T127 Monitoring the Complex Nature of Water Balances and Solute Transport at the Groundwater–Surface Water Interface

Monday, 23 October 2017
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 613/614

APPLICATION OF A NEW POINT MEASUREMENT TO ESTIMATE GROUNDWATER-SURFACE WATER EXCHANGE

Paper number: T127-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:10 PM – 3:25 PM

Authors

Abstract

The StreamBed Point Velocity Probe (SBPVP), a new point measurement device, measures in situ groundwater velocities at the groundwater-surface water interface (GWSWI, based on a mini-tracer test on the probe surface. This device yields velocities without reliance on estimations of hydraulic conductivity (K), porosity (n), or hydraulic gradients. The SBPVP was applied to a meander of the Grindsted stream (Denmark) to determine patterns of groundwater-surface water exchange (GWSWE). Analysis of the spatial distribution of velocity values suggests the sediments in the Grindsted streambed are highly heterogeneous. Calculated discharges were combined with geochemical data to determine the mass discharge of specific solutes (PCE, TCE, cis-DCE, and VC). Total mass discharge of the contaminants was found to be concentrated in several “hot spots” that occurred in locations determined by both magnitudes of concentrations and velocities. Given these localized hot spots, detailed information about flow at the GWSWI could be vital to understanding solute, and, by extension, nutrient, movement in ecosystems affected by exchange. Such information could be crucial to effective remediation design.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017AM-296398

© Copyright 2017 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.