Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers
Numerous basin aquifers in arid and semi-arid regions of the world derive a significant portion of their recharge from adjacent mountains. Such recharge can effectively occur through either stream infiltration in the mountain-front zone (mountain-front recharge, MFR) or subsurface flow from the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/1629/2018/hess-22-1629-2018.pdf |
| _version_ | 1831518413619462144 |
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| author | E. Bresciani E. Bresciani R. H. Cranswick R. H. Cranswick E. W. Banks J. Batlle-Aguilar J. Batlle-Aguilar P. G. Cook O. Batelaan |
| author_facet | E. Bresciani E. Bresciani R. H. Cranswick R. H. Cranswick E. W. Banks J. Batlle-Aguilar J. Batlle-Aguilar P. G. Cook O. Batelaan |
| author_sort | E. Bresciani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous basin aquifers in arid and semi-arid regions of
the world derive a significant portion of their recharge from adjacent
mountains. Such recharge can effectively occur through either stream
infiltration in the mountain-front zone (mountain-front recharge, MFR) or
subsurface flow from the mountain (mountain-block recharge, MBR). While a
thorough understanding of recharge mechanisms is critical for
conceptualizing and managing groundwater systems, distinguishing between MFR
and MBR is difficult. We present an approach that uses hydraulic head,
chloride and electrical conductivity (EC) data to distinguish between MFR
and MBR. These variables are inexpensive to measure, and may be readily
available from hydrogeological databases in many cases. Hydraulic heads can
provide information on groundwater flow directions and stream–aquifer interactions, while
chloride concentrations and EC values can be used to distinguish between
different water sources if these have a distinct signature. Such information
can provide evidence for the occurrence or absence of MFR and MBR. This
approach is tested through application to the Adelaide Plains basin, South
Australia. The recharge mechanisms of this basin have long been debated, in
part due to difficulties in understanding the hydraulic role of faults. Both
hydraulic head and chloride (equivalently, EC) data consistently suggest
that streams are gaining in the adjacent Mount Lofty Ranges and losing when
entering the basin. Moreover, the data indicate that not only the Quaternary
aquifers but also the deeper Tertiary aquifers are recharged through MFR and
not MBR. It is expected that this finding will have a significant impact on
the management of water resources in the region. This study demonstrates the
relevance of using hydraulic head, chloride and EC data to distinguish
between MFR and MBR. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:34:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29c4a96f8edf439b87517471888ac141 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:34:26Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-29c4a96f8edf439b87517471888ac1412022-12-22T00:11:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382018-03-01221629164810.5194/hess-22-1629-2018Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifersE. Bresciani0E. Bresciani1R. H. Cranswick2R. H. Cranswick3E. W. Banks4J. Batlle-Aguilar5J. Batlle-Aguilar6P. G. Cook7O. Batelaan8National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaKorea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of KoreaNational Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaDepartment of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, AustraliaNational Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaNational Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaKansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USANational Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaNational Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaNumerous basin aquifers in arid and semi-arid regions of the world derive a significant portion of their recharge from adjacent mountains. Such recharge can effectively occur through either stream infiltration in the mountain-front zone (mountain-front recharge, MFR) or subsurface flow from the mountain (mountain-block recharge, MBR). While a thorough understanding of recharge mechanisms is critical for conceptualizing and managing groundwater systems, distinguishing between MFR and MBR is difficult. We present an approach that uses hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity (EC) data to distinguish between MFR and MBR. These variables are inexpensive to measure, and may be readily available from hydrogeological databases in many cases. Hydraulic heads can provide information on groundwater flow directions and stream–aquifer interactions, while chloride concentrations and EC values can be used to distinguish between different water sources if these have a distinct signature. Such information can provide evidence for the occurrence or absence of MFR and MBR. This approach is tested through application to the Adelaide Plains basin, South Australia. The recharge mechanisms of this basin have long been debated, in part due to difficulties in understanding the hydraulic role of faults. Both hydraulic head and chloride (equivalently, EC) data consistently suggest that streams are gaining in the adjacent Mount Lofty Ranges and losing when entering the basin. Moreover, the data indicate that not only the Quaternary aquifers but also the deeper Tertiary aquifers are recharged through MFR and not MBR. It is expected that this finding will have a significant impact on the management of water resources in the region. This study demonstrates the relevance of using hydraulic head, chloride and EC data to distinguish between MFR and MBR.https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/1629/2018/hess-22-1629-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | E. Bresciani E. Bresciani R. H. Cranswick R. H. Cranswick E. W. Banks J. Batlle-Aguilar J. Batlle-Aguilar P. G. Cook O. Batelaan Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers |
| title_full | Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers |
| title_fullStr | Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers |
| title_short | Using hydraulic head, chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain-front and mountain-block recharge to basin aquifers |
| title_sort | using hydraulic head chloride and electrical conductivity data to distinguish between mountain front and mountain block recharge to basin aquifers |
| url | https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/1629/2018/hess-22-1629-2018.pdf |
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