Journal article
Local-scale hydrogeologic controls on groundwater discharge to a ferruginous meromictic kettle lake
Hydrogeology journal, Vol.33(2), pp.553-571
03/2025
DOI: 10.1007/s10040-025-02874-7
Abstract
Local-scale groundwater/surface-water exchange can be a critical control on the flux of nutrients, iron, and other elements to ferruginous (iron-rich) meromictic (permanently stratified) lakes. However, the magnitude, spatial distribution, and temporal variability of these fluxes are often poorly constrained. The objectives of this study were to characterize groundwater/surface-water exchanges in a ferruginous meromictic lake situated within glacial sediments and to determine how local-scale heterogeneity in aquifer sediments and water table conditions influence those exchanges. The approach involved collecting complementary geologic, hydraulic, and geochemical field data using direct push coring, drive-point piezometers, and Waterloo profiling. Water level measurements indicated the water table was depressed with respect to the surrounding topography, likely due to the lake’s position near a recharge area, abnormally dry conditions, and high hydraulic conductivity ice contact sediments underlying the lake. Hydraulic gradients suggested the only potential for groundwater discharge into the lake (exfiltration) occurred at the lake’s northern end. Geochemical indicators of lake water (i.e., evaporative enrichment of δ18O/ δ2H, Na–Cl type major ion signature, and lake-methane influenced δ13CDIC values) confirmed exfiltration at the lake’s northern end and infiltration to the groundwater system along the rest of the shoreline. In contrast, previous regional scale numerical modeling results indicated a net exfiltration condition with seepage occurring into the lake entirely along the western shoreline. This study demonstrates the importance of multiple lines of evidence derived from local-scale field measurements for characterizing water and solute exchanges between ferruginous meromictic kettle lakes and underlying aquifers.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Local-scale hydrogeologic controls on groundwater discharge to a ferruginous meromictic kettle lake
- Creators
- Riley Kniptash - University of IowaSajjad A. Akam - Iowa State UniversityElizabeth D. Swanner - Iowa State UniversityJessica R. Meyer - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Hydrogeology journal, Vol.33(2), pp.553-571
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10040-025-02874-7
- ISSN
- 1431-2174
- eISSN
- 1435-0157
- Publisher
- SPRINGER; NEW YORK
- Grant note
- Center for Global & Regional Environmental ResearchUniversity of IowaNSF: EAR 1944946
Jessica Meyer and Riley Kniptash were supported by a grant from the Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research and startup funds provided by the University of Iowa (both to Meyer). Elizabeth Swanner and Sajjad Akam were supported by NSF-EAR 1944946 (to Swanner).
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/12/2025
- Date published
- 03/2025
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984790973002771
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