Identifying flood recharge and inter-aquifer connectivity using multiple isotopes in subtropical Australia

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dc.contributor.authorKing, ACen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRaiber, Men_AU
dc.contributor.authorCendón, DIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCox, MEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHollins, SEen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-07T00:13:04Zen_AU
dc.date.available2016-09-07T00:13:04Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-05-19en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-09-07en_AU
dc.description.abstractAn understanding of hydrological processes is vital for the sustainable management of groundwater resources, especially in areas where an aquifer interacts with surface water systems or where aquifer interconnectivity occurs. This is particularly important in areas that are subjected to frequent drought/flood cycles, such as the Cressbrook Creek catchment in Southeast Queensland, Australia. In order to understand the hydrological response to flooding and to identify inter-aquifer connectivity, multiple isotopes (δ2H, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, 3H and 14C) were used in this study in conjunction with a comprehensive hydrochemical assessment, based on data collected 6 months after severe flooding in 2011. The relatively depleted stable isotope signatures of the flood-generating rainfall (δ2H: −30.2 to −27.8‰, δ18O: −5.34 to −5.13‰ VSMOW) were evident in surface water samples (δ2H: −25.2 to −23.2‰, δ18O: −3.9 to −3.6‰ VSMOW), indicating that these extreme events were a major source of recharge to the dam in the catchment headwaters. Furthermore, stable isotopes confirmed that the flood generated significant recharge to the alluvium in the lower part of the catchment, particularly in areas where interactions between surface waters and groundwater were identified and where diffuse aquifer recharge is normally limited by a thick (approximately 10 m) and relatively impermeable unsaturated zone. However, in the upper parts of the catchment where recharge generally occurs more rapidly due to the dominance of coarse-grained sediments in the unsaturated zone, the stable isotope signature of groundwater resembles the longer-term average rainfall values (δ2H: −12.6, δ18O: −3.4‰ VSMOW), highlighting that recharge was sourced from smaller rainfall events that occurred subsequent to the flooding. Interactions between the bedrock aquifers and the alluvium were identified at several sites in the lower part of the catchment based on 87Sr/86Sr ratios; this was also supported by the hydrochemical assessment, which included the modelling of evaporation trends and saturation indices. The integrated approach used in this study facilitated the identification of hydrological processes over different spatial and temporal scales, and the method can be applied to other complex geological settings with variable climatic conditions.© 2015, Author(s).en_AU
dc.identifier.citationKing, A. C., Raiber, M., Cendon, D. I., Cox, M. E., & Hollins, S. E. (2014). Identifying flood recharge and inter-aquifer connectivity using multiple isotopes in subtropical Australia. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 19(5), 2315-2335. doi: 10.5194/hess-19-2315-2015en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc7066en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1027-5606en_AU
dc.identifier.issue5en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleHydrology and Earth System Sciencesen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination2315-2335en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2315-2015en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/7479en_AU
dc.identifier.volume19en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherCopernicus Publicationsen_AU
dc.subjectHydrologyen_AU
dc.subjectAquifersen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectFloodsen_AU
dc.subjectGroundwater rechargeen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectQueenslanden_AU
dc.subjectWatershedsen_AU
dc.titleIdentifying flood recharge and inter-aquifer connectivity using multiple isotopes in subtropical Australiaen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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