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The hydrogeology of the Condamine River Alluvial Aquifer, Australia: a critical assessment

Hydrogéologie de l’aquifère alluvial de la rivière la Condamine, Australie: analyse critique

La hidrogeología del acuífero aluvial del Río Condamine, Australia: una evaluación crítica

澳大利亚Condamine河冲积含水层的水文地质条件:决定性的评价

ההידרוגיאולוגיה של האקויפר האלוביאלי של נהר הקונדמיין (Condamine), אוסטרליה: הערכה ביקורתית

Hidrogeologia da Planície Aluvial do Rio Condamine, Austrália: avaliação crítica

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Abstract

The Condamine plain is an important agricultural zone in Australia with prominent irrigated cotton and grain crops. About one third of the irrigation water is pumped from the shallow alluvial aquifer, causing gross aquifer depletion over time. Over the last few decades, various hydrological, hydrochemical, and geological aspects of this aquifer and the overlying floodplain (including soil properties) have been investigated and used to construct the conceptual understanding and numerical models for management of this resource. Yet, the water balance of the aquifer is still far from resolved, and the geological contact between the alluvial sediments and underlying bedrock is yet to be categorically defined, to mention two major uncertainties. This report collates up-to-date knowledge of different disciplines, critically evaluates the accepted hydrogeological conventions, highlights key knowledge gaps, and suggests strategies for future research. Among recommendations are (1) development of numerical flow and solute transport models for the natural (i.e. pre-developed) period, (2) analysis of groundwater for isotopic composition and presence of pesticides, CFCs and PPCPs, and (3) use of stochastic approaches to characterize the hydraulic properties of the alluvial sediments. These and other proposed measures are relevant also to other alluvial aquifers which suffer from similar fundamental uncertainties.

Résumé

La plaine de la Condamine est une zone agricole importante d’Australie, avec de remarquables cultures de coton et de céréales. Environ un tiers de l’eau d’irrigation est prélevé dans l’aquifère alluvial superficiel, causant dans le temps un grave rabattement de la nappe. Au cours des quelques dernières décennies, différents aspects hydrologiques, hydrochimiques et géologiques de cet aquifère et de la plaine de débordement (incluant les propriétés du sol) ont été étudiés et utilisés pour construire les modèles conceptuels et numériques pour gérer cette ressource.Jusqu’à présent, le bilan hydrique de l’aquifère est encore loin d’être équilibré et le contact géologique entre les sédiments alluvionnaires et le substratumt doit encore à être caractérisé, pour citer deux incertitudes majeures. Cet article réunit les connaissances actuelles émanant de différentes disciplines, évalue de façon critique les hypothèses hydrogéologiques qui prévalent, met les contradictions en évidence et suggère des axes pour la recherche future. Parmi les recommandations figurent (1) le développement de modèles numériques d’écoulement et de transport des solutés dans des conditions normales (i.e. prévalentes), (2) l’analyse de la composition isotopique de l’eau et de la présence de pesticides, CFC et PPCB, et (3) l’utilisation d’approches stochastiques pour caractériser les propriétés hydrauliques des sédiments alluvionnaires.Les mesures ainsi proposées, ainsi que d’autres, concernent aussi les aquifères alluvionnaires présentant des incertitudes fondamentales similaires.

Abstract

La planicie de Condamine es una importante zona agrícola en Australia con riego prominente para cultivos de algodón y granos. Alrededor de una tercera parte del agua de riego es bombeada desde un acuífero aluvial somero, causando un grave agotamiento del acuífero con el tiempo. En las últimas décadas, se han investigado y usado varios aspectos hidrológicos, hidroquímicos y geológicos de este acuífero y de la planicie de inundación suprayacente (incluyendo las propiedades del suelo) para construir los modelos conceptuales de comprensión y numéricos para el manejo de este recurso. Sin embargo, el balance de agua del acuífero está todavía lejos de ser resuelto, y el contacto geológico entre los sedimentos aluviales y el basamento subyacente aún no se ha definido categóricamente, para mencionar dos grandes incertezas. Este trabajo recopila los conocimientos actualizados de diferentes disciplinas, evalúa críticamente las convenciones hidrogeológicas aceptadas, resalta las principales carencias del conocimiento, y sugiere estrategias para una investigación futura. Entre las recomendaciones están (1) desarrollo de modelos numéricos de flujo y de transporte de soluto para períodos naturales (es decir predesarrollados), (2) análisis del agua subterránea de su composición isotópica y la presencia de pesticidas, CFCs y PPCBs, y (3) uso de aproximaciones estocásticas para caracterizar las propiedades hidráulicas de los sedimentos aluviales. Estas y otras medidas propuestas son también relevantes para otros acuíferos aluviales que sufren de similares incertezas fundamentales.

