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Quantification of groundwater discharge into lakes using radon-222 as naturally occurring tracer

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A case study was carried out with the aim to practically test whether estimates of groundwater discharge rates into dredging lakes can be made via an uncomplicated and straightforward technique using radon-222 as naturally-occurring groundwater tracer. Lake Ammelshainer See, a dredging, seepage lake, approximately 25 km east of Leipzig, Germany, was chosen as the investigation site. In order to evaluate changes in the spatial and temporal radon-222 patterns in the lake during different stages of stratification, sampling campaigns were conducted in April 2007 (well mixed stage) and in May 2007 (thermal stratification stage). Groundwater flow estimates were made using a radon mass balance approach accounting for all radon fluxes into and out of the lake and assuming steady-state conditions with respect to these radon fluxes. Once all positive and negative radon fluxes related to the lake water volume were determined, groundwater discharge was estimated by using the advective radon input and the radon activity concentration of the pore water as key parameters. The results showed that in case of a lake with a size and shape of Lake Ammelshainer See (530,000m2) reasonable groundwater discharge estimates can be made by collection and analyzing just a few water samples and a few samples from the sediment layer.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Stefanie Härtel, Daniel Geppert, Nico Meye, and Nadine Zimmer for their essential support in field and laboratory work during this study. The thoughtful and valuable comments by Richard Peterson, Isaac Santos, and Natasha Dimova to a draft version of this manuscript are gratefully acknowledged. Axel Schmidt holds a scholarship of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Axel Schmidt & Michael Schubert

  2. Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Christina E. Stringer

  3. Staatliche Umweltbetriebsgesellschaft, Lysimeterstation Brandis, 04821, Brandis, Germany

    Ulrike Haferkorn

Authors
  1. Axel Schmidt
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  2. Christina E. Stringer
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  3. Ulrike Haferkorn
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  4. Michael Schubert
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Correspondence to Axel Schmidt.

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Schmidt, A., Stringer, C.E., Haferkorn, U. et al. Quantification of groundwater discharge into lakes using radon-222 as naturally occurring tracer. Environ Geol 56, 855–863 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1186-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1186-3

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