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Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
High resolution monitoring above and below the groundwater table uncovers small-scale hydrochemical gradients.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 13806-13815 (2017)
Hydrochemical solute concentrations in the shallow subsurface can be spatially highly variable within small scales, particularly at interfaces. However, most monitoring systems fail to capture these small scale variations. Within this study, we developed a high resolution multilevel well (HR-MLW) with which we monitored water across the interface of the unsaturated and saturated zone with a vertical resolution of 0.05-0.5 m. We installed three of these 4 m deep HR-MLWs in the riparian zone of a third-order river and analyzed for hydrochemical parameters and stable water isotopes. The results showed three distinct vertical zones (unsaturated zone, upper saturated zone, lower saturated zone) within the alluvial aquifer. A 2 m thick layer influenced by river water (upper saturated zone) was not captured by existing monitoring wells with higher screen length. Hydrochemical data (isotopes, total ions) were consistent in all HR-MLWs and showed similar variation over time emphasizing the reliability of the installed monitoring system. Further, the depths zones were also reflected in the NO3-N concentrations; with high spatial variabilities between the three wells. The zonation was constant over time, with seasonal variability in the upper saturated zone due to the influence of river water. This study highlights the use of high resolution monitoring for identifying the spatial and temporal variability of hydrochemical parameters present in many aquifer systems. Possible applications range from riparian zones, agricultural field sites to contaminated site studies, wherever an improved understanding of biogeochemical turnover processes is necessary.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
Multilevel Well ; Capillary Fringe ; Groundwater ; Nitrogen Heterogeneity. ; Riparian Zone; Shallow Alluvial Aquifer; Riverbank Filtration; Capillary-fringe; Solute Transport; Water-flow; Nitrate; Zone; Contaminants; Field; Biogeochemistry
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0013-936X
e-ISSN
1520-5851
Quellenangaben
Volume: 51,
Issue: 23,
Pages: 13806-13815
Publisher
ACS
Publishing Place
Washington, DC
Non-patent literature
Publications
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Groundwater Ecology (IGOE)