized mixing width and length, mixing volume and the fluctuation amplitude of the mass centre in the upper saline plume are, in general, one-magnitude-order larger than those in the salt wedge region. In the longitudinal direction, tidal amplitude, fresh groundwater flux, hydraulic conductivity and beach slope are significant control factors of fluctuation amplitude. In the transverse direction, tidal amplitude and beach slope are the main control parameters. Very small dispersivity anisotropy (e.g., αL/αT<5) could greatly suppress mixing fluctuation in the longitudinal direction. This work underlines the close connection between the sea tides and the upper saline plume in the aspect of mixing, thereby enhancing understanding of the interplay between tidal oscillations and mixing mechanisms in tidally dominated sloping beach systems.

A numerical model in predicting the initial karst development in porous limestone

The numerical model proposed in this paper represents a new method in predicting initial karst spatial distribution of carbonate aquifers. Karstification Index, \( \varPhi_{\text{K}} \), is a measure of the possible largest amount of calcite that can be dissolved from a unit area of rock and transported by groundwater flow during a unit length of time. Mathematically, it is defined as \( \varPhi_{\text{K}} = q \cdot s \), where q is the flux of groundwater and s is the rock solubility; and Karstification Index, \( \varPhi_{\text{K}} \), is the function of flow, heat, and calcium concentration. The numerical model simulates the time- and space-dependent susceptibility to, and process of, karstification by iterative calculations between \( \varPhi_{\text{K}} \) and hydraulic conductivity. A sample calculation is presented on a hypothetical limestone plateau with steep escarpment, a spring, and a river on one side, a vertical no flow boundary on the other side, and a horizontal impermeable base. The rock has an equivalent porous-medium hydraulic conductivity of K = 5E−8 ms−1, which is characteristic to non-karstified limestone. Initially, the spring is located at the intersection of the water table and the escarpment’s face some distance above the river. The simulation result showed that the water table is lowered in 2325 years across the plateau, but the spring’s drop is stopped after 65 years. Karstification is most intensive along the water table due to the higher value of Karstification Index which resulted from the intensive flux of the water. The continual decline of the water table results in a laterally elongated and progressively expanding body of karstified rock and finally as a horizontal conduit at river level. The concentration of Ca2+ and conduit diameter decrease from the spring toward the impermeable vertical wall on the opposite side and downward to the base of the plateau. The results are consistent with general theories and empirical observations of karst and cave evolution.

Hydrogeologic Conditions of Mulussa Aquifer Between Rutba and Dhabaa in Al-Anbar Governorate

Rutba area is located in Al-Anbar Governorate - West of Iraq. Hydrogeological investigation calculation of Mulussa aquifer between Rutba and Dhabaa is carried out. The groundwater moves in directions of (NE, E and SE) influenced by depletion process in the amount of hydraulic gradient ranged between (0.0000416 - 0.008036). The groundwater flux (V) and groundwater pore velocity (U) are reached (0.00451) m/day and (25.02) m/day, respectively. Mulussa aquifer is carbonate beds, where represents confined aquifer conditions. The values of transmissivity, permeability and storage coefficient are ranged between (0.507 – 250) m 2 /day, (0.00547 - 3.05) m/day and (9.65 x 10 -5 - 2.64 x 10 -4 ) respectively. While the estimated of transmissivities which are obtained from specific capacity ranged (208.041 – 862.166) m 2 /day. This variation in the values revealing the great variations in the aquifer lithology, which was affected by intensity and the number of fractures and joints.

Three-dimensional modeling of nitrate-N transport in vadose zone: Roles of soil heterogeneity and groundwater flux

Contamination of groundwater from nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural lands is an important environmental and water quality management issue. It is well recognized that in agriculturally intensive areas, fertilizers and pesticides may leach through the vadose zone and eventually reach groundwater. While numerical models are commonly used to simulate fate and transport of agricultural contaminants, few models have considered a controlled field work to investigate the influence of soil heterogeneity and groundwater flow on nitrate-N distribution in both root zone and deep vadose zone.In this work, a numerical model was developed to simulate nitrate-N transport and transformation beneath a center pivot-irrigated corn field on Nebraska Management System Evaluation area over a three-year period. The model was based on a realistic three-dimensional sediment lithology, as well as carefully controlled irrigation and fertilizer application plans. In parallel, a homogeneous soil domain, containing the major sediment type of the site (i.e. sandy loam), was developed to conduct the same water flow and nitrate-N leaching simulations.Simulated nitrate-N concentrations were compared with the monitored nitrate-N concentrations in 10 multi-level sampling wells over a three-year period. Although soil heterogeneity was mainly observed from top soil to 3 m below the surface, heterogeneity controlled the spatial distribution of nitrate-N concentration. Soil heterogeneity, however, has minimal impact on the total mass of nitrate-N in the domain. In the deeper saturated zone, short-term variations of nitrate-N concentration correlated with the groundwater level fluctuations.

