Defining near-surface groundwater flow regimes in the semi-arid glaciated plains of North America. Issue 3 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hendry, M. Jim; Barbour, S. Lee; Schmeling, Erin E.
• Is Part Of: Isotopes in environmental and health studies. Volume 52:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 203
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: advection -- diffusion -- groundwater -- high-resolution profiling -- hydrogen-2 -- oxygen-18 -- stable isotope tracer technique; Isotopes -- Periodicals; Radioisotopes -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Isotopes -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Radioisotopes -- Periodicals; 541.388
• DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2016.1092966
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1025-6016

Abstract

Abstract : The dominant transport mechanisms controlling the migration of contaminants in geologic media are advection and molecular diffusion. To date, defining which transport mechanism dominates in saturated, non-lithified sediments has been difficult. Here, we illustrate the value of using detailed profiles of the conservative stable isotope values of water ( δ 2 H and δ 18 O) to identify the dominant processes of contaminant transport (i.e. diffusion- or advection-dominated transport) in near-surface, non-lithified, saturated sediments of the Interior Plains of North America (IPNA). The approach presented uses detailed δ 18 O analyses of glacial till, glaciolacustrine clay, and fluvial sand core samples taken to depths of 11–50 m below ground at 22 sites across the IPNA to show whether transport in the fractured and oxidized sediments is dominated by advection or diffusion. Diffusion is by far the dominant transport mechanism in fine-textured lacustrine and glacial till sediments, but lateral advection dominates transport in sand-rich sediments and some oxidized, fine-textured lacustrine and glacial till sediments. The approach presented has a number of applications, including identifying dominant transport mechanisms in geomedia and potential protective barriers for underlying aquifers or surface waters, constraining groundwater transport models, and selecting optimum locations for monitoring wells. These findings should be applicable to most glaciated regions of the world that are composed of similar hydrogeologic units (i.e. low K clay till layers overlain by higher K coarse-textured aquifers or weathered clay till layers) and may also be applicable to non-glaciated regions exhibiting similar hydrogeologic characteristics.