Abstract
Research into the unsaturated zone and groundwater recharge can greatly improve understanding of hydrological processes and assist in sustainable groundwater management. Groundwater recharge of the Ljubljana Field aquifer, a coarse-gravel porous aquifer in Slovenia, was estimated with reference to soil characteristics, outflow data from a weighing lysimeter, and water-table fluctuation. The specific yield of the upper unsaturated zone determined from soil characteristics was 0.141 for the top soil layer (0–0.35 m), between 0.042 and 0.066 for the layer below the top soil (0.35–1.3 m), and between 0.239 and 0.219 for the underlying upper coarse layer. During long dry periods, especially in combination with times of high plant-water requirements, only substantial precipitation events directly contribute to considerable groundwater recharge, as ‘substantial precipitation’ is defined as those rainfall events that fill storage and exceed retention capacity of the upper soil layer. Lysimeter measurements show that 50% of the precipitation is lost by evapotranspiration and the other 50% contributes to groundwater recharge. Most infiltrated water was stored for a short time in the unsaturated zone and did not result in a significant discharge from the lysimeter. Average specific yield, calculated using the water-table fluctuation method, was 0.144. The nature of the gravely unsaturated zone is that once the retention buffer of the soil is exceeded, the water front travels through relatively quickly, which can be seen as an advantage for recharge or a disadvantage for prevention of groundwater pollution.
Résumé
La recherche sur la zone non saturée et la recharge des eaux souterraines peut améliorer grandement la compréhension des processus hydrologiques et contribuer à une gestion durable des eaux souterraines. La recharge des eaux souterraines de l’aquifère du champ captant de Ljubljana, un aquifère poreux constitué de graviers grossiers en Slovénie, a été estimée en considérant les caractéristiques du sol, les données de flux sortant d’un lysimètre à pesée, et la fluctuation du niveau piézométrique. Le rendement spécifique de la zone non saturée supérieure déterminée à partir des caractéristiques du sol était de 0.141 pour la couche supérieure du sol (0–0.35 m), entre 0.042 et 0.066 pour la couche sous le sol supérieur (0.35–1.3 m), et entre 0.239 et 0.219 pour la couche grossière supérieure sous-jacente. Au cours de longues périodes de sécheresse, spécialement simultanément à des périodes de besoins élevés en eau par la végétation, seules des précipitations importantes contribuent directement à une recharge considérable des eaux souterraines, les ‘précipitations importantes’ étant définies comme les événements de précipitations qui permettent de remplir le stock d’eau du sol et dépassent la capacité de rétention de la couche supérieure du sol. Les mesures du lysimètre montrent que 50% des précipitations sont perdues par évapotranspiration et que les autres 50% contribuent à la recharge des eaux souterraines. La plupart de l’eau infiltrée a été stockée pendant une courte période dans la zone non saturée et n’a pas donné lieu à un débit significatif en sortie du lysimètre. Un rendement spécifique moyen, calculé en utilisant la méthode de la fluctuation du niveau piézométrique, était de 0.144. Du fait du caractère prononcé de la zone non saturée (ZNS), une fois que la capacité de rétention du sol est dépassée, le front d’eau se déplace relativement rapidement au travers de la ZNS, ce qui peut être considéré comme un avantage pour la recharge ou comme un inconvénient concernant la prévention de la pollution des eaux souterraines.
Resumen
La investigación de la zona no saturada y de la recarga de las aguas subterráneas puede mejorar en gran medida la comprensión de los procesos hidrológicos y contribuir a la explotación sostenible de las aguas subterráneas. La recarga de las aguas subterráneas del acuífero del Campo de Liubliana, un acuífero poroso de grava gruesa de Eslovenia, se estimó con relación a las características del suelo, los datos de caudal de salida de un lisímetro de peso y la fluctuación del nivel freático. El rendimiento específico de la zona no saturada superficial determinado a partir de las características del suelo fue de 0.141 para la capa superior del suelo (0–0.35 m), entre 0.042 y 0.066 para la capa inferior (0.35–1.3 m), y entre 0.239 y 0.219 para la capa gruesa subyacente. Durante largos períodos secos, especialmente en combinación con épocas de altos requerimientos de agua para las plantas, sólo los eventos de precipitaciones significativas contribuyen directamente a una importante recarga de las aguas subterráneas, ya que la “precipitación significativa” se define como aquellos eventos de precipitaciones que completan el almacenamiento y exceden la capacidad de retención de la capa superior del suelo. Las mediciones de los lisímetros muestran que el 50% de la precipitación se pierde por evapotranspiración y el otro 50% contribuye a la recarga de las aguas subterráneas. La mayor parte del agua infiltrada se almacenó durante un corto período de tiempo en la zona no saturada y no dio lugar a una descarga significativa del lisímetro. El rendimiento específico medio, calculado con el método de la fluctuación de la capa freática, fue de 0.144. La naturaleza de la zona no saturada es que, una vez que se supera la zona de retención del suelo, el frente de agua se desplaza con relativa rapidez, lo que puede considerarse una ventaja para la recarga o una desventaja para la prevención de la contaminación de las aguas subterráneas.
