Abstract
The chloride mass balance (CMB) and water-table fluctuation (WTF) analysis methods were used to estimate recharge rates in the Uley South Basin, South Australia. Groundwater hydrochemistry and isotope data were used to infer the nature of recharge pathways and evapotranspiration processes. These data indicate that some combination of two plausible processes is occurring: (1) complete evaporation of rainfall occurs, and the precipitated salts are washed down and redissolved when recharge occurs, and (2) transpiration dominates over evaporation. It is surmised that sinkholes predominantly serve to by-pass the shallow soil zone and redistribute infiltration into the deeper unsaturated zone, rather than transferring rainfall directly to the water table. Chlorofluorocarbon measurements were used in approximating recharge origins to account for coastal proximity effects in the CMB method and pumping seasonality was accounted for in the WTF-based recharge estimates. Best estimates of spatially and temporally averaged recharge rates for the basin are 52–63 and 47–129 mm/year from the CMB and WTF analyses, respectively. Adaptations of both the CMB and WTF analyses to account for nuances of the system were necessary, demonstrating the need for careful application of these methods.
Résumé
Le bilan des chlorures (BMC) et la fluctuation du toit de l’aquifère (FTA) ont été utilisés pour estimer les taux de recharge du Uley South Basin, Sud Australien. Hydrochimie de nappe et données isotopiques ont été utilisées pour inférer la nature des trajectoires de recharge et processus d’évapotranspiration. Ces données indiquent une combinaison de deux processus plausibles: (1) une évaporation complète de la pluie a lieu, et les sels précipités sont lessivés et redissous lorsque la recharge a lieu, et (2) la transpiration l’emporte sur l’évaporation. On présume que des zones de pertes d’eau de surface court-circuitent de façon prédominante l’horizon de sol superficiel et redistribuent l’infiltration dans la zone saturée plus profonde, au lieu d’un transfert direct de l’eau de pluie vers la nappe libre. Des mesures au chlorofluorure de carbone ont été utilisées pour établir approximativement les origines de la recharge en tenant compte des effets de la proximité de la côte dans la méthode CMB et du pompage saisonnier dans les estimations de recharges basées sur la FTA. Les meilleures estimations des taux de recharge moyennés dans le temps et l’espace pour le bassin sont 52–63 et 47–129 mm/an selon les analyses BMC et FTA respectivement. Des adaptations des deux analyses BMC et FTA ont été nécessaires pour tenir compte des particularités du système, démontrant la nécessité d’une application soigneuse de ces méthodes.
Resumen
Se utilizaron los métodos de análisis del balance de masas de cloruro (CMB) y de la fluctuación del nivel freático (WTF) para estimar las tasas de recarga en la cuenca de Uley South Basin, en el Australia del Sur. Se usaron datos de isótopos e hidroquímicos subterráneos para inferir la naturaleza de las trayectorias de recarga y de los procesos de evapotranspiración. Estos datos indican que está ocurriendo alguna combinación de dos procesos factibles: (1) ocurre una evaporación completa de la lluvia, y las sales precipitadas con lavados y redisueltas cuando se verifica la recarga, y (2) la transpiración domina sobre la evaporación. Se conjetura que los sumideros sirven predominantemente para el by-pass de la zona del suelo somero y para redistribuir la infiltración en la zona no saturada más profunda, más que transferir el agua de lluvia directamente a la capa freática. Se utilizan medidas de clorofluorocarbonos para aproximar los orígenes de la recarga para tener en cuenta los efectos en la proximidad de la costa en los métodos CMB y la estacionalidad del bombeo para tener en cuenta para estimar la recarga basada en WTF. Las mejores estimaciones por las tasas de recarga promediadas espacial y temporalmente para la cuenca son 52–63 mm/a y 47–129 mm/a para los análisis de CMB y WTF respectivamente. Se necesitaron las adaptaciones de ambos análisis para determinar CMB y WTF, para dar cuentas de los matices del matices del sistema, demostrando la necesidad de la aplicación cuidadosa de estos métodos.
摘要
氯质量平衡(CMB)和地下水位波动(WTF)分析方法可用于估计澳大利亚南部Uley南部盆地的补给速率。地下水水化学和同位素数据用于推断补给路径和蒸散发过程的性质。数据表明两个似乎合理的过程的组合发生:(1) 降雨的完全蒸发,沉淀的盐分被冲洗,当发生补给时再次溶解,(2)蒸腾强于蒸发。据猜测,渗漏的水主要途经浅层土壤带再入渗到深部非饱和区,而不是直接传递降水到地下水面。氟利昂测量值用于估计补给来源,并用CMB方法分析海岸临近效应的原因,利用基于WTF的补给估计说明抽水季节性。应用CMB和WTF方法得流域的时空平均补给速率最佳估计值分别为52–63 和47–129 mm/a。CMB和WTF分析法的适用性是必需的,可用于说明系统细微差别的原因,并表明有这些方法进行更细致的应用的需要。
Resumo
Os métodos de estimativa da recarga de água subterrânea baseados no balanço de cloretos (MBC) e na flutuação dos níveis freáticos (FNF) foram usados para determinar as taxas de recarga na Uley South Basin, Austrália do Sul. Foram utilizados dados hidroquímicos e isotópicos para inferir os principais processos de recarga e de evapotranspiração. Os resultados indicam que durante os processos de recarga poderá existir uma combinação de dois processos possíveis: (1) a evaporação completa da precipitação e lixiviação e redissolução dos sais precipitados;, e, (2) o predomínio da transpiração sobre a evaporação. Deduz-se que os sumidouros sirvam predominantemente para atravessar a zona mais superficial do solo e redistribuir a infiltração nas partes mais profundas da zona não saturada, em vez de transferirem a precipitação directamente para a zona freática. As determinações de clorofluorcarbonetos foram utilizadas na identificação das origens dos processos de recarga para tentar determinar os efeitos da proximidade à costa no método MBC, enquanto a sazonalidade das extracções foi considerada nas estimativas da recarga com base no método FNF. As melhores estimativas dos valores de recarga, tendo em conta a sua variabilidade espacial e temporal, variam entre 52–63 mm/ano e 47–129 mm/ano para os métodos de MBC e FNF, respectivamente. A aplicação destes métodos requereu a sua adaptação para que pudessem ter em conta algumas características do meio, demonstrando a necessidade duma aplicação criteriosa destes dois métodos.
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Acknowledgements
This work was made possible through funding of the Southern Eyre Peninsula Hydrogeology Research Fellowship by SA Water, the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management Board and the Flinders Research Centre for Coastal and Catchment Environments. This work was co-funded by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, a collaborative initiative of the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission. The author Carlos M. Ordens would like to thank Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), from the Portuguese Government, for funding his PhD grant (SFRH/BD/43625/2008). The authors wish to thank the following people for helpful discussions in regards to this paper: S. Evans, J. Ward, D. Alcoe, N. Somaratne, B. Swaffer, B. Howe, T. Boyce and J. Clark. Finally, the authors would like to thank A. Subyani and an anonymous reviewer for their valuable comments, which helped to improve the manuscript.
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Ordens, C.M., Werner, A.D., Post, V.E.A. et al. Groundwater recharge to a sedimentary aquifer in the topographically closed Uley South Basin, South Australia. Hydrogeol J 20, 61–72 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0794-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0794-2