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Hydraulic conductivity characteristics in mountains and implications for conceptualizing bedrock groundwater flow

Caractéristiques de la conductivité hydraulique en région de montagne et implications pour la conceptualisation des écoulements souterraines dans la roche en place

Características de la conductividad hidráulica en montañas e implicancias para conceptualizar el flujo del agua subterránea en el basamento

山区水力传导率特征及在概念化基岩地下水流中的含意

Condutividades hidráulicas típicas em montanhas e implicações para a concetualização do escoamento subterrâneo no bedrock

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Abstract

Influences of hydraulic conductivity (K) heterogeneities on bedrock groundwater (BG) flow systems in mountainous topography are investigated using a conceptual 2D numerical modelling approach. A conceptual model for K heterogeneity in crystalline bedrock mountainous environments is developed based on a review of previous research, and represents heterogeneities due to weathering profile, bedrock fracture characteristics, and catchment-scale (∼0.1–1 km) structural features. Numerical groundwater modelling of K scenarios for hypothetical mountain catchment topography indicates that general characteristics of the BG flow directions are dominated by prominent topographic features. Within the modelled saturated BG flow system, ∼90 % or more of total BG flux is focussed within a fractured bedrock zone, extending to depths of ∼100–200 m below the ground surface, overlying lower-K bedrock. Structural features and heterogeneities, represented as discrete zones of higher or lower K relative to surrounding bedrock, locally influence BG flow, but do not influence general BG flow patterns or general positions of BG flow divides. This result is supported by similar BG transit-time distribution shapes and statistics for systems with and without structural features. The results support the development of topography-based methods for predicting general locations of BG flow-system boundaries in mountain regions.

Résumé

Les influences des hétérogénéités de la conductivité hydraulique (K) dans les systèmes d’écoulements d’eaux souterraines dans la roche en place (RP) en région de reliefs montagneux sont étudiées à partir d’une approche de modèle conceptuel numérique en 2D. Un modèle conceptuel pour l’hétérogénéité de K dans des environnements montagneux de roche cristalline en place est développé sur la base d’une revue des recherches antérieures, et représente les hétérogénéités liées au profil d’altération, aux caractéristiques des fractures dans la roche en place, et aux éléments structuraux à l’échelle du bassin (0.1–1 km). La modélisation numérique des eaux souterraines de scénarios de K pour un bassin hypothétique de relief montagneux indique que les caractéristiques générales des directions d’écoulements du RP sont dominées par les caractéristiques topographiques importantes. Au sein du système d’écoulement saturé modélisé au sein du RP, environ 90 % ou plus des écoulements totaux du RP sont concentrés au niveau de la zone fracturée de la RP, et s’étendant en profondeur jusqu’à 100 à 200 m sous le niveau de la surface piézométrique, surmontant la roche en place de plus faible K. Les caractéristiques structurales et les hétérogénéités, représentées comme des zones discrètes de plus forte ou plus faible K par rapport à la roche en place environnante, influencent localement les écoulements, mais n’influencent pas de manière générale les modalités d’écoulement ou les positions générales des lieux de divergence des écoulements souterrains. Ce résultat est soutenu par des formes similaires de distribution des temps de transfert dans le RP et des statistiques pour des systèmes avec ou sans éléments structuraux. Les résultats appuient le développement de méthodes basées sur la topographie, pour prédire les localisations principales des limites des systèmes d’écoulement du RP en régions montagneuses.

Resumen

Se investigan las influencias de las heterogeneidades de la conductividad hidráulica (K) en los sistemas de flujo de agua subterránea del basamento (BG) en topografías montañosas usando una aproximación de modelado numérico conceptual 2D. Se desarrolla un modelo conceptual para las heterogeneidades de K en ambientes montañosos de basamento cristalino basado en una revisión de investigaciones previas, y representa las heterogeneidades debido al perfil meteorizado, características de las fracturas del basamento, y los rasgos estructurales a escala de cuenca (∼0.1–1 km). El modelado numérico de escenarios para la K del agua subterránea para una hipotética topografía de cuenca de montaña indica que las características generales de las direcciones del flujo BG están dominadas por los rasgos topográficos prominentes. Dentro del sistema modelado de flujo saturado BG, ∼90 % o más del total del flujo BG flux está concentrado dentro de una zona de basamento fracturado, extendiéndose a profundidades de ∼100–200 m por debajo de la superficie del terreno, yaciendo por encima de las menores K del basamento. Los rasgos estructurales y las heterogeneidades, representadas como zonas discretas de más alta o más baja K en relación al basamento circundante, influyen localmente en el flujo BG, pero no influye en los patrones del flujo general del BG o en las posiciones generales de las divisorias del flujo de BG. Este resultado está apoyado por formas similares de distribución de tiempos de tránsitos en BG y estadísticas de sistemas con y sin rasgos estructurales. El resultado sostiene el desarrollo de métodos basados en la topografía para predecir las ubicaciones generales de los límites de los sistemas de flujo en BG en regiones montañosas.

