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Evaluating shallow flow-system response to climate change through analysis of spring deposits in southwestern Wisconsin, USA

Evaluation de la réponse d’un système aquifère superficiel au changement climatique par l’analyse des dépôts d’une source dans le sud-ouest du Wisconsin, Etats-Unis

Evaluación de la respuesta de un sistema de flujo somero al cambio climático a través del análisis de depósitos de manantiales en el sudoeste de Wisconsin, EEUU

Avaliação da resposta do sistema de fluxo subsuperficial às alterações climáticas através da análise de depósitos de nascente no sudoeste de Wisconsin, EUA

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Abstract

Tufa-depositing springs in the southern Driftless Area of Wisconsin, USA, are used to inform the response of shallow and local groundwater flow systems to changes in climate over the last 3,000 years. The springs emanate from a shallow, unconfined, sedimentary bedrock aquifer and at stratigraphic positions similar to a shallow, perched aquifer that was identified in the eastern Driftless Area. The perched aquifer was shown to be stable under current climate conditions and over decadal time scales. This study provides further evidence of the significance of the stratigraphic interval in controlling shallow groundwater flow patterns in the region and in the stability of shallow and local groundwater flow systems over thousands of years. The tufa carbonates in three cores collected from the mounds adjacent to the springs show variations in stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) and elemental (Mg/Ca) values that agree with well-established paleoclimate records for the region, suggesting that the springs were active and depositing tufa in the past, during climate conditions that were similar to the present and during conditions that were drier than the present.

Résumé

Les dépôts de tuf de sources, dans le Sud de la région de Driftless dans le Wisconsin (Etats-Unis), ont été utilisés pour évaluer la réponse de systèmes aquifères superficiels et locaux au changement climatique au cours des derniers 3,000 ans. Les sources émergent d’un aquifère sédimentaire à nappe libre, peu profond, et à des niveaux stratigraphiques similaires à un aquifère perché, peu profond, dans le secteur Est de la région de Driftless. Il a été montré que l’aquifère perché était stable sous les conditions climatiques actuelles et au cours des dernières décennies. Cette étude apporte d’autres preuves de l’importance de l’intervalle stratigraphique dans le contrôle des modes d’écoulement des eaux souterraines peu profondes et dans la stabilité des systèmes aquifères superficiels et locaux, au cours des derniers millénaires. Les carbonates des tufs de trois échantillons collectés dans les monticules adjacents aux sources, montrent des variations des isotopes stables (δ13C, δ18O) et des valeurs pour les éléments Mg/Ca qui correspondent bien aux enregistrements paléo-climatiques pour la région, suggérant ainsi que les sources étaient actives et ont déposé des tufs dans le passé, lors de conditions climatiques identiques aux conditions actuelles, et lors de conditions plus sèches.

Resumen

Se usaron los depósitos de tufa en manantiales en el sur del Driftless Area de Wisconsin, EEUU, para informar la respuesta de los sistemas locales someros del flujo de agua subterránea a cambios en el clima en los últimos 3,000 años. Los manantiales emanan desde un acuífero somero no confinado de roca sedimentaria, y en una posición estratigráfica similar a un acuífero somero colgado, que fue identificado en el este del Driftless Area. El acuífero colgado mostró ser estable bajo las actuales condiciones climáticas y sobre escalas temporales de décadas. Este estudio proporciona una evidencia adicional de la significación del intervalo estratigráfico en controlar los patrones de flujo somero del agua subterránea en la región y la estabilidad de los sistemas de flujo locales someros de agua subterránea a través de miles de años. Los carbonatos de la tufa en tres testigos recolectados de promontorios adyacentes a los manantiales muestran variaciones en los isotopos estables (δ13C, δ18O) y en los valores básicos (Mg/Ca) que concuerdan con los bien establecidos registros paleoclimáticos de la región, sugiriendo que los manantiales estuvieron activos y depositando tufa en el pasado, durante condiciones climáticas que eran similares a las actuales y durante condiciones que eran más secas que las presentes.

Resumo

Os depósitos de tufa nas nascentes da Zona de Driftless, na parte sul de Wisconsin, EUA, são usados para analisar a resposta dos sistemas de fluxo local de águas subterrâneas às alterações climáticas nos últimos 3,000 anos. As nascentes emanam de um aquífero sedimentar não confinado e em posições estratigráficas semelhantes ao de um aquífero livre suspenso identificado a este da Área de Driftless. O aquífero suspenso mostrou ter um comportamento estável sob condições climáticas atuais e em escalas de tempo da ordem das décadas. Este estudo fornece mais uma prova da importância de se considerar o intervalo estratigráfico no controlo dos padrões de fluxo de água subterrânea subsuperficial na região e na estabilidade dos sistemas de fluxo subsuperficiais e locais de águas subterrâneas ao longo de milhares de anos. Os carbonatos de tufa analisados em três testemunhos amostrados nos locais adjacentes às nascentes apresentam variações em isótopos estáveis (δ13C, δ18O) e valores elementares (Mg/Ca) que estão de acordo com registos paleoclimáticos bem estabelecidos para a região, o que sugere que as nascentes estavam ativas e depositando tufa no passado, durante condições climáticas que foram semelhantes às atuais e durante condições mais secas que a atual.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Beth Ames, Steve Ballou, Kylie Larson-Robl, and Evan Mascitti for field and lab assistance; property owners for allowing access to wells and springs; and the members of the 2009 Keck Geology Consortium Wisconsin project for laying the groundwork for this research. We appreciate the cooperation and participation of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey in the borehole geophysical logging. We also thank Jonathon Carter, Walter Dragoni, and Seifu Kebede for their thoughtful comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by a grant from the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WR11R004) as part of the State of Wisconsin’s Groundwater Research and Monitoring Program, a sub-award from the Keck Geology Consortium (NSF-REU 0648782), and the Sanger Summer Scholars Program at Beloit College.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Beloit College, 700 College Street, Beloit, WI, 53511, USA

    Susan K. Swanson

  2. Department of Geology, University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI, 54901, USA

    Maureen A. Muldoon

  3. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA

    Victor Polyak & Yemane Asmerom

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  1. Susan K. Swanson
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  2. Maureen A. Muldoon
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Correspondence to Susan K. Swanson.

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Swanson, S.K., Muldoon, M.A., Polyak, V. et al. Evaluating shallow flow-system response to climate change through analysis of spring deposits in southwestern Wisconsin, USA. Hydrogeol J 22, 851–863 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1115-3

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