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A comparison of recharge rates in aquifers of the United States based on groundwater-age data

Comparaison des taux de recharge d’aquifères basée sur des données d’âge de nappe, Etats Unis

Una comparación de los ritmos de recarga en acuíferos de los Estados Unidos basados en datos de edad del agua subterránea

Uma comparação das taxas de recarga em aquíferos dos Estados Unidos, baseada em dados de datação da água subterrânea

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Abstract

An overview is presented of existing groundwater-age data and their implications for assessing rates and timescales of recharge in selected unconfined aquifer systems of the United States. Apparent age distributions in aquifers determined from chlorofluorocarbon, sulfur hexafluoride, tritium/helium-3, and radiocarbon measurements from 565 wells in 45 networks were used to calculate groundwater recharge rates. Timescales of recharge were defined by 1,873 distributed tritium measurements and 102 radiocarbon measurements from 27 well networks. Recharge rates ranged from < 10 to 1,200 mm/yr in selected aquifers on the basis of measured vertical age distributions and assuming exponential age gradients. On a regional basis, recharge rates based on tracers of young groundwater exhibited a significant inverse correlation with mean annual air temperature and a significant positive correlation with mean annual precipitation. Comparison of recharge derived from groundwater ages with recharge derived from stream base-flow evaluation showed similar overall patterns but substantial local differences. Results from this compilation demonstrate that age-based recharge estimates can provide useful insights into spatial and temporal variability in recharge at a national scale and factors controlling that variability. Local age-based recharge estimates provide empirical data and process information that are needed for testing and improving more spatially complete model-based methods.

Résumé

On présente une vue d’ensemble des données disponibles sur l’âge d’une nappe et leurs implications pour évaluer les taux et temps de recharge d’aquifères libres sélectionnés, Etats Unis. Les distributions d’âge apparent dans des aquifères, déduites du dosage de carbone chloro-fluorés, hexafluorure de soufre, tritium/helium-3 et radiocarbone dans 565 puits de 45 réseaux, ont été utilisés pour calculer les taux de recharge de la nappe. Les échelles des temps de recharge ont été définies par 1,873 mesures de tritium distribuées et 102 mesures de radiocarbone sur un réseau de 27 puits. La distribution des temps de rechargea été établie par 1,873 mesures du tritium et 102 mesures du radiocarbone sur un réseau de 27 puits. Les taux de recharge s’échelonnent de moins de 10 mm/an à 1,200 mm/an dans des aquifères sélectionnés sur la base des distributions verticales d’âge mesurées et supposant des gradients d’âge exponentiels. Sur une base régionale, les taux de recharge donnés par des traceurs sur une eau de nappe jeune montrent une corrélation inverse forte avec la température annuelle moyenne de l’air et une corrélation directe forte avec la précipitation annuelle moyenne. La comparaison de la recharge déduite des âges de la nappe avec la recharge déduite du débit de base montre des caractéristiques générales similaires mais des différences locales notables. Des résultats de cette compilation démontrent que des estimations basées sur l’âge peuvent fournir des indications utiles sur la variabilité spatiale et temporelle de la recharge à une échelle nationale, et sur les facteurs contrôlant cette variabilité. Des estimations de recharge basées sur un âge local fournissent donnée empirique et information requises pour tester et améliorer des méthodes d’avantage basées sur la modélisation spatiale.

Resumen

Se presenta una visión general de los datos existentes de edad de agua subterránea y su implicancia para evaluar los ritmos y las escalas temporales de la recarga en sistemas acuíferos no confinados seleccionados de Estados Unidos. Se utilizaron las distribuciones de edad aparente en los acuíferos determinada a partir de medidas clorofluorocarbonos, hexafluoruro de azufre, tritio/helio-3, y medidas de radiocarbono de 565 pozos en 45 redes para calcular los ritmos de la recarga de las aguas subterráneas. Las escalas temporales de la recarga fueron definidas a través de 1,873 medidas de tritio distribuidas y 102 medidas de radiocarbono a partir de 27 redes de pozos. Los ritmos de recarga variaron de < 10 a 1,200 mm/año en los acuíferos seleccionados en base a la distribución de medidas de edades verticales y suponiendo gradientes exponenciales de edad. Sobre una base regional, el ritmo de recarga basado en trazadores de agua subterráneas jóvenes, exhibieron una correlación significativa inversa con la temperatura media anual del aire y una correlación significativa positiva con la precipitación media anual. La comparación de la recarga a partir de las edades de agua subterránea con la recarga a partir de la evaluación del flujo base de las corrientes mostraron un patrón general similar pero con diferencias locales sustanciales. Los resultados de esta compilación demuestran que las estimaciones de la recarga basada en la edad pueden proveer puntos una comprensión útil de las variabilidades espaciales y temporales en la recarga en una escala nacional y los factores que controlan esa variabilidad. Las estimaciones de la recarga basada en edades locales provee datos empíricos e información de procesamiento que son necesarios para probar y mejorar más espacialmente los métodos completos basados en modelos.

Resumo

Apresenta-se uma revisão de dados de datação de água subterrânea existentes, com vista à avaliação de graus e escalas temporais de recarga numa selecção de sistemas aquíferos livres dos Estados Unidos. Para calcular as taxas de recarga de água subterrânea foram usadas distribuições de idade aparente de aquíferos, determinadas com recurso a medidas de clorofluorocarboneto, hexafluoreto de enxofre, trítio/hélio-3 e radiocarbono em 565 poços de 45 campos de captação. As escalas temporais da recarga foram definidas por 1,873 medições distribuídas de trítio e 102 medições de radiocarbono em 27 campos de captação. As taxas de recarga variaram de <10 até 1,200 mm/ano em aquíferos seleccionados com base em medidas da distribuição vertical da idade e assumindo gradientes de idade exponenciais. Numa base regional, as taxas de recarga calculadas com base em traçadores em águas subterrâneas recentes mostrou uma significativa correlação inversa com a temperatura média anual do ar e uma correlação positiva significativa com a precipitação média anual. A comparação da recarga derivada das idades da água subterrânea com a recarga avaliada a partir do escoamento fluvial de base mostrou padrões gerais similares mas também substanciais diferenças locais. Os resultados desta compilação demonstram que as estimativas de recarga baseadas na idade podem fornecer perspectivas úteis sobre a variabilidade espacial e temporal da recarga a uma escala nacional e sobre os factores que controlam essa variabilidade. As estimativas de recarga baseadas na idade local fornecem dados empíricos e informação sobre processos que são necessários para testar e melhorar os métodos baseados em modelos espacialmente mais completos.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D. K. Solomon and L. I. Wassenaar for sharing data and ancillary information with us. We would also like to thank the many US Geological Survey colleagues who shared data and local expertise on aquifer flow systems with us. K. Belitz, J. Denver, F. Leaney, T. Tokunaga, and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. This work was funded by the following programs of the US Geological Survey: Groundwater Resources Program, National Water-Quality Assessment Program, and National Research Program.

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  1. US Geological Survey, Mail Stop 415, Denver, CO, 80225, USA

    P. B. McMahon

  2. US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, 20192, VA, USA

    L. N. Plummer, J. K. Böhlke & S. D. Shapiro

  3. US Geological Survey, 2130 SW 5th Ave., Portland, 97201, OR, USA

    S. R. Hinkle

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  1. P. B. McMahon
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Correspondence to P. B. McMahon.

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McMahon, P.B., Plummer, L.N., Böhlke, J.K. et al. A comparison of recharge rates in aquifers of the United States based on groundwater-age data. Hydrogeol J 19, 779–800 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0722-5

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