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Mountain-block recharge, present and past, in the eastern Española Basin, New Mexico, USA

Recharge actuelle et passée d’un massif montagneux, partie orientale du bassin Española, New Mexico, USA

Recarga en un bloque montañoso, presente y pasado en la Cuenca Española oriental, New Mexico, EEUU

Recarga actual e histórica em blocos montanhosos da Bacia Espanhola oriental, Novo México, EUA

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Abstract

Noble gas recharge temperatures (NGTs) and radiocarbon ages were determined for 43 groundwater samples collected in the eastern Española Basin, New Mexico (USA), to identify mountain-block recharge in waters <10 thousand years (ka) old and to evaluate possible changes in mountain-block recharge over the past ∼35 ka. For Holocene samples from the southeastern area, NGTs are dominantly 2–4° cooler than the measured water-table temperature near the mountain front. Computed minimum mountain-block recharge fractions are dominantly 0.2–0.5, consistent with previous large mountain-block recharge estimates. NGTs do not display the distinct low during the last glacial maximum observed in other paleorecharge studies; samples recharged 15–25 ka ago are on average only 1.3° cooler than Holocene samples. Instead, samples with the coldest NGTs were recharged 25–35 ka ago. A proposed explanation is that higher precipitation rates during the last glacial maximum resulted in a lower mean recharge elevation for the basin, essentially buffering the effect of the lower mean annual air temperature and producing NGTs similar to the Holocene. In the period preceding the last glacial maximum, precipitation rates more like today’s resulted in Holocene-like mountain-block recharge fractions, producing a mean NGT ∼5° cooler than the Holocene, as expected.

Résumé

Les températures de recharge (NGTs) gaz rares et les âges carbone 14 ont été déterminés sur 43 échantillons d’eau souterraine prélevés dans le bassin oriental de Española, New Mexico (USA), pour identifier la recharge d’un massif montagneuse par des eaux d’âge inférieur à 10 mille ans (ka) et d’en évaluer les changements possibles au cours des 35 ka passés. Les NGTs des échantillons holocènes du secteur Sud-Est sont toujours de 2 à 4°C inférieures à celles de la nappe près du front du massif. Les parts minimales de recharge du massif calculées sont comprises entre 0.2 et 0.5, compatibles avec les estimations antérieures de recharge du massif. Les NGTs n’indiquent pas les températures plus froides du dernier maximum glaciaire observées dans d’autres études de paléo recharge; des échantillons témoins d’une recharge il y a 15–25 ka présentent une température moyenne inférieure de 1.3°C seulement aux échantillons holocènes. Par ailleurs, les échantillons présentant les NGTs les plus basses ont été rechargés il y a 25–35 ka. Une explication proposée est que des taux de précipitations plus élevées durant le dernier maximum glaciaire ont abouti à une altitude moyenne de recharge plus faible dans le bassin, tamponnant sensiblement l’effet d’une température moyenne annuelle plus basse de l’air et induisant des NGTs similaires à celles de l’Holocène. Dans la période précédant le dernier maximum glaciaire, des taux de précipitation proches des taux actuels ont abouti à des parts de recharge du massif similaires à celles de l’Holocène, produisant des NGTs moyennes environ 5° plus basses que celle de la température holocène attendue.

Resumen

Se determinaron las temperaturas de la recarga de gases nobles (NGTs) y las edades de radiocarbónicas para 43 muestras de aguas subterráneas recolectadas en la Cuenca Española oriental, New Mexico (EEUU), para identificar la recarga en un bloque montañoso en aguas menores <10 mil años (ka) de edad y para evaluar los cambios posibles en la recarga del bloque montañoso durante los pasados ∼35 ka. Para las muestras del Holoceno proveniente del área sudeste, las NGTs son predominantemente 2–4° más fríos que la temperatura medida de la capa freática cerca del frente montañoso. Las fracciones mínimas calculadas de la recarga del bloque montañoso son predominantemente 0.2–0.5, consistente con estimaciones previas de recarga para grandes bloques montañosos. Las NGTs no exhiben la baja distintiva durante el último máximo glacial observado en otros estudios de paleorecarga: las muestras recargadas 15–25 ka atrás son en promedio solamente 1.3° más frío que las muestras del Holoceno. En su lugar, las muestras con las NGTs más frías fueron recargadas 25–35 ka atrás. Una explicación propuesta es que el alto ritmo de precipitación durante el último máximo glacial resultaron en una menor elevación de la recarga media para la Cuenca, amortiguando esencialmente el efecto del descenso de la temperatura media anual del aire y produciendo NGTs similares a los del Holoceno. En el período precedente al último máximo glacial, los ritmos de precipitación más parecidos a los de hoy resultaron en fracciones de recarga del tipo holocénico en los bloques montañosos, produciendo una NGT media ∼5° más fría que en el Holoceno, como era de esperar.

Resumo

Determinaram-se as temperaturas da recarga por gases nobres (TGN) e as idades por radiocarbono em 43 amostras de água subterrânea colhidas na Bacia Espanhola oriental, no Novo México (EUA), com o fim de identificar, em blocos montanhosos, a recarga com águas com idade <10 mil anos (ka) e de avaliar possíveis alterações da recarga nos blocos montanhosos nos últimos ∼35 ka. Para as amostras do Holocénico provenientes da região sudeste, as TGN são dominantemente 2–4° mais baixas do que a temperatura da água freática perto da frente da montanha. As fracções de recarga mínima proveniente dos blocos montanhosos que foram calculadas são dominantemente 0.2–0.5, consistentes com anteriores estimativas de recarga em grandes blocos montanhosos. As TGN não apresentam a distinta diminuição durante o último máximo glaciar observada em outros estudos de paleorecarga; as amostras recarregadas há 15–25 ka são em média somente 1.3° mais frias que as amostras holocénicas. Em vez disso, as amostras que apresentam as TGN mais baixas foram recarregadas há 25–35 ka. Uma explicação que se propõe é que as taxas mais altas de precipitação durante o último máximo glaciar terão ocorrido numa altitude mais baixa de recarga média na bacia, amortecendo essencialmente o efeito da temperatura média anual do ar mais baixa e produzindo TGN similares às do Holocénico. No período precedente ao último máximo glaciar, as taxas de precipitação, provavelmente semelhantes às actuais, criaram fracções de recarga nos blocos montanhosos parecidas com as do Holocénico, e produziram TGN ∼5° mais frias que no Holocénico, tal como esperado.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Los Alamos National Laboratory, the City of Santa Fe, and the US Geological Survey’s Rio Grande Basin Project. Major logistical assistance was also provided by the New Mexico Environment Department and the US Geological Survey’s New Mexico Water Science Center.

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    Andrew H. Manning

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Manning, A.H. Mountain-block recharge, present and past, in the eastern Española Basin, New Mexico, USA. Hydrogeol J 19, 379–397 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0696-8

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