Constraining source attribution of methane in an alluvial aquifer with multiple recharge pathways

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dc.contributor.authorIverach, CPen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBeckmann, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHankin, SIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorManefield, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorKelly, BFJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-25T01:32:22Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-11-25T01:32:22Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2020-02-10en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-10-14en_AU
dc.description.abstractIdentifying the source of methane (CH4) in groundwater is often complicated due to various production, degradation and migration pathways, particularly in settings where there are multiple groundwater recharge pathways. This study demonstrates the ability to constrain the origin of CH4 within an alluvial aquifer that could be sourced from in situ microbiological production or underlying formations at depth. To characterise the hydrochemical and microbiological processes active within the alluvium, previously reported hydrochemical data (major ion chemistry and isotopic tracers (3H, 14C, 36Cl)) were interpreted in the context of CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) isotopic chemistry, and the microbial community composition in the groundwater. The rate of observed oxidation of CH4 within the aquifer was then characterised using a Rayleigh fractionation model. The stratification of the hydrochemical facies and microbiological community populations is interpreted to be a result of the gradational mixing of water from river leakage and floodwater recharge with water from basal artesian inflow. Within the aquifer there is a low abundance of methanogenic archaea indicating that there is limited biological potential for microbial CH4 production. Our results show that the resulting interconnection between hydrochemistry and microbial community composition affects the occurrence and oxidation of CH4 within the alluvial aquifer, constraining the source of CH4 in the groundwater to the geological formations beneath the alluvium. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. Open Access - CC BY licenceen_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) (grant number UNSW1601). Charlotte Iverach was supported by scholarships from the Australian Government, ANSTO and CRDC.en_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber134927en_AU
dc.identifier.citationIverach, C. P., Cendón, D. I., Beckmann, S., Hankin, S. I., Manefield, M., & Kelly, B. F. J. (2020). Constraining source attribution of methane in an alluvial aquifer with multiple recharge pathways. Science of The Total Environment, 703, 134927. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134927en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleScience of The Total Environmenten_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134927en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12294en_AU
dc.identifier.volume703en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier B. V.en_AU
dc.subjectMethaneen_AU
dc.subjectGeochemistryen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectFloodsen_AU
dc.subjectGeologic depositsen_AU
dc.subjectGroundwater rechargeen_AU
dc.titleConstraining source attribution of methane in an alluvial aquifer with multiple recharge pathwaysen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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