Journal article
Effect of low-permeability layers on spatial patterns of hyporheic exchange and groundwater upwelling
Water resources research, Vol.50(6), pp.5196-5215
06/2014
DOI: 10.1002/2013WR015054
Abstract
Bed form-induced hyporheic interactions are characterized by a nested system of flow paths that continuously exchange water, solutes, momentum, and energy. At the local scale, sediment heterogeneity plays a key role in the hydrodynamics and potential for biogeochemical transformations within the hyporheic zone. This manuscript explores the role of low-permeability sedimentary layers on the interplay between bed form-induced hyporheic exchange and groundwater upwelling. A hydrodynamic conceptualization that sequentially couples fully-turbulent flow in the water column and Darcian flow in the sediment is used. Low-permeability layers are characterized by long residence times and solute accumulation. Furthermore, these layers induce hydrodynamic sequestration due to the relocation and, in some cases, emergence of new stagnation zones. Spatial patterns of residence time distributions and flushing intensities indicate that the interface of the low-permeability layers has the potential to be a hot spot for biogeochemical transformations and flow acceleration near such interface can increase the mobilization capacity for the products of redox chemical and microbial processes. A discussion about the possible implications that hydrodynamic changes have on the biogeochemistry of hyporheic zones is presented; however, further biogeochemical experimentation and modeling are needed to validate these arguments.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effect of low-permeability layers on spatial patterns of hyporheic exchange and groundwater upwelling
- Creators
- Jesus D. Gomez-Velez - New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyStefan Krause - University of BirminghamJohn L. Wilson - New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Water resources research, Vol.50(6), pp.5196-5215
- DOI
- 10.1002/2013WR015054
- ISSN
- 0043-1397
- eISSN
- 1944-7973
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- Number of pages
- 20
- Grant note
- EAR 0814449 / National Science Foundation through the New Mexico EPSCoR Track I-II New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute Student grant EAR 1015100 / project Dynamic Groundwater Age Distributions: Exploring Watershed Scale Subsurface Systems American Geophysical Union Horton Research grant 1015100 / Directorate For Geosciences; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2014
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984962532702771
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