摘要

采用概念的二维数值模拟方调查了水力传导率(K)非均匀性对山区基岩地下水(BG)流系统的影响。根据综述以前的研究,开发了结晶基岩山区环境中水力传导率(K)概念模型,描述了由于风化剖面、基岩断裂特征和流域尺度(∼0.1–1km)结构特征的不同而造成的非均匀性。假设山区流域地形的各种水力传导率(K)数值地下水模拟表明,基岩地下水(BG)流方向总的特征受主要地形特征的控制。在模拟的饱和基岩地下水流系统内,基岩地下水总通量的大约90%或者更多集中在断裂基岩带内,延伸到地表以下大约100–200米,覆盖着水力传导率低的基岩。由与周围基岩相关的水力传导率高或低的不连续带展示的构造特征和非均匀性局部影响基岩地下水流,但不影响总的基岩地下水流模式或基岩地下水流分水岭的总的位置。这个结果受到类似基岩地下水流渡越时间分布形状及具有及不具有构造特征的系统的统计数据的支持。这个结果有助于开发基于地形的方法预测山区基岩地下水流边界的总的位置。

Resumo

Usando uma abordagem concetual de modelação numérica 2D foram investigadas as influências das heterogeneidades da condutividade hidráulica (K) de sistemas de fluxo de águas subterrâneas no bedrock (BG) em topografia montanhosa. É desenvolvido um modelo concetual para a heterogeneidade de K em ambientes montanhosos de bedrock cristalino com base em revisão de pesquisas anteriores, e são representadas as heterogeneidades em função do perfil de alteração, das caraterísticas das fraturas do bedrock, e das caraterísticas estruturais da área de alimentação (∼0.1 a 1 km). A modelação numérica de águas subterrâneas para cenários de K e topografia montanhosa hipotética da área de alimentação indica que as caraterísticas gerais das direções de fluxo das BG são dominadas por caraterísticas topográficas proeminentes. Dentro do modelado saturado do sistema de fluxo das águas subterrâneas do bedrock, aproximadamente 90 % ou mais do fluxo total das águas subterrâneas do bedrock é focalizado dentro de uma zona fraturada do bedrock que se estende a uma profundidade de cerca de 100 a 200 m abaixo da superfície do solo que se sobrepõe a um bedrock com K inferior. Caraterísticas estruturais e heterogeneidades, representadas como zonas discretas de maior ou menor K em relação ao bedrock circundante, influenciam localmente o fluxo das BG, mas não influenciam os padrões gerais de fluxo das BG ou posições gerais de divisórias de fluxo das BG. Estes resultados são suportados por formas semelhantes de distribuição do tempo de trânsito das BG e por estatísticas para sistemas com e sem caraterísticas estruturais. Os resultados apoiam o desenvolvimento de métodos baseados na topografia para prever localizações gerais de fronteiras de sistemas de fluxo das BG em regiões montanhosas.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript greatly benefited from comments provided by Doug Stead (Simon Fraser University, Department of Earth Sciences) and H. J. (Ilja) van Meerveld (Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences) at VU University, Amsterdam. Reviewer comments provided by Patrick Lachassagne and an anonymous reviewer improved the manuscript and were also greatly appreciated.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6

    L. A. Welch & D. M. Allen

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Welch, L.A., Allen, D.M. Hydraulic conductivity characteristics in mountains and implications for conceptualizing bedrock groundwater flow. Hydrogeol J 22, 1003–1026 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1121-5

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