Abstract
Human-induced landscape salinization, including the effects of dryland salinity, is negatively impacting many catchments in southern Australia. Salinization occurs due to increased recharge and water-table rise following land clearing of deep-rooted native vegetation. In low-lying areas with poor drainage, groundwater-level rise can lead to increased evapotranspiration, mobilization of vadose zone salt, and salt scalding. Alternatively, these same processes of increased recharge and groundwater rise can lead to decreased salinization as accumulated salts are flushed into surface waters. This study in a high-rainfall area of the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia documents catchment desalinization. A 28-year record (1989–2016) of flow and salinity in Scott Creek was analysed based on monthly data. Analysis of catchment-scale chloride deposition and export determined that approximately three times more chloride is exported than is input to the catchment from atmospheric sources. Over the time period investigated, salt load exported to surface water decreased by, on average, 6.4 t annually due to catchment freshening. Analysis of monthly salinity balance of a sub-catchment drained by an intermittent stream demonstrates that accumulation of chloride, rather than export, occurs during drought years. In the catchment, as a whole, salts are being flushed via groundwater flow into the permanent stream in all years of the record. Deep groundwater is input to the permanent stream, with mixing of deeper more saline and fresher shallow groundwater. Thus, a complex interaction of landscape hydrologic parameters such as relief, precipitation, chloride deposition and land-use history, determine whether a catchment undergoes salinization or desalinization.
Résumé
La salinisation anthropique des paysages, y compris les effets de la salinité des terres arides, a un impact négatif sur de nombreux bassins versants en Australie du Sud. La salinisation se produit en liaison avec une augmentation de la recharge et du niveau piézométrique à la suite du défrichement de la végétation endémique profondément enracinée. Dans les zones de basse altitude à faible drainage, l’augmentation du niveau piézométrique peut conduire à une augmentation de l’évapotranspiration, la mobilisation du sel de la zone non saturée, et son échaudage. Alternativement, ces mêmes processus de recharge accrue et d’augmentation du niveau de nappe peuvent entraîner une diminution de la salinisation à mesure que les sels accumulés sont évacués par les eaux de surface. Cette étude dans la zone de fortes précipitations de la Chaine du Mont-Lofty en Australie du Sud démontre cette désalinisation des bassins versants. Un enregistrement de 28 ans (1898–2016) des débits et de salinité dans le ruisseau Scott a été réalisé sur la base de données mensuelles. L’analyse des dépôts et des exportations de chlorure à l’échelle du bassin hydrographique a permis de déterminer qu’environ trois fois plus de chlorure est exporté que la quantité apportée par les sources atmosphériques. Au cours de la période étudiée, la charge en sel exportée vers les eaux de surface a diminué, en moyenne, de 6.4 tonnes par année, en raison de l’assèchement des bassins hydrographiques. L’analyse du bilan mensuel de la salinité d’un sous-bassin drainé par un cours d’eau intermittent démontre une accumulation de chlorure, plutôt qu’une exportation, pendant les années de sécheresse. Sur l’ensemble du bassin versant, les sels sont évacués par les écoulements d’eaux souterraines, dans le cours d’eau permanent, pendant toutes les années de l’enregistrement. Les eaux souterraines profondes alimentent le cours d’eau permanent, provoquant un mélange entre eaux souterraines plus profondes et plus salines et des eaux de surface plus fraîches. Ainsi, une interaction complexe des paramètres hydrologiques du paysage, comme le relief, les précipitations, les dépôts de chlorure et l’historique d’utilisation des terres, détermine si un bassin versant subit une salinisation ou une désalinisation.
Resumen
La salinización del terreno inducida por el hombre, incluidos los efectos de la salinidad de las tierras secas, está afectando negativamente a muchas cuencas en el sur de Australia. La salinización se produce debido al aumento de la recarga y al ascenso del nivel freático después del retiro de la vegetación nativa de raíces profundas. En las zonas bajas con drenaje deficiente, el ascenso del nivel del agua subterránea puede provocar un aumento de la evapotranspiración, la movilización de la sal de la zona vadosa y salinización en la superficie. Alternativamente, estos mismos procesos de aumento de recarga y ascenso del nivel freático pueden llevar a una disminución de la salinización a medida que las sales acumuladas se descargan en las aguas superficiales. Este estudio en un área de alta precipitación de Mount Lofty Ranges en South Australia documenta la desalinización de la cuenca. Se analizó un registro de datos mensuales de 28 años (1989–2016) de flujo y salinidad en el Scott Creek. El análisis de la deposición y exportación de cloruro a escala de cuenca determinó que aproximadamente tres veces más cloruro se exporta de lo que se ingresa a la cuenca por fuentes atmosféricas. Durante el período investigado, la carga de sal exportada a las aguas superficiales disminuyó, en promedio, 6.4 toneladas anuales debido a la renovación en las cuencas. El análisis del balance de salinidad mensual de una subcuenca drenada por una corriente intermitente demuestra que la acumulación de cloruro, en lugar de la exportación, se produce durante los años de sequía. En la cuenca en su conjunto, las sales se descargan a través del flujo de agua subterránea en la corriente permanente en todos los años del registro. Las aguas subterráneas profundas se introducen en la corriente permanente, con la mezcla de aguas subterráneas poco profundas, más salinas y profundas. Por lo tanto, una interacción compleja de los parámetros hidrológicos del paisaje, como el relieve, la precipitación, la deposición de cloruros y el historial de uso de la tierra determinan si una cuenca se salina o se desaliniza.