Glacier-wide summer surface mass-balance calculation: hydrological balance applied to the Argentière and Mer de Glace drainage basins (Mont Blanc)

ABSTRACTWe present the glacier-wide summer surface mass balances determined by a detailed hydrological balance (sSMBhydro) and the quantification of the uncertainties of the calculations on the Argentière and Mer de Glace-Leschaux drainage basins, located in the upper Arve watershed (French Alps), over the period 1996–2004. The spatial distribution of precipitation within the study area was adjusted using in situ winter mass-balance measurements. The sSMBhydro performance was assessed via a comparison with the summer surface mass balances based on in situ glaciological observations (sSMBglacio). Our results show that the sSMBhydro has an uncertainty of ± 0.67 m w.e. a−1 at Argentière and ± 0.66 m w.e. a−1 at Mer de Glace-Leschaux. Estimates of the Argentière sSMBhydro values are in good agreement with the sSMBglacio values. These time series show almost the same interannual variability. From the marked difference between the sSMBhydro and sSMBglacio values for the Mer de Glace-Leschaux glacier, we suspect a significant role of groundwater fluxes in the hydrological balance. This study underlines the importance of taking into account the groundwater transfers to represent and predict the hydro-glaciological behaviour of a catchment.

Hydrogeochemical controls on brook trout spawning habitats in a coastal stream.

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) spawn in fall and overwintering egg development can benefit from stable, relatively warm temperatures in groundwater-seepage zones. However, eggs are also sensitive to dissolved oxygen concentration, which may be reduced in discharging groundwater (i.e., seepage). We investigated a 2 km reach of the coastal Quashnet River in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, to relate preferred fish spawning habitats to geology, geomorphology, and discharging groundwater geochemistry. Thermal reconnaissance methods were used to locate zones of rapid groundwater discharge, which were predominantly found along the central channel of a wider stream valley section. Pore-water chemistry and temporal vertical groundwater flux were measured at a subset of these zones during field campaigns over several seasons. Seepage zones in open-valley sub-reaches generally showed suboxic conditions and higher dissolved solutes compared to the underlying glacial outwash aquifer. These discharge zones were cross-referenced with preferred brook trout redds and evaluated during 10 years of observation, all of which were associated with discrete alcove features in steep cutbanks, where stream meander bends intersect the glacial valley walls. Seepage in these repeat spawning zones was generally stronger and more variable than in open-valley sites, with higher dissolved oxygen and reduced solute concentrations. The combined evidence indicates that regional groundwater discharge along the broader valley bottom is predominantly suboxic due to the influence of near-stream organic deposits; trout show no obvious preference for these zones when spawning. However, the meander bends that cut into sandy deposits near the valley walls generate strong oxic seepage zones that are utilized routinely for redd construction and the overwintering of trout eggs. Stable water isotopic data support the conclusion that repeat spawning zones are located directly on preferential discharges of more localized groundwater. In similar coastal systems with extensive valley peat deposits, the specific use of groundwater-discharge points by brook trout may be limited to morphologies such as cutbanks, where groundwater flow paths do not encounter substantial buried organic material and remain oxygen-rich.

Tracking the Subsurface Signal of Decadal Climate Warming to Quantify Vertical Groundwater Flow Rates

AbstractSustained ground surface warming on a decadal time scale leads to an inversion of thermal gradients in the upper tens of meters. The magnitude and direction of vertical groundwater flow should influence the propagation of this warming signal, but direct field observations of this phenomenon are rare. Comparison of temperature‐depth profiles in boreholes in the Veluwe area, Netherlands, collected in 1978–1982 and 2016 provided such direct measurement. We used these repeated profiles to track the downward propagation rate of the depth at which the thermal gradient is zero. Numerical modeling of the migration of this thermal gradient “inflection point” yielded estimates of downward groundwater flow rates (0–0.24 m a−1) that generally concurred with known hydrogeological conditions in the area. We conclude that analysis of inflection point depths in temperature‐depth profiles impacted by surface warming provides a largely untapped opportunity to inform sustainable groundwater management plans that rely on accurate estimates of long‐term vertical groundwater fluxes.

Nonlinear consolidation in randomly heterogeneous highly compressible aquitards

Severe land subsidence due to groundwater extraction may occur in multiaquifer systems where highly compressible aquitards are present. The highly compressible nature of the aquitards leads to nonlinear consolidation where the groundwater flow parameters are stress-dependent. The case is further complicated by the heterogeneity of the hydrogeologic and geotechnical properties of the aquitards. The effect of realistic vertical heterogeneity of hydrogeologic and geotechnical parameters on the consolidation of highly compressible aquitards is investigated by means of one-dimensional Monte Carlo numerical simulations where the lower boundary represents the effect of an instant drop in hydraulic head due to groundwater pumping. Two thousand realizations are generated for each of the following parameters: hydraulic conductivity (K), compression index (C c), void ratio (e) and m (an empirical parameter relating hydraulic conductivity and void ratio). The correlation structure, the mean and the variance for each parameter were obtained from a literature review about field studies in the lacustrine sediments of Mexico City. The results indicate that among the parameters considered, random K has the largest effect on the ensemble average behavior of the system when compared to a nonlinear consolidation model with deterministic initial parameters. The deterministic solution underestimates the ensemble average of total settlement when initial K is random. In addition, random K leads to the largest variance (and therefore largest uncertainty) of total settlement, groundwater flux and time to reach steady-state conditions.

