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Dissolved noble gas and isotopic tracers reveal vulnerability of groundwater in a small, high‐elevation catchment to predicted climate changes
Author(s) -
Singleton Michael J.,
Moran Jean E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2009wr008718
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , groundwater , aquifer , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , depression focused recharge , groundwater flow , snowmelt , drainage basin , environmental science , bedrock , geomorphology , geography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , snow
Noble gas concentrations and multiple isotopic tracers in groundwater and stream water at a small, high‐elevation catchment of the Sierra Nevada Mountains constrain recharge conditions and subsurface residence times of different groundwater components. We identify three sources that contribute to groundwater flow: (1) seasonal groundwater recharge with short travel times, (2) water with elevated radiogenic 4 He that has experienced longer flow paths, and (3) upwelling of deep fluids that have “magmatic” helium and carbon isotope signatures. Results from our study illuminate two important aspects of the hydrological system that will have a direct impact on how this system responds to climate change: (1) recharge to the alluvial aquifer occurs primarily on the lower slopes of the catchment and is therefore sensitive to changes in snowline elevation and (2) deep groundwater in the western part of the aquifer is very young and provides very little buffering capacity. Although apparent groundwater ages indicate residence times range from less than a year to several decades, the water that recharges seasonally dominates the alluvial aquifer. Noble gas recharge temperatures are close to mean annual air temperature, and are 5°–11° higher than would be expected for direct influx of snowmelt. Excess air concentrations, indicating entrapment of air bubbles during recharge, are lower than would be expected for recharge through bedrock fractures. Instead, recharge likely occurs over vegetated areas on the lower slopes, as indicated by δ 13 C‐dissolved inorganic carbon values that are consistent with incorporation of CO 2 from soil respiration.