摘要
人类引起的地表盐渍化,包括旱地盐渍化的影响,正在给南澳大利亚许多流域带来负面影响。由于本地深根植被砍伐导致的地下水补给增加以及随后的地下水位上升,是形成地表盐渍化的重要原因。在排水差的低地地区,地下水上升可导致蒸散发增加、包气带盐分上移,引起盐分在土壤表面富集。同时,这些补给增加及地下水上升相同的过程也可使盐渍化降低,因为包气带累积的盐分被洗刷入地表水体。在南澳大利亚洛夫缇山脉一个多雨地区的研究报告了流域的脱盐过程。根据每月的数据,作者分析了Scott Creek 28年(1989–2016)的径流和盐分数据。从流域尺度的氯化物沉积和输出分析发现,输出的氯化物大约是从大气沉降氯化物的三倍多。在调查的时间段内,由于流域的淡化,输出到地表水体的盐分荷载平均每年减少6.4公吨。然而,流域中一条间歇河亚流域每月的盐度平衡分析显示,在干旱年份,氯化物还在这亚流域富积。对于整个流域,在有记录的每一年中,盐分都通过地下水流被洗刷到常流河中。当深部地下水排泄到径流过程中,深部的较咸的地下水和浅层较淡的地下水混合之后流入到常流河中。这些发现表明,流域的水文因子诸如地形起伏、降水、氯化物沉降、以及土地利用历史之间复杂的相互作用决定了流域是否正在经历盐渍化或者脱盐过程。
Resumo
A salinização da paisagem induzida pelo homem, incluindo os efeitos da salinidade da terra seca, está afetando negativamente muitas áreas de captação no sul da Austrália. A salinização ocorre devido ao aumento da recarga e aumento do lençol freático após o desmatamento da vegetação nativa de raízes profundas. Em áreas baixas com drenagem deficiente, o aumento do nível do lençol freático pode levar ao aumento da evapotranspiração, à mobilização do sal da zona vadosa e ao escaldamento do sal. Alternativamente, esses mesmos processos de aumento de recarga e elevação de água subterrânea podem levar à diminuição da salinização, à medida que sais acumulados são lançados nas águas superficiais. Este estudo em uma área de alta precipitação na Cadeia do Monte Lofty do Sul da Austrália documenta a dessalinização da bacia hidrográfica. Um registro de 28 anos (1989–2016) de fluxo e salinidade em Scott Creek foi analisado com base em dados mensais. A análise da deposição e exportação de cloreto em escala de bacia determinou que aproximadamente três vezes mais cloreto é exportado do que a entrada na bacia por fontes atmosféricas. Durante o período de tempo investigado, a carga de sal exportada para a água superficial diminuiu, em média, 6.4 toneladas por ano devido a dulcificação da bacia. A análise do balanço mensal de salinidade de uma subacia drenada por um riacho intermitente demonstra que o acúmulo de cloreto, ao invés de exportação, ocorre durante os anos de seca. Na área de captação como um todo, os sais estão sendo liberados pelo fluxo de água subterrânea no fluxo permanente em todos os anos do registro. A água subterrânea profunda é introduzida no fluxo permanente, com a mistura de águas subterrâneas mais profundas, mais salinas e mais rasas. Assim, uma interação complexa de parâmetros hidrológicos da paisagem, como relevo, precipitação, deposição de cloreto e histórico de uso da terra, determina se uma bacia sofre salinização ou dessalinização.
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Acknowledgements
Assistance with data collection by the staff at Water Data Services PTY Ltd. is gratefully acknowledged. Telephone conversations and email correspondence with the staff at the Bureau of Meteorology and South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources were helpful.
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This project was funded by a Flinders University Grant to Bestland.
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Anderson, T.A., Bestland, E.A., Wallis, I. et al. Salinity balance and historical flushing quantified in a high-rainfall catchment (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia). Hydrogeol J 27, 1229–1244 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-01916-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-01916-7