Fluctuation of hyporheic zone thickness due to inflow and outflow across the water-sediment interface
Determination of hyporheic zone thickness in streams is an important step for study of stream-aquifer interactions. Knowledge about hyporheic zone thickness is useful in stream restoration. However, because there is a lack of standard techniques for such study, evaluation of the hyporheic zone thickness for a given stream reach remains a challenge task for researchers. This paper presents Galerkin finite element flow and stream function models that can simulate the hyporheic zone thickness. The flow and stream function equations are solved for 2-D profile domains that can be across a stream or parallel to a stream. The numeral schemes for solving the flow and stream function equations and the treatment of boundary conditions are described. Hypothetical streams are used for simulation of the control of hyporheic zone thickness by the magnitude of inflow and outflow that occur at the stream-sediment interface. Groundwater flow velocity field is generated to examine the flow dynamics in hyporheic zones. The magnitude of groundwater flow velocity in hyporheic zone is greater than that of regional groundwater flow.
A simple thermal mapping method for seasonal spatial patterns of groundwater–surface water interaction
Summary A simple thermal mapping method for simulating seasonal and spatial patterns of groundwater–surface water interaction is developed and tested for a segment of the Aa River, Belgium. Spatially distributed temperature profiles in the hyporheic zone of the river are measured in winter and summer seasons of three consecutive years. Inverse modeling of the one-dimensional heat transport equation is applied to estimate vertical advective fluxes using the numerical STRIVE model and an analytical model. Results of the study show that seasonal flux estimates for summer and winter can be derived with a minimum data input and simulation effort. The estimated fluxes are analyzed via non-parametric statistical tests, while spatial interpolation techniques are used to generate maps of distributed flux exchange. The estimated seepage is compared with volumetric flux obtained from piezometer measurements and output of a groundwater model. The thermal method shows higher discharge rates in winter and that the relative contribution of exfiltration to the river discharge is higher in summer. A higher flux and a more heterogeneous flow pattern are observed in the upper reach of the river compared to the lower reach. This spatial difference shows the importance of the local geomorphology and to a lesser extent the hydrogeologic setting on hyporheic flux exchange in the river. A significantly higher flux is noted on the banks than in the center of the river, which is driven by the relatively high hydraulic conductivity of the river banks. It is concluded that bank flow in groundwater–surface water interaction deserves more attention. The main channel of the Aa River alone accounts for about 15% of the total river discharge at its outlet. As the developed thermal method is cost-effective, simple and fast, it is recommended for use in identifying zones of interest in initial stages of field investigations of groundwater–surface water interaction.
Response of invertebrates to lotic disturbance: is the hyporheic zone a patchy refugium?
frequent spates separated by regular minimum discharge of 30 m 3 s ‐1 . 2. Three areas of a bar were studied, upwellings at the head of the bar (stations 1 and 2), and downwelling at the tail of the bar (station 3). In the head of the bar the substratum was characterized by stable cobbles, while mobile gravels dominated in the tail of the bar. At each station, samples were derived from four depths (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m below the surface of the substratum). Fifteen spates occurred during the study period whose peak discharge ranged from 50 to 1640 m 3 s ‐1 . Temporal variations of the fauna were studied by comparing the spate effect observed 1 day (resistance), 7 days (resilience) and 17 days after the spate. Within-class correspondence analysis was used to compare the temporal variability of the fauna within each class {station/depth}. 3. The fauna differed markedly between the three stations, and the relative density of stygobionts (i.e. hypogean fauna) decreased from 55% at station 1 to 4% at station 3. The spatio-temporal variability increased dramatically from station 1 to station 3. 4. The results suggest that the hyporheic zone acts as a patchy refugium: the stations were more or less active refugial zones, depending on hydrology (upwelling or downwelling), substratum stability and spate amplitude. 5. The downwelling station was the main refugium area for benthic taxa. Important migrations of benthic groups (e.g. Gammarus, Cladocera) or hyporheic taxa (e.g. Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida) were observed deep into the sediment (2 m). Vertical movements of stygobionts (Niphargus, Niphargopsis) were also observed at high amplitude spates. These movements were very important (great numbers of individuals migrated) at low and medium magnitude spates, but were unimportant at high discharge, when the threshold of sediment instability was exceeded. In this case the substratum became mobile and induced drift of benthic organisms. 6. Conversely, in the upwelling stable stations, accumulation was less important (lower number of species and lower densities) but more constant with increasing discharge, suggesting that substratum stability is also a key factor. 7. Generally recovery was rapid at all stations (within 7 days) but no relationships were found between resilience (rate of recovery) and the amplitude of spates.