Feedbacks Between Shallow Groundwater Dynamics and Surface Topography on Runoff Generation in Flat Fields

AbstractIn winter, saturation excess (SE) ponding is observed regularly in temperate lowland regions. Surface runoff dynamics are controlled by small topographical features that are unaccounted for in hydrological models. To better understand storage and routing effects of small‐scale topography and their interaction with shallow groundwater under SE conditions, we developed a model of reduced complexity to investigate SE runoff generation, emphasizing feedbacks between shallow groundwater dynamics and mesotopography. The dynamic specific yield affected unsaturated zone water storage, causing rapid switches between negative and positive head and a flatter groundwater mound than predicted by analytical agrohydrological models. Accordingly, saturated areas were larger and local groundwater fluxes smaller than predicted, leading to surface runoff generation. Mesotopographic features routed water over larger distances, providing a feedback mechanism that amplified changes to the shape of the groundwater mound. This in turn enhanced runoff generation, but whether it also resulted in runoff events depended on the geometry and location of the depressions. Whereas conditions favorable to runoff generation may abound during winter, these feedbacks profoundly reduce the predictability of SE runoff: statistically identical rainfall series may result in completely different runoff generation. The model results indicate that waterlogged areas in any given rainfall event are larger than those predicted by current analytical groundwater models used for drainage design. This change in the groundwater mound extent has implications for crop growth and damage assessments.

Delineating the Drainage Structure and Sources of Groundwater Flux for Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia

As opposed to most of the other closed basin type rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. Different studies indicated that the expansion of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region significantly. This study result and previous reports indicated that the lake’s expansion is mostly due to the increased groundwater (GW) flux to the lake. GW flux accounts for about 56% of the total inflow in recent periods (post 2000) and is found to be the dominant factor for the hydrodynamics and existence of the lake. The analysis of the drainage network for the area indicates the existence of a huge recharge area on the western and upstream side of the catchment. This catchment has no surface outlet; hence most of the incoming surface runoff recharges the GW system. The recharge area is the main source of GW flux to the lake. In addition to this, the likely sources/causes of GW flux to the lake could be: (i) an increase of GW recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region; (ii) subsurface inflow from far away due to rift system influence, and (iii) lake neotectonism. Overall, the lake’s expansion has damaging effect to the region, owing to its poor water quality; hence the identification of the real causes of GW flux and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management. Therefore a comprehensive and detailed investigation of the parameters related to GW flux and the interaction of the lake with the GW system of the area is highly recommended.

Corrigendum to “Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from 4He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia”

A study of chloride and 4He profiles through an aquitard that separates the Great Artesian Basin from the underlying Arckaringa Basin in central Australia is presented. The aquitard separates two aquifers with long water residence times, due to low recharge rates in the arid climate. One-dimensional solute transport models were used to determine the advective flux of groundwater across the aquitard as well as establish any major changes in past hydrological conditions recorded by variations of the pore water composition. This in situ study showed that both diffusion and slow downward advection ( mm/yr) control solute transport. Numerical simulations show that an increase in chloride concentration in the upper part of the profile is due to a reduction in recharge in the upper aquifer for at least 3000 years. Groundwater extraction since 2008 has likely increased chloride and 4He concentrations in the lower aquifer by pulling up water from deeper layers; however, there has been insufficient time for upward solute transport into the pore water profile by diffusion against downward advection. The transport model of 4He and chloride provides insight into how the two aquifers interact through the aquitard and how climate change is being recorded in the aquitard profile.

Landscape Hydrogeology and its Influence on Patterns of Groundwater Flux and Nitrate Removal Efficiency in Riparian Buffers

AbstractThis study uses data from 46 riparian sites to examine the influence of landscape hydrogeology on patterns of groundwater flux and the buffer width required for effective nitrate removal in humid temperate agricultural regions. There is a considerable imbalance in the research focus on different hydrogeologic settings. More than 40% of the buffers are located in landscapes with surficial sand aquifers, whereas few buffers have been studied in glacial till and weathered bedrock landscapes which cover large areas. Annual groundwater fluxes for 29 of these sites ranged from &lt;20 L/m/day for buffers on flat sand plains and uplands with fine‐textured deposits to 50‐1,200 L/m/day for many sites with upland sand aquifers. Despite a similar range of water fluxes, buffers in gently to moderately sloping landscapes with &lt;4 m depths of sand sediments reached a 90% removal efficiency within 30‐60 m while sites with &gt;4 m depths required a 150‐200 m width. The width for 90% efficiency in buffers with loamy sand and sandy loam sediments also increased from 10‐20 m with &lt;4 m sediment depths to 50‐100 m for &gt;4 m depths. Limited data for buffers with fine‐textured sediments suggest that 90% of the nitrate flux was often depleted in a 10‐20 m width. Groundwater flux did not have a significant relationship with nitrate removal percent per meter buffer width because of the variation in efficiency that occurred in buffers with similar fluxes in different hydrogeologic settings.