Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2

The hydrodynamics of a river confluence generate significant vertical, lateral, and stream-wise gradients in the context of velocity, thereby forming a highly complex three-dimensional flow structure, including the development of large-scale turbulence structures. The above features affect the ecolo...

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Main Authors: Ivo Martone, Carlo Gualtieri, Theodore A. Endreny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Environmental Sciences Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4931/21/1/71
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author Ivo Martone
Carlo Gualtieri
Theodore A. Endreny
author_facet Ivo Martone
Carlo Gualtieri
Theodore A. Endreny
author_sort Ivo Martone
collection DOAJ
description The hydrodynamics of a river confluence generate significant vertical, lateral, and stream-wise gradients in the context of velocity, thereby forming a highly complex three-dimensional flow structure, including the development of large-scale turbulence structures. The above features affect the ecologically important underlying hyporheic zone, where surface and subsurface waters interact, and hence affect biological activity and result in highly varied habitats for organisms as well as the whole river environment. The influence of challenging conditions for in situ monitoring of hyporheic exchange—such as non-sinusoidal temperature signals, uncertainty in thermal parameters, and unsteady flows—have led to the development of hyporheic exchange detection methods that are based on the phase and amplitude changes in transient thermal signals. The use of heat as a tracer can require complex steps, including the isolation of the diurnal component of the temperature signal from other signals as well as stochastic variation. The focus of this study was to investigate a field campaign carried out between the Ninemile Creek and its tributary confluence, located in Marcellus, NY. Temperature data of the shallowest saturated sediment layers were measured from April to May 2019. Flux estimations were calculated using VFLUX 2, a MatLab based code, which performed data filtering and DHR (Dynamic Harmonic Regression). The patterns and rates of vertical flux exchange were then analyzed, and sampling of the temporal thermal profiles was performed. Furthermore, multiple analytical solutions of the one-dimensional heat transport model were analyzed and discussed in order to obtain the confluence hydrodynamic effect as well as the variations in the vertical flux estimation. This was achieved by utilizing different sensor pairs and porous medium characteristics, such as thermal diffusivity and conductivity. The predicted flow field shows that confluence topography—which includes the turbulent kinetic energy downstream of the junction, shear layer formations, bed stratigraphy and water table gradients—affects the magnitude and patterns of hyporheic exchange. The results of this study could help to advance the calibration of one-dimensional heat transport models in order to better understand the key hydrological, hydraulic, and ecological issues associated with river confluence.
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spelling doaj.art-a34c25678ee44ba68bee10a992a381562023-11-19T10:37:44ZengMDPI AGEnvironmental Sciences Proceedings2673-49312022-11-012117110.3390/environsciproc2022021071Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2Ivo Martone0Carlo Gualtieri1Theodore A. Endreny2Servizi di Ingegneria–Investimenti Pubblici, Invitalia S.p.A., 00187 Rome, ItalyDepartment Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Resources Engineering, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210, USAThe hydrodynamics of a river confluence generate significant vertical, lateral, and stream-wise gradients in the context of velocity, thereby forming a highly complex three-dimensional flow structure, including the development of large-scale turbulence structures. The above features affect the ecologically important underlying hyporheic zone, where surface and subsurface waters interact, and hence affect biological activity and result in highly varied habitats for organisms as well as the whole river environment. The influence of challenging conditions for in situ monitoring of hyporheic exchange—such as non-sinusoidal temperature signals, uncertainty in thermal parameters, and unsteady flows—have led to the development of hyporheic exchange detection methods that are based on the phase and amplitude changes in transient thermal signals. The use of heat as a tracer can require complex steps, including the isolation of the diurnal component of the temperature signal from other signals as well as stochastic variation. The focus of this study was to investigate a field campaign carried out between the Ninemile Creek and its tributary confluence, located in Marcellus, NY. Temperature data of the shallowest saturated sediment layers were measured from April to May 2019. Flux estimations were calculated using VFLUX 2, a MatLab based code, which performed data filtering and DHR (Dynamic Harmonic Regression). The patterns and rates of vertical flux exchange were then analyzed, and sampling of the temporal thermal profiles was performed. Furthermore, multiple analytical solutions of the one-dimensional heat transport model were analyzed and discussed in order to obtain the confluence hydrodynamic effect as well as the variations in the vertical flux estimation. This was achieved by utilizing different sensor pairs and porous medium characteristics, such as thermal diffusivity and conductivity. The predicted flow field shows that confluence topography—which includes the turbulent kinetic energy downstream of the junction, shear layer formations, bed stratigraphy and water table gradients—affects the magnitude and patterns of hyporheic exchange. The results of this study could help to advance the calibration of one-dimensional heat transport models in order to better understand the key hydrological, hydraulic, and ecological issues associated with river confluence.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4931/21/1/71river confluence1D analytical modelhyporheic fluxesfield experimentamplitude method
spellingShingle Ivo Martone
Carlo Gualtieri
Theodore A. Endreny
Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
Environmental Sciences Proceedings
river confluence
1D analytical model
hyporheic fluxes
field experiment
amplitude method
title Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
title_full Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
title_fullStr Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
title_full_unstemmed Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
title_short Field Study Analysis of Temporal Temperature Methods to Estimate Hyporheic Fluxes within a Natural River Confluence Using VFLUX2
title_sort field study analysis of temporal temperature methods to estimate hyporheic fluxes within a natural river confluence using vflux2
topic river confluence
1D analytical model
hyporheic fluxes
field experiment
amplitude method
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4931/21/1/71
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AT theodoreaendreny fieldstudyanalysisoftemporaltemperaturemethodstoestimatehyporheicfluxeswithinanaturalriverconfluenceusingvflux2