Residence times of bank storage and return flows and the influence on river water chemistry in the upper Barwon River, Australia

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dc.contributor.authorHowcroft, Wen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCartwright, Ien_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-01T22:46:55Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-12-01T22:46:55Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2019-02en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-10-14en_AU
dc.description.abstractDocumenting the sources and residence times of water that contributes to streamflow is important for understanding processes in river catchments. The residence times of bank storage and return flow and its influence on river water chemistry in the upper Barwon River of southeast Australia were investigated using stable (18O, 2H, and 13C) and radioactive (3H and 36Cl) isotopes, major ion geochemistry, river discharge data, and electrical conductivity (EC)-discharge hysteresis. Elevated 3H activities following high winter flows indicate that bank storage and return flow contributes to river discharge for at least several months. However, EC-discharge hysteresis patterns suggest that individual storm events make additional contributions to bank storage and return flow throughout the year over periods of a few weeks. 3H activities in the upper Barwon River are >1.75 TU throughout the year, suggesting that the contribution of older regional groundwater, which has 3H activities <0.04 TU, is relatively minor in comparison to bank return flows. However, downstream trends in total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, δ13C values and R36Cl values demonstrate that regional groundwater inflows deliver solutes to the river. Estimates of regional groundwater inflows are mainly in the range 8–33% of total stream flow. The R36Cl values of river water in the upper Barwon catchment are between 37 and 46, which are significantly higher than those of modern rainfall (∼20). The high R36Cl values may reflect retardation of bomb-pulse 36Cl due to plant uptake and recycling in the soil zone, which suggests Cl residence times of up to ∼60 years. The results of this study demonstrate that river water is comprised of both young and old water and that managing rivers and near-river environments should include careful consideration of both inputs. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipFunding for this project was provided by Monash University and the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT). NCGRT was an Australian Government initiative supported by the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission via Special Research Initiative SR0800001.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationHowcroft, W., Cartwright, I., & Cendón, D. I. (2019). Residence times of bank storage and return flows and the influence on river water chemistry in the upper Barwon River, Australia. Applied Geochemistry, 101, 31-41. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.12.026en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0883-2927en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleApplied Geochemistryen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination31-41en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.12.026en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12318en_AU
dc.identifier.volume101en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier B. V.en_AU
dc.subjectStorageen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectWatershedsen_AU
dc.subjectTritiumen_AU
dc.subjectChlorine 36en_AU
dc.subjectGeologic depositsen_AU
dc.subjectRiversen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectDataen_AU
dc.subjectDrainageen_AU
dc.subjectStormsen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.titleResidence times of bank storage and return flows and the influence on river water chemistry in the upper Barwon River, Australiaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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