摘要
对非饱和带和地下水的补给进行研究可以极大地提高对水文过程的认识, 并可为地下水的可持续管理提供参考。Ljubljana Field含水层是斯洛文尼亚的一个粗砾孔隙含水层, 其地下水的补给量可以根据土壤特性、称重蒸渗仪的出流数据和地下水位波动进行估算。根据土壤特性确定的上部非饱和带(0–0.35 m)的给水度为0.141, 表土以下层位(0.35–1.3 m)的给水度为0.042–0.066, 下伏粗砾层给水度为0.239–0.219。在长期干旱时期, 特别是还处在作物需水量较高的阶段, 只有大量降水事件才能直接充分补给地下水。因为“大量降水”的定义为那些使上部土壤层全部蓄水, 并超出存储容量的降水事件。蒸渗仪测量结果显示, 50%的降水量由于蒸发和蒸腾而损失掉, 而另外的50%降水才可以真正补给地下水。大多数入渗的降水在非饱和带中储存很短的一段时间, 所以不能使蒸渗仪发生显著地排泄。采用地下水位波动法计算的平均给水度为0.144。强烈不饱和带的性质是, 一旦超过土壤的保留缓冲区, 滨水区就会相对较快地通过, 这可以看作是补给地下水的有利条件, 也可以看作是防止地下水污染的不利条件。
Resumo
Pesquisa na zona não saturada e recarga das águas subterrâneas podem melhorar muito a compreensão de processos hidrológicos e auxiliar na gestão sustentável das águas subterrâneas. A recarga das águas subterrâneas do aquífero Ljubljan Field, um aquífero poroso de cascalho grosso na Eslovênia, foi estimada com referência às características do solo, dados de vazão de um lisímetro de pesagem, e a flutuação do nível freático. A produtividade específica da zona não saturada superior, determinada a partir das características do solo, foi de 0.141 para a camada superficial (0–0.35 m), entre 0.042 e 0.066 para a camada abaixo do topo do solo (0.35–1.3 m), e entre 0.239 e 0.219 para a camada grossa superior subjacente. Durante longos períodos secos, especialmente em combinação com períodos de elevada exigência de água para as plantas, apenas eventos substanciais de precipitação contribuem diretamente para a recarga das águas subterrâneas, “precipitação substancial” é definida como todo evento de chuva que completa o armazenamento e excede a capacidade de retenção da camada superficial do solo. As medições do lisímetro mostraram que 50% da precipitação é perdida por evapotranspiração e outros 50% contribuem para a recarga das águas subterrâneas. A maior parte da água infiltrada foi armazenada por um curto período na zona não saturada e não resultou em uma significativa descarga para o lisímetro. A produtividade especifica média, calculada usando o método de flutuação do nível freático, foi 0.144. A natureza da zona de cascalho não saturada é que uma vez excedido o intervalo de retenção do solo, à frente da água viaja com relativa rapidez, o que pode ser visto como uma vantagem para recarga ou uma desvantagem para a prevenção da poluição das águas subterrâneas.
Povzetek
Raziskave nezasičene cone in napajanja podzemne vode lahko znatno izboljšajo razumevanje hidroloških procesov ter pripomorejo pri trajnostnem upravljanju s podzemnimi vodami. Ocenili smo napajanje podzemne vode v debelozrnatem medzrnskem vodonosniku Ljubljanskega polja ob upoštevanjem lastnosti tal, podatkov o iztoku iz tehtalnega lizimetra ter spreminjanja nivoja podzemne vode.Sy zgornje nezasičene cone na podlagi lastnosti tal je bila 0,141 za vrhnji sloj tal (0–0,35 m), med 0.042 in 0.066 za sloj pod vrhnjim slojem tal (0.35–1.3 m) ter med 0,239 in 0,219 za debelozrnate plasti pod njimi. V dolgih, suhih obdobjih, posebej v kombinaciji z obdobji visokih potreb rastlin po vodi, le znatni padavinski dogodki neposredno prispevajo k napajanju podzemne vode. Kot znatne padavine so definirani tisti padavinski dogodki, ki napolnijo kapaciteto tal in presežejo vodo zadrževalne sposobnosti vrhnjega sloja. Meritve na lizimetru kažejo, da se 50% padavin izgubi preko evapotranspiracije, preostalih 50% pa prispeva k napajanju podzemne vode. Glavnina infiltrirane vode je bila shranjena za kratek čas v nezasičeni coni in ni prispevala k bistvenemu iztoku iz lizimetra. Povprečni Sy, izračunan s pomočjo metode nihanja gladin podzemne vode, je 0.144. Ko je zadrževalna sposobnost tal oz. nezasičene cone presežena, vodna fronta teče skozi to nezasičeno cono zelo hitro, kar je prednost z vidika napajanja podzemne vode, oziroma slabost z vidika preprečevanja onesnaževanja podzemne vode.
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Acknowledgements
Lysimeter measurements were performed as part of the CC-WaterS project (no. SEE/D/0143/2.1/X) and the CC-WARE project (no. SEE/A/022/2.1/X), in the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme, and both projects were supported by means of the European Regional Development Fund.
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Zupanc, V., Bračič Železnik, B., Pintar, M. et al. Assessment of groundwater recharge for a coarse-gravel porous aquifer in Slovenia. Hydrogeol J 28, 1773–1785 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02152-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02152-8