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Chloride as tracer of solute transport in the aquifer–aquitard system in the Pearl River Delta, China

Le chlorure comme traceur du transport de solutés dans un système d’aquifères et d’aquitards du delta de la rivière Pearl en Chine

El cloruro como trazador de transporte de solutos en un sistema acuífero–acuitardo en el delta del río Pearl, China

中国珠江三角洲含水层-弱透水层系统中氯离子作为溶质运移示踪剂研究

Cloreto como traçador de transporte de soluto em um sistema aquífero–aquitardo no Delta do Rio das Pérolas, China

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Abstract

A 1D numerical model is constructed to investigate the impact of sedimentation and sea level changes on transport of Cl− in the aquifer–aquitard system in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. The model simulates the evolution of the vertical Cl− concentration profiles during the Holocene. Sedimentation is modeled as a moving boundary problem. Chloride concentration profiles are reconstructed for nine boreholes, covering a wide area of the PRD, from northwest to southeast. Satisfactory agreement is obtained between simulated and measured Cl− concentration profiles. Diffusion solely is adequate to reproduce the vertical Cl− concentration profiles, which indicates that diffusion is the regionally dominant vertical transport mechanism across the aquitards in the PRD. The estimated effective diffusion coefficients of the aquitards range from 2.0 × 10–11 to 2.0 × 10–10 m2/s. The effective diffusion coefficients of the aquifers range from 3.0 × 10–11 to 4.0 × 10–10 m2/s. Advective transport tends to underestimate Cl− concentrations in the aquitard and overestimate Cl− concentrations in the basal aquifer. The results of this study will help understand the mechanisms of solute transport in the PRD and other deltas with similar geological and hydrogeological characteristics.

Résumé

Un modèle numérique unidimensionnel a été construit afin d’étudier l’impact de la sédimentation et des changements du niveau de la mer sur le transport du Cl− dans un système d’aquifères et d’aquitards du delta de la rivière Pearl (PRD) en Chine. Le modèle simule l’évolution verticale des profils de concentration en Cl− durant l’Holocène. La sédimentation a été modélisée comme un problème à limites variables. Les profils de concentrations en chlorure ont été construits pour neuf forages, couvrant une large part du PRD, du nord-est au sud-est. Une concordance satisfaisante a été obtenue entre simulations et mesures de concentrations du Cl− dans les profils. La diffusion, seule, permet une reproduction adéquate des profils de concentrations en chlorure, ce qui indique que la diffusion est le mécanisme de transport vertical dominant régionalement au travers des aquitards du PRD. Les coefficients de diffusion effective estimés pour les aquitards sont compris entre 2.0 × 10–11 et 2.0 × 10–10 m2/s. Les coefficients de diffusion effective estimés pour les aquifères sont compris entre 3.0 × 10–11 à 4.0 × 10–10 m2/s. Le transport advectif a tendance à sous-estimer les concentrations en Cl− dans les aquitards et à les surestimer dans l’aquifère de base. Les résultats de cette étude permettront de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de transport de soluté dans le PRD et autres deltas de caractéristiques géologiques et hydrogéologiques similaires.

Resumen

Se construyó un modelo numérico unidimensional para investigar el impacto de la sedimentación y los cambios del nivel del mar en el transporte de Cl− en un sistema acuífero–acuitardo en el delta del río Pearl (PRD), China. El modelo simula la evolución de los perfiles verticales de la concentración de Cl− durante el Holoceno. La sedimentación se modeló como un problema de límite móvil. Los perfiles de concentración de cloruro se reconstruyeron para nueve pozos de sondeo, que cubren una amplia área del PRD, desde el noroeste al sureste. Se obtuvo una concordancia satisfactoria entre los perfiles simulados y medidos de concentración de Cl−. La difusión es adecuada únicamente para reproducir los perfiles verticales de la concentración Cl−, lo que indica que la difusión es el mecanismo de transporte vertical regionalmente dominante en todos los acuitardos en el PRD. Los coeficientes de difusión efectivos estimados de los acuitardos varían entre 2.0 × 10–11 y 2.0 × 10–10 m2/s. Los coeficientes de difusión eficaces de los acuíferos van desde 3.0 × 10–11 a 4.0 × 10–10 m2/s. El transporte advectivo tiende a subestimar las concentraciones de Cl− en el acuitardo y sobreestimar las concentraciones de Cl− en el acuífero basal. Los resultados de este estudio ayudarán a entender los mecanismos de transporte de solutos en el PRD y otros deltas con características geológicas e hidrogeológicas similares.

摘要

建立了一维数值模型研究沉积作用和海平面变化对中国珠江三角洲含水层-弱透水层系统中Cl−运移的影响。模型模拟了全新世期间Cl−垂直浓度剖面的演化。沉积作用被模拟为移动边界问题。对九个钻孔重建了氯离子浓度剖面,这些钻孔从西北到东南覆盖了珠江三角洲广大地区。模拟的和测量的浓度剖面结果非常一致。仅使用扩散就可以重建Cl−垂直浓度剖面,表明扩散是珠江三角洲地区弱透水层的区域上主要的垂直运移机理。估计的弱透水层有效扩散系数为2.0 × 10–11 至2.0 × 10–10 m2/s。估计的含水层有效扩散系数为3.0 × 10–11 至 4.0 × 10–10 m2/s。对流运移倾向于低估弱透水层中的Cl−浓度,而高估基底含水层中的Cl−浓度。研究结果将有助于了解珠江三角洲和其它具有类似地质和水文地质特征三角洲的溶质运移机理。

Resumo

Um modelo numérico unidimensional foi desenvolvido pata investigar o impacto da sedimentação e mudanças no nível do mar no transporte de Cl− no sistema aquífero-aquitardo do Delta do Rio das Pérolas (DRP), China. O modelo simula a evolução de perfis verticais de concentração de Cl− durante o Holoceno. A sedimentação é modelada como um problema de condição de contorno móvel. Perfis de concentração de cloreto foram reconstruídos para nove furos de sondagem, cobrindo uma ampla área do DRP, de noroeste à sudeste. Uma concordância satisfatória foi obtida entre perfis de concentração de Cl− simulados e medidos. A difusão somente é adequada para reproduzir os perfis de concentração vertical de Cl−, o que indica que a difusão é o mecanismo de transporte regionalmente dominante através dos aquitardos do DRP. Os coeficientes de difusão efetiva estimados nos aquitardos variam de 2.0 × 10–11 a 2.0 × 10–10 m2/s. Os coeficientes de difusão efetiva dos aquíferos variam de 3.0 × 10–11 a 4.0 × 10–10 m2/s. O transporte advectivo tende a subestimar as concentrações de Cl− nos aquitardos e superestimar as concentrações de Cl− no aquífero basal. Os resultados desse estudo ajudarão a entender os mecanismos de transporte de soluto no DRP e outros deltas com características geológicas e hidrogeológicas similares.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the associate editor and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. This research was supported by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (HKU 702612), and an AXA Research Fund Post-Doctoral Fellowship awarded to X.K.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Xingxing Kuang & Jiu Jimmy Jiao

  2. School of Earth Science and Geological Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Ya Wang

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  1. Xingxing Kuang
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Correspondence to Jiu Jimmy Jiao.

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Kuang, X., Jiao, J.J. & Wang, Y. Chloride as tracer of solute transport in the aquifer–aquitard system in the Pearl River Delta, China. Hydrogeol J 24, 1121–1132 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1371-5

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