Abstract
Groundwater recharge is an important component to hydrologic studies but is known to vary considerably across the landscape. The purpose of this study was to examine 4 years of water-level behavior in a transect of four water-table wells installed at Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA to evaluate how groundwater recharge varied along a topographic gradient. The amount of daily water-table rise (WTR) in the wells was summed at monthly and annual scales and estimates of specific yield (Sy) were used to convert the WTR to recharge. At the floodplain site, Sy was estimated from the ratio of WTR to total rainfall and in the uplands was based on the ratio of baseflow to WTR. In the floodplain, where the water table is shallow, recharge occurred throughout the year whenever precipitation occurred. In upland areas where the water table was deeper, WTR occurred in a stepped fashion and varied by season. Results indicated that the greatest amount of water-table rise over the 4-year period was observed in the floodplain (379 mm), followed by the upland (211 mm) and sideslopes (122 mm). Incorporating spatial variability in recharge in a watershed will improve groundwater resource evaluation and flow and transport modeling.
Résumé
La recharge d’un aquifère est une composant hydrologique importante mais varie considérablement. L’objectif de cette étude était d’examiner quatre ans de variations de niveaux piézométriques le long d’un profil de quatre puits installés à Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA afin d’évaluer comment la recharge varie selon le gradient topographique. La somme du nombre total de pics journaliers du niveau d’eau de la nappe (WTR) a été faite à l’échelle mensuelle et annuelle et l’estimation du débit spécifique (Sy) a été utilisée pour convertir le WTR en recharge. Dans la plaine d’inondation, Sy a été estimé à partir du rapport du WTR sur les précipitations totales et sur les parties hautes du bassin il a été estimé à partir du rapport flux de base sur WTR. Dans la plaine, où le niveau de la nappe est peu profond, la recharge a lieu toute l’année lors des précipitations. Sur les sommets, où le niveau de la nappe est plus profond, le WTR se produit par pallier et varie selon les saisons. Les résultats indiquent que les plus fortes augmentations du niveau de la nappe durant la période de quatre ans sont observées en plaine (379 mm), suivi par les plateaux (211 mm) et les coteaux (122 mm). Incorporer la variabilité spatiale de la recharge sur le bassin versant permettra d’améliorer l’évaluation des ressources en eau souterraine et la modélisation des flux et transport.
Resumen
La recarga de las aguas subterráneas es un componente importante en los estudios hidrológicos, aunque se sabe que varía considerablemente a través del paisaje. El propósito de este estudio fue el estudio del comportamiento de los niveles de agua durante cuatro años de registro en una transecta de cuatro pozos en un acuífero libre instalados en Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA a fin de evaluar cómo varía la recarga subterránea a lo largo de gradientes topográficos. Las elevaciones diarias del nivel de agua en el acuífero libre (ENAL) registradas en los pozos se sumaron a escala mensual y anual y se usaron las estimaciones del almacenamiento específico (Sy) para convertir las ENAL en recarga. En la planicie de inundación, Sy se estimó como la relación entre ENAL y la precipitación total, y en las regiones más elevadas se basó en la relación entre el flujo base y la ENAL. En la planicie de inundación, donde el acuífero es somero, la recarga se produce a lo largo del año toda vez que se registra precipitación. En las regiones elevadas el nivel de agua es más profundo, y la ENAL se produce por pasos y varía estacionalmente. Los resultados indican que las mayores elevaciones en el período de cuatro años se observaron en la planicie de inundación (379 mm), seguidas por las zonas elevadas (211 mm) y las planicies laterales (122 mm). La incorporación de la variabilidad en la recarga en una cuenca mejorará la evaluación de los recursos subterráneos y la modelación del flujo y del transporte.
Resumo
A recarga subterrânea é uma componente importante nos estudos hidrológicos, mas sabe-se que varia consideravelmente no espaço. O propósito deste estudo foi examinar, durante quatro anos, o comportamento do nível da água subterrânea numa secção com quatro piezómetros instalados no Walnut Creek, no Iowa, EUA, para avaliar como varia a recarga subterrânea ao longo dum gradiente topográfico. O valor da subida diária do nível da água subterrânea (WTR) nos piezómetros foi somada às escalas mensal e anual e foram estimados valores do caudal específico (Sy), para converter o valor de WTR em recarga. Na zona da planície de inundação, Sy foi estimado a partir da razão entre WTR e o total da precipitação e nos planaltos baseou-se na razão entre o escoamento de base e o WTR. Na planície de inundação, onde o nível da água é pouco profundo, a recarga ocorre ao longo do ano sempre que ocorre precipitação. Nas áreas planálticas, onde o nível da água subterrânea é mais profundo, ocorre WTR de uma forma gradual que varia com a estação do ano. Os resultados indicaram que a maior subida do nível da água subterrânea, ao longo dos quatro anos, foi observada na planície de inundação (379 mm), seguida pelo planalto (211 mm) e pelas encostas (122 mm). Integrar a variabilidade espacial no cálculo da recarga de uma bacia hidrográfica melhorará a avaliação dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos e os modelos de fluxo e de transporte.
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Schilling, K.E. Investigating local variation in groundwater recharge along a topographic gradient, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA. Hydrogeol J 17, 397–407 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0347-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0347-5