Imaging lateral groundwater flow in the shallow subsurface using stochastic temperature fields

Fairley, Jerry P.; Nicholson, Kéith

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.08.017

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Although aqueous geochemistry is not accounted for in these simulations, significant mixing between flow paths is likely due to the moderately high permeabilities within the fault, dispersion as a result of heterogeneity, and the presence of convection. This likely mixing between flow paths is consistent with field observations at the Borax Lake site, which indicate only relatively minor variations in chemistry between springs (Fairley & Nicholson 2006; Heffner & Fairley 2006). By contrast, a recent study at Alum Rock, California, by Rowland et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Similarly, previous studies have demonstrated the importance of spring hydrochemistry in understanding interactions between flow paths (e.g. Fairley & Nicholson 2006; Heffner & Fairley 2006; Rowland et al. 2008) and, although hydrochemistry is not directly addressed in the present study, the simulation results presented here imply that isotopic and geochemical indicators of flow path mixing would be important for extending these results to other fault environments.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

“…Fairley et al. 2003; Fairley and Hinds 2004a,b; Fairley & Nicholson 2006; Heffner & Fairley 2006). The simulations used hypothetical distributions of fault permeability modeled after the spatial statistical model of Heffner & Fairley (2006) and conditioned on temperature data taken at the Borax Lake site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another extremely desirable piece of information would be the rate of discharge, either collectively along the fault or, ideally, from individual springs. Unfortunately, a significant fraction of fluid discharges from the system via lateral flow in the shallow subsurface (Fairley & Nicholson 2006), making it very difficult to arrive at even order‐of‐magnitude estimates. Previous investigators have declined to make quantitative estimates of discharge even for Borax Lake itself, a large hydrothermal spring‐fed lake at the south end of the Borax Lake fault, due to uncertainties regarding shallow subsurface discharge (Schneider & McFarland 1995).…”

Section: Study Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling fluid flow in a heterogeneous, fault‐controlled hydrothermal system

Fairley¹

2009

Geofluids

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Previous studies have shown that most hydrothermal systems discharging at the land surface are associated with faulting, and that the location, temperature and rate of discharge of these systems are controlled by the geometry and style of the controlling fault(s). Unfortunately, the transport of heat and fluid in fault-controlled hydrothermal systems is difficult to model realistically; although heterogeneity and anisotropy are assumed to place important controls on flow in faults, few data or observations are available to constrain the distribution of hydraulic properties within active faults. Here, analytical and numerical models are combined with geostatistical models of spatially varying hydraulic properties to model the flow of heat and fluid in the Borax Lake fault of south-east Oregon, USA. A geometric mean permeability within the fault of 7 · 10 )14 m 2 with 2· vertical ⁄ horizontal anisotropy in correlation length scale is shown to give the closest match to field observations. Furthermore, the simulations demonstrate that continuity of flow paths is an important factor in reproducing the observed behavior. In addition to providing some insight into possible spatial distributions of hydraulic properties at the Borax Lake site, the study highlights one potential avenue for integrating field observations with simulation results in order to gain greater understanding of fluid flow in faults and fault-controlled hydrothermal and petroleum reservoirs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling fluid flow in a heterogeneous, fault‐controlled hydrothermal system

Fairley¹

2009

Geofluids

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“…The presented study therefore represents a first level investigation of the exchange fluxes in the area. Furthermore, STRIVE is a one-dimensional vertical model and hence cannot give any insight on lateral or longitudinal flow vectors within the riverbed (Fairley and Nicholson, 2005). The obtained RMSE values of around 0.45 • C have, however, an acceptable magnitude.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

A hierarchical approach on groundwater-surface water interaction in wetlands along the upper Biebrza River, Poland

Anibas

Verbeiren

Buis

et al. 2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. As recognized in the European Water Framework Directive, groundwater-dependent wetlands and their diverse ecosystems have important functions which need to be protected. The vegetation in such habitats is often dependent on quality, quantity and patterns of river discharge and groundwater-surface water interaction on a local or reach scale. Since groundwater-surface water exchange studies on natural rivers and wetlands with organic soils are scarce, more functional analysis is needed. To this end we combined different field methods including piezometer nests, temperature as tracer and seepage meter measurements. Some of these measurements were used as inputs and/or as validation for the numerical 1-D heat transport model STRIVE. In transient mode the model was used to calculate spatially distributed vertical exchange fluxes from temperature profiles measured at the upper Biebrza River in Poland over a period of nine months. Time series of estimated fluxes and hydraulic head gradients in the hyporheic zone were used to estimate the temporal variability of groundwater-surface water exchange.This paper presents a hierarchical approach for quantifying and interpreting groundwater-surface water interaction in space and time. The results for the upper Biebrza show predominantly upward water fluxes, sections of recharge, however, exist along the reach. The fluxes depend more on hydraulic gradients than on riverbed conductivity. This indicates that the fluvio-plain scale is required for interpreting the exchange fluxes, which are estimated on a local scale. The paper shows that a conceptual framework is necessary for understanding the groundwater-surface water interaction processes, where the exchange fluxes are influenced by local factors like the composition of the riverbed and the position of the measurement on a local scale, and by regional factors like the hydrogeology and topography on a fluvio-plain scale. The hierarchical methodology increases the confidence in the estimated exchange fluxes and improves the process understanding. The accuracy of the measurements and related uncertainties, however, remain challenges for wetland environments. Gaining quantitative information on groundwatersurface water interaction can improve modeling confidence and as a consequence helps to develop effective procedures for management and conservation of valuable groundwater dependent wetlands.

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A case study

2016

Models and Modeling

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Imaging lateral groundwater flow in the shallow subsurface using stochastic temperature fields

Cited by 14 publications

References 15 publications

Modeling fluid flow in a heterogeneous, fault‐controlled hydrothermal system

Modeling fluid flow in a heterogeneous, fault‐controlled hydrothermal system

A hierarchical approach on groundwater-surface water interaction in wetlands along the upper Biebrza River, Poland

A case study

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