Role of the Lakes in Groundwater Recharge and Discharge in the Young Glacial Area, Northern Poland

Abstract

The aim of this research was to delineate characteristic hydrogeological lake types in the Young Glacial Area (YGA). The YGA is in the central and east part of the Kashubian Lake District (KLD) in Northern Poland, an area covered by deposits of Quaternary glaciation. All the bigger lakes were investigated in the area of about 1500 km(2) (39 lakes). The role of lakes in groundwater recharge and discharge was determined from total dissolved solids (TDS) in lake waters and also from groundwater flow simulation. The general trend was that gaining lakes, as determined by flow modeling, had higher values of TDS than losing lakes. In addition to typical gaining lakes (with TDS > 250 mg/l), there were losing lakes perched on glacial till deposits with very low TDS (<100 mg/l). Two groups of losing lakes were delineated: ones with very low TDS and another group with slightly higher TDS (due to local contact with groundwater). Flow-through lakes with TDS of 170-200 mg/l were also delineated.

Characterizing Groundwater Interaction with Lakes and Wetlands Using GIS Modeling and Natural Water Quality Measurements

“…Specific conductance measurements >100 µS/cm were measured in the lakes and wetlands situated on the glacial outwash or remnant tunnel valley features within the study area. Similarly, in the Young Glacial Area of northern Poland, Jaworksa-Szulc [13] found that recharge or losing lakes with low total dissolved solids (TDS) were commonly identified on till while discharge or gaining lakes with high TDS were commonly identified within glacial tunnel valleys. These results show the importance of hydraulic conductivity and position within the groundwater flow system for characterizing surface water and groundwater interaction [3].…”

“…More recently, Jaworksa-Szulc [13] used a groundwater model and TDS measurements to characterize how lakes interact with groundwater in the Young Glacial Area of northern Poland. Lakes that received groundwater discharge had TDS measurements that ranged from 250-350 mg/L while losing lakes or those that recharge groundwater measured less than 100 mg/L.…”

“…The glacial lakes of the Young Glacial Area of northern Poland have total dissolved solids (TDS) measurement data from 2010 to 2012 by Jaworska-Szulc [13]. Of these lakes, 15 were described as being discharge lakes, three as flow-through lakes, and seven as recharge lakes.…”

“…Of these lakes, 15 were described as being discharge lakes, three as flow-through lakes, and seven as recharge lakes. For comparison, TDS measurements by [13] were roughly converted to specific conductance by dividing TDS values by 0.6 [72] (Figure 14). Precipitation in the Young Glacial Area nearly equals the evapotranspiration rate [13] and the lakes are, on average, less mineralized than those found in the Cottonwood Lake area.…”

Groundwater Nitrate Contamination Integrated Modeling for Climate and Water Resources Scenarios: The Case of Lake Karla Over-Exploited Aquifer

“…The dynamic processes of surface and groundwater systems are mainly influenced by the hydrological and hydrogeological conditions for integrated water resources management at watershed level [3]. Therefore, understanding surface and groundwater processes requires the understanding of the impact of geomorphology, hydrogeology, and climate on subsurface flow systems [4]. An integrated approach leads to conclusions related to how recharge and discharge are influenced under at Lake Karla watershed, Thessaly, Greece.…”