摘要

Condamine平原是澳大利亚重要的农业地区, 主要作物为棉花和粮食。大约三分之一的灌溉用水抽自浅层冲积含水层, 随着时间的过去, 导致明显的含水层枯竭。在过去的几十年中, 对这个含水层及上覆的泛滥平原 (包括土壤特性) 的水文、水文化学和地质等方面进行了调查, 并为资源的管理构建了概念理解模型和数值模型。但是, 含水层的水平衡远没有解决, 冲积沉积层和下伏基岩之间的地质接触仍需要定义, 以论述两个主要的不确定性。本文整理了不同学科最新的知识, 评估了公认的水文地质约定, 强调了关键的知识空白, 提出了将来研究的战略建议。其中有: 1) 研发天然时期 (开发前) 的数值水流和溶质传输模型; 2) 对地下水同位素组分进行分析, 并分析是否存在农药、氯氟氰和PPCB; 3) 采用随机方法描述冲积沉积层的水力特性。这些和其它提出的措施也与其它遭受相似基本不确定性的含水层相关。

אבסטרקט

פשט ההצפה של נהר הקונדמיין, על שטחי הכותנה וגידול הגרעינים שבו, הוא אזור חקלאי חשוב באוסטרליה. כשליש ממי ההשקיה נשאבים מהאקויפר האלוביאלי הרדוד, וגורמים עם הזמן להתדלדלות אוגר המים באקויפר. בעשורים האחרונים, נחקרו היבטים הידרולוגיים, הידרו-כימיים וגיאולוגיים שונים של אקויפר זה ופשט ההצפה שמעליו (ובכלל זה תכונות הקרקע) ושימשו לביסוס ההבנה הכוללת ולבניית מודלים ממוחשבים לניהול משאב זה. עם זאת קיימים עדיין מספר פערי ידע, בין העיקריים הם חוסר הודאות אודות מאזן המים של האקויפר והמגע הגיאולוגי בין האלוביום לבין סלעי המשקע העתיקים שתחתיו.

מאמר זה מאגד את הידע המעודכן ביותר, מדיסציפלינות שונות, מעריך בצורה ביקורתית את התפיסות ההידרוגיאולוגיות המקובלות, מצביע על פערי הידע העיקריים ומתווה אסטרטגיות למחקרים עתידיים. בין ההמלצות: (1) פיתוח מודל ממוחשב לזרימה והסעה לתקופה הטבעית (לפני תחילת ההפקה), (2) ניתוח ההרכב האיזוטופי של מי התהום ונוכחות חמרי הדברה, CFC ו-PPCB במי התהום, ו-(3) שימוש בשיטות סטוכסטיות לאפיון התכונות ההידראוליות של האלוביום. אלו, ואמצעים נוספים שמוצעים, מתאימים לחקר אקויפרים אלוביאליים אחרים בהם קיימות אי-ודאות דומות.

Resumo

A planície de Condamine é uma importante zona agrícola na Austrália com significativas culturas irrigadas de algodão e cereais. Cerca de um terço da água de irrigação é bombeada desde o aquífero aluvial superficial provocando o progressivo esgotamento geral do aquífero. Ao longo das últimas décadas foram estudados vários aspetos hidrológicos, hidroquímicos e geológicos deste aquífero e da sua planície de inundação (incluindo as propriedades dos solos) que foram usados para construir modelos conceptuais de interpretação e modelos numéricos destinados à gestão deste recurso. No entanto, o balanço hídrico do aquífero está ainda longe de estar resolvido e as condições de contacto geológico entre os sedimentos aluviais e as formações de base está não estão categoricamente definidas, para mencionar duas incertezas importantes. Este trabalho compara conhecimento atualizado de diversas disciplinas, avalia criticamente as convenções hidrogeológicas aceites, destaca défices de conhecimento chave e sugere estratégias para pesquisa futura. Entre as recomendações estão (1) o desenvolvimento de modelos de fluxo e de transporte de solutos para o período natural (i.e., antes do desenvolvimento), (2) análises da composição isotópica, da presença de pesticidas e compostos CFC e PPCB na água subterrânea e (3) a utilização de abordagens estocásticas para a caracterização das propriedades hidráulicas dos sedimentos aluviais. Estas e outras medidas propostas são também relevantes para outros aquíferos aluviais que sofrem de incertezas fundamentais semelhantes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank (in alphabetical order) Dr. Andrew Biggs (DNRM), Prof. Malcolm Cox (QUT), Dr. Anthony Duah (UWC, South Africa), Prof. John Warden (USQ), and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which led to improvement of this manuscript. The corresponding author especially thanks Mr. Howard Rother for a first hand introduction to the cotton growing industry in the Condamine.

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  1. National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia

    Elad Dafny & D. Mark Silburn

  2. Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia

    D. Mark Silburn

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  1. Elad Dafny
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  2. D. Mark Silburn
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Correspondence to Elad Dafny.

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Dafny, E., Silburn, D.M. The hydrogeology of the Condamine River Alluvial Aquifer, Australia: a critical assessment. Hydrogeol J 22, 705–727 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1075-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1075-z

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