Abstract
In a confined alluvial aquifer located between two rivers, discrete zones of anomalously high concentrations of redox species such as iron, are thought to be a result of groundwater flow dynamics rather than a chemical evolution along continuous flow paths. This new hypothesis was confirmed at a study site located between Nan and Yom rivers in Phitsanulok, Thailand, by analyzing concentrations of redox species in comparison with dynamic groundwater flow patterns. River incision into the confined alluvial aquifer and seasonally varying river stages result in truncated flow paths. The groundwater flow dynamics between two rivers has four phases that are cyclic, including: aquifer discharge into both rivers, direct flow from one river toward another, aquifer recharge from both rivers, and reverse of river-to-river flow. The resulting groundwater flow direction has a zigzag pattern and its general trend is almost parallel to the river flow. High iron anomaly appears as discrete zones in the transition areas of the confined alluvial aquifer because the lateral recharge from rivers penetrates into the aquifer only by tens of meters. The high iron anomaly, which is nearly constant in space and time, is a result of groundwater/surface-water interactions and related groundwater flow dynamics.
Résumé
Dans un aquifère alluvial captif situé entre deux rivières, des zones discrètes présentant une anomalie élevée en concentrations d’espèces redox comme le Fer, sont supposées être le résultat de la dynamique de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines plutôt que le résultat d’une évolution chimique le long d’une ligne d’écoulement continue. Cette nouvelle hypothèse a été confirmée sur un site d’étude situé entre les rivières Nan et Yom à Phitsanulok, en Thaïlande, en analysant les concentrations des espèces redox en comparaison avec le schéma de l’écoulement dynamique des eaux souterraines. L’incision de la rivière dans l’aquifère alluvial captif et les niveaux de la rivière variant saisonnièrement engendrent des trajectoires tronquées. La dynamique de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines entre les deux rivières présente quatre phases cycliques dont : l’écoulement de l’aquifère vers les deux rivières, l’écoulement direct d’une rivière vers l’autre, la recharge de l’aquifère à partir des deux rivières, et l’écoulement inverse rivière-à-rivière. La direction résultante de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines possède une allure en zigzag et reste globalement parallèle à la rivière. L’anomalie élevée en Fer apparaît en zones discrètes dans les aires de transition de l’aquifère alluvial captif, du fait de la recharge latérale à partir des rivières pénétrant seulement sur des dizaines de mètres dans l’aquifère. L’anomalie élevée en Fer, qui est pratiquement constante dans l’espace et dans le temps, est le résultat d’interactions entre l’eau souterraine et l’eau de surface et la dynamique de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines associée.
Resumen
En un acuífero aluvial confinado localizado entre dos ríos, existen zonas discretas de concentraciones anormalmente altas de especies redox, como el hierro, que se piensa son el resultado de la dinámica de flujo del agua subterránea más que el resultado de la evolución química a lo largo de líneas de flujo continuas. Esta nueva hipótesis se ha confirmado en un área de estudio localizado entre los ríos Nan y Yome Phitsanulok, Tailandia, mediante el análisis de las concentraciones de especies redox en comparación con la dinámica de las líneas de flujo del agua subterránea. La incisión del río en el acuífero aluvial confinado y las variaciones estacionales de las alturas del río dan lugar al truncamiento de las líneas de flujo. La dinámica del flujo entre los dos ríos tiene cuatro fases cíclicas, que incluyen: la descarga del acuífero en ambos ríos, el flujo directo de un río hacia el otro, la recarga hacia el acuífero desde ambos ríos y el flujo revertido entre un río y otro. Las direcciones de las líneas de flujo resultantes tienen un diseño en zigzag y su dirección general es casi paralela a la dirección del río. El contenido anormalmente alto en hierro aparece como una zona discreta en las áreas de transición del acuífero aluvial confinado porque la recarga lateral desde los ríos penetra en el acuífero solamente unos diez metros. La anomalía de altos contenidos en hierro, que es casi constante en el espacio y en el tiempo, es un resultado de la interacción entre el agua subterránea y el agua superficial y está relacionada con la dinámica de flujo del agua subterránea.
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Acknowledgements
Thailand Research Fund provided financial support (TRG4580065) for this study. We thank Roongwit Promma, Sanong Patanompee, Rath Wongnete, Prajonyuth Yimprae, and Siam Munmaung for field assistance. We are grateful to the Hydrology and Water Resources Management Center-Lower Northern Region, Royal Irrigation Department, for providing the river-stage data. We are also grateful to the editors and three anonymous reviewers whose detailed constructive comments have led to significant improvement of this paper.
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Promma, K., Zheng, C. & Asnachinda, P. Groundwater and surface-water interactions in a confined alluvial aquifer between two rivers: effects of groundwater flow dynamics on high iron anomaly. Hydrogeol J 15, 495–513 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0110-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0110-8