The response of flow duration curves to afforestation

The hydrologic effect of replacing pasture or other short crops with trees is reasonably well understood on a mean annual basis. The impact on flow regime, as described by the annual flow duration curve (FDC) is less certain. A method to assess the impact of plantation establishment on FDCs was developed. The starting point for the analyses was the assumption that rainfall and vegetation age are the principal drivers of evapotranspiration. A key objective was to remove the variability in the rainfall signal, leaving changes in streamflow solely attributable to the evapotranspiration of the plantation. A method was developed to (1) fit a model to the observed annual time series of FDC percentiles; i.e. 10th percentile for each year of record with annual rainfall and plantation age as parameters, (2) replace the annual rainfall variation with the long term mean to obtain climate adjusted FDCs, and (3) quantify changes in FDC percentiles as plantations age. Data from 10 catchments from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand were used. The model was able to represent flow variation for the majority of percentiles at eight of the 10 catchments, particularly for the 10–50th percentiles. The adjusted FDCs revealed variable patterns in flow reductions with two types of responses (groups) being identified. Group 1 catchments show a substantial increase in the number of zero flow days, with low flows being more affected than high flows. Group 2 catchments show a more uniform reduction in flows across all percentiles. The differences may be partly explained by storage characteristics. The modelled flow reductions were in accord with published results of paired catchment experiments. An additional analysis was performed to characterise the impact of afforestation on the number of zero flow days (N_zero) for the catchments in group 1. This model performed particularly well, and when adjusted for climate, indicated a significant increase in N_zero. The zero flow day method could be used to determine change in the occurrence of any given flow in response to afforestation. The methods used in this study proved satisfactory in removing the rainfall variability, and have added useful insight into the hydrologic impacts of plantation establishment. This approach provides a methodology for understanding catchment response to afforestation, where paired catchment data is not available.     

Combined interpretation of radar, hydraulic, and tracer data from a fractured-rock aquifer near Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, USA

An integrated interpretation of field experimental cross-hole radar, tracer, and hydraulic data demonstrates the value of combining time-lapse geophysical monitoring with conventional hydrologic measurements for improved characterization of a fractured-rock aquifer. Time-lapse difference-attenuation radar tomography was conducted during saline tracer experiments at the US Geological Survey Fractured Rock Hydrology Research Site near Mirror Lake, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA. The presence of electrically conductive saline tracer effectively illuminates permeable fractures or pathways for geophysical imaging. The geophysical results guide the construction of three-dimensional numerical models of ground-water flow and solute transport. In an effort to explore alternative explanations for the tracer and tomographic data, a suite of conceptual models involving heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity fields and rate-limited mass transfer are considered. Calibration data include tracer concentrations, the arrival time of peak concentration at the outlet, and steady-state hydraulic head. Results from the coupled inversion procedure suggest that much of the tracer mass migrated outside the three tomographic image planes, and that solute is likely transported by two pathways through the system. This work provides basic and site-specific insights into the control of permeability heterogeneity on ground-water flow and solute transport in fractured rock.

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Resumen Una interpretación integrada de radar experimental de campo transversal a pozos, trazadores, y datos hidráulicos demuestra el valor de combinar el monitoreo geofísico realizado en periodos de tiempo con mediciones hidrológicas convencionales en la caracterización mejorada de un acuífero rocoso fracturado. Se llevó a cabo tomografía de radar por periodos de tiempo y diferencia de atenuación durante un experimento con trazadores salinos en el sitio de investigación hidrológica de roca fracturada del Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos cerca del Lago Espejo, Condado Grafton, New Hampshire, USA. La presencia del trazador salino eléctricamente conductivo refleja efectivamente fracturas permeables o trayectorias para imágenes geofísicas. Los resultados geofísicos orientan la construcción de modelos numéricos tri-dimensionales de flujo de agua subterránea y transporte de solutos. En un esfuerzo por explorar explicaciones alternativas para los datos tomográficos y trazadores se considera un conjunto de modelos conceptuales que involucran campos de conductividad hidráulica heterogéneos y transferencias de masa de ritmo limitado. La calibración de datos incluye concentraciones de trazadores, el tiempo de llegada de la concentración pico en la salida, y presión hidráulica en régimen permanente. Los resultados del procedimiento de acoplamiento invertido sugieren que mucho de la masa del trazador migró fuera de los tres planos de imagen tomográfica, y que el soluto es probablemente transportado por dos trayectorias a través del sistema. Este trabajo aporta ideas básicas y específicas del sitio en relación con el control de la heterogeneidad de permeabilidades en el flujo de agua subterránea y transporte de solutos en rocas fracturadas.

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Résumé Une interprétation intégrée détudes de terrain (radar entre puits, traçages, données hydrauliques) démontre la valeur de la combinaison entre la géophysique des temps finis et les mesures hydrologiques conventionnelles pour une interprétation améliorée dun aquifère de roche fracturée. La tomographie au radar a été mise en uvre durant un traçage artificiel au sel au site de recherche sur lhydrologie des roches fracturées du Service Géologique des US, à proximité du Lac Mirror, Conté de Grafton, Nouvel Hampshire, USA. La présence du traceur électriquement conducteur met en relief, grâce à la géophysique, la présence de fractures ou découlements préférentiels. Les résultats de la géophysique ont permis la construction de modèle hydrogéologique tri-dimensionnel des écoulements et du transport de soluté. Dans loptique dexplorer des interprétations alternatives des données de traçage et de tomographie, différents modèles conceptuels sont utilisés concernant lhétérogénéité des conductivités hydrauliques et des taux limités de transferts de solutés. Les données du calibrage incluent les données de concentration du traceur, le temps darrivée du pic de restitution et les données piézométriques en régime permanent. Les résultats de la procédure dinversion couplée suggèrent quune quantité très importante du traceur migre au delà de la fenêtre de visualisation des tomographies, et que le soluté est transporté via deux voies découlement préférentiel. Ce travail apporte des connaissances de base et spécifiques au site concernant la distribution de la perméabilité dans laquifère et le transport de soluté dans les roches fracturées.