Groundwater flow and heterogeneous discharge into a seepage lake: Combined use of physical methods and hydrochemical tracers

Groundwater discharge into a seepage lake was investigated by combining flux measurements, hydrochemical tracers, geological information, and a telescopic modeling approach using first two‐dimensional (2‐D) regional then 2‐D local flow and flow path models. Discharge measurements and hydrochemical t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water resources research 2016-11, Vol.52 (11), p.9109-9130
Main Authors: Kazmierczak, J., Müller, S., Nilsson, B., Postma, D., Czekaj, J., Sebok, E., Jessen, S., Karan, S., Stenvig Jensen, C., Edelvang, K., Engesgaard, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Control
Cross-sections
D region
Discharge
Estimates
Fluctuations
Fluxes
Freshwater
Geology
Groundwater
Groundwater discharge
Groundwater flow
Groundwater runoff
Heterogeneity
hydrochemical tracers
Hydrochemicals
Information dissemination
Lake bottom
Lakes
Local flow
Methods
Mineral nutrients
Modelling
Nutrients
Offshore
Runoff
Seasons
Seepage
seepage lake
Spatial analysis
Spring (season)
Steady state
Surface runoff
Tracers
Two dimensional models
Water
Water springs
Yield
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Summary:Groundwater discharge into a seepage lake was investigated by combining flux measurements, hydrochemical tracers, geological information, and a telescopic modeling approach using first two‐dimensional (2‐D) regional then 2‐D local flow and flow path models. Discharge measurements and hydrochemical tracers supplement each other. Discharge measurements yield flux estimates but rarely provide information about the origin and flow path of the water. Hydrochemical tracers may reveal the origin and flow path of the water but rarely provide any information about the flux. While aquifer interacting with the lake remained under seemingly steady state conditions across seasons, a high spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the discharge to the lake was observed. The results showed that part of the groundwater flowing from the west passes beneath the lake and discharges at the eastern shore, where groundwater springs and high discharge zones (HDZs) are observed at the lake bottom and at seepage faces adjacent to the lake. In the 2‐D cross section, surface runoff from the seepage faces delivers 64% of the total groundwater inputs to the lake, and a 2 m wide offshore HDZ delivers 13%. Presence of HDZs may control nutrient fluxes to the lake. Key Points Seepage lake interacting with aquifer under seemingly steady state conditions shows high spatial and temporal heterogeneity in discharge Groundwater discharge to the lake is focused at the adjacent wetlands and in high discharge zone occupying ∼1% of the lake bottom Integration of hydrogeological, geological, and hydrochemical data is needed to reliably conceptualize the groundwater‐lake interactions
ISSN:0043-1397
1944-7973
DOI:10.1002/2016WR019326