DWCZ-MEF-Data from Warix et al. (2023), Local topography and hydraulic conductivity influence riparian groundwater age and groundwater-surface water connection
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| Owners: | Sara WarixEric Parrish |
| Type: | Resource |
| Storage: | The size of this resource is 7.5 MB |
| Created: | Oct 20, 2022 at 3:25 p.m. |
| Last updated: | May 14, 2024 at 8:49 p.m. |
| Citation: | See how to cite this resource |
| Content types: | Geographic Feature Content |
| Sharing Status: | Public |
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Abstract
The western U.S. is experiencing increasing rain to snow ratios due to climate change, and scientists are uncertain how changing recharge patterns will affect future groundwater-surface water connection. We examined how watershed topography and streambed hydraulic conductivity impact groundwater age and stream discharge at eight sites along a headwater stream within the Manitou Experimental Forest, CO USA. To do so, we measured: 1) continuous stream and groundwater discharge/level and specific conductivity from April to November, 2021; 2) biweekly stream and groundwater chemistry; 3) groundwater chlorofluorocarbons and tritium in spring and fall; 4) streambed hydraulic conductivity; and 5) local slope. We used the chemistry data to calculate fluorite saturation states that were used to inform end-member mixing analysis of streamflow source. We then combined chlorofluorocarbon and tritium data to estimate the age composition of riparian groundwater. Our data suggest that future stream drying is more probable where local slope is steep and streambed hydraulic conductivity is high. In these areas, groundwater source shifted seasonally, as indicated by age increases, and we observed a high fraction of groundwater in streamflow, primarily interflow from adjacent hillslopes. In contrast, where local slope is flat and streambed hydraulic conductivity is low, streamflow is more likely to persist as groundwater age was seasonally constant and buffered by storage in alluvial sediments. Groundwater age and streamflow paired with characterization of watershed topography and subsurface characteristics enabled identification of likely controls on future stream drying patterns.
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| Start Date: | 04/11/2021 |
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| End Date: | 11/06/2021 |
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| This resource is described by | Warix, S., Navarre-Sitchler, A., Manning, A., Singha, K. (2023) Local topography and hydraulic conductivity influence riparian groundwater age and groundwater-surface water connection (in revision) |
Credits
Funding Agencies
This resource was created using funding from the following sources:
| Agency Name | Award Title | Award Number |
|---|---|---|
| NSF | Collaborative Research: Network Cluster: Quantifying controls and feedbacks of dynamic storage on critical zone processes in western montane watersheds | EAR-2012730 |
How to Cite
This resource is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoCommercial CC BY-NC.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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