scholarly journals Hydrological and ecological controls on dissolved carbon concentrations in groundwater and carbon export to surface waters in a temperate pine forest watershed

Author(s):  
Loris Deirmendjian ◽  
Denis Loustau ◽  
Laurent Augusto ◽  
Sébastien Lafont ◽  
Christophe Chipeaux ◽  
...  

Abstract. Export of soil carbon to superficial water through the drainage of groundwater is a significant but poorly documented component of the continental carbon budget. We monitored the concentrations of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC) in groundwaters and first order streams of a small temperate, forested and sandy watershed where hydrology occurs exclusively through drainage (no surface runoff). The studied watershed was also implemented for continuous measurements of groundwater table, precipitation, evapotranspiration, river discharge, and net ecosystem exchanges of sensible and latent heat fluxes as well as CO2. On a monthly basis, we found a good consistency between precipitation and the sum of evapotranspiration, drainage and groundwater storage. DOC and DIC temporary storage in groundwater and export to streams varied drastically during the hydrological cycle, the residence times of these two carbon forms varying from one month to several years. DOC concentrations in groundwater and streams were maximal at high water table and high stream discharge, when the water table reached the superficial organic rich layer of the soil. A large fraction of this winter DOC maximum was temporarily stored and further mineralized to DIC in the groundwater and only about 15 % was exported to streams during winter periods. In contrast, DIC, which was present in majority in the form of dissolved CO2 in groundwater and streams, was apparently diluted at high water table: DIC concentrations were maximum at low water table and low discharge in late summer and maximum pCO2 in groundwater corresponded to the late summer period of heterotrophic conditions (i.e., Reco > GPP). Groundwater DIC peaked in late summer and was followed by a rapid loss of excess CO2 from stream surface to the atmosphere. Overall, mean carbon export was 7.5 g C m−2 yr−1 (50 % as DOC and 50 % as DIC) and represented only 1.5 % of the NEE. About 65 % of the DIC exported from groundwaters returned to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 in first order streams.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loris Deirmendjian ◽  
Denis Loustau ◽  
Laurent Augusto ◽  
Sébastien Lafont ◽  
Christophe Chipeaux ◽  
...  

Abstract. We studied the export of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from forested shallow groundwater to first-order streams, based on groundwater and surface water sampling and hydrological data. The selected watershed was particularly convenient for such study, with a very low slope, with pine forest growing on sandy permeable podzol and with hydrology occurring exclusively through drainage of shallow groundwater (no surface runoff). A forest plot was instrumented for continuous eddy covariance measurements of precipitation, evapotranspiration, and net ecosystem exchanges of sensible and latent heat fluxes as well as CO2 fluxes. Shallow groundwater was sampled with three piezometers located in different plots, and surface waters were sampled in six first-order streams; river discharge and drainage were modeled based on four gauging stations. On a monthly basis and on the plot scale, we found a good consistency between precipitation on the one hand and the sum of evapotranspiration, shallow groundwater storage and drainage on the other hand. DOC and DIC stocks in groundwater and exports to first-order streams varied drastically during the hydrological cycle, in relation with water table depth and amplitude. In the groundwater, DOC concentrations were maximal in winter when the water table reached the superficial organic-rich layer of the soil. In contrast, DIC (in majority excess CO2) in groundwater showed maximum concentrations at low water table during late summer, concomitant with heterotrophic conditions of the forest plot. Our data also suggest that a large part of the DOC mobilized at high water table was mineralized to DIC during the following months within the groundwater itself. In first-order streams, DOC and DIC followed an opposed seasonal trend similar to groundwater but with lower concentrations. On an annual basis, leaching of carbon to streams occurred as DIC and DOC in similar proportion, but DOC export occurred in majority during short periods of the highest water table, whereas DIC export was more constant throughout the year. Leaching of forest carbon to first-order streams represented a small portion (approximately 2 %) of the net land CO2 sink at the plot. In addition, approximately 75 % of the DIC exported from groundwater was not found in streams, as it returned very fast to the atmosphere through CO2 degassing.


1971 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Enkeboll

abstract Soil and water conditions had an effect on the degree of damage to structures. Most structures were located on alluvium with a high water table. Settlements occurred in dike and causeway fill in Chimbote harbor. Severe problems to communication occurred in some areas through embankment failures and road slides.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (S1) ◽  
pp. 293-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuli Xu ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Yunliang Li ◽  
Xianghu Li

Groundwater plays an important role in supplying water to vegetation in floodplain wetlands. Exploring the effect of water table depth (WTD) on vegetation transpiration is essential to increasing understanding of interactions among vegetation, soil water, and groundwater. In this study, a HYDRUS-1D model was used to simulate the water uptake of two typical vegetation communities, Artemisia capillaris and Phragmites australis, in a floodplain wetland (Poyang Lake wetland, China). Vegetation transpiration was compared for two distinct hydrological conditions: high water table (2012) and low water table (2013). Results showed that vegetation transpiration in the main growth stage (July–October) was significantly influenced by WTD. Under high water table conditions, transpiration of A. capillaris and P. australis communities in the main growth stage totaled 334 and 735 mm, respectively, accounting for over 90% of the potential transpiration. Under low water table conditions, they decreased to 203 and 510 mm, respectively, due to water stress, accounting for merely 55% of the potential transpiration. Scenario simulations found different linear relationships between WTD and the ratio of groundwater contribution to vegetation transpiration. An increase of 1 m in WTD in the main growth stage may reduce the ratio by approximately 25%.


1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 2445-2452
Author(s):  
C. R. Camp ◽  
M. L. Robbins ◽  
D. L. Karlen ◽  
R. E. Sojka

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Haug ◽  
D. J. L. Forgie ◽  
S. L. Barbour

This paper presents the design concept for a case study sanitary landfill on a site that would not normally have been approved owing to the presence of a high water table. In this design, the base of the landfill was intentionally placed below the water table. A massive 2.5 m wide, 2.5 m high cutoff wall and a 0.3 m thick liner with hydraulic conductivities of approximately 5 × 10−10 m/s were constructed of recompacted glacial till to limit both groundwater intrusion into the landfill and leachate migration out of the landfill. In this case study, the landfill base was placed below the water table to (i) provide a relatively inexpensive source of cover material and (ii) use the hydrodynamic gradient from the high water table to help contain the leachate. Finite element modelling of the seepage and contaminant transport, for alternate designs for lined and unlined landfills placed above and below the groundwater table, is shown to confirm a previous, less-sophisticated, estimation that placing a lined landfill below the groundwater table has definite advantages in reducing both leachate seepage and contaminant transport. Key words: landfill, leachate, hydrodynamic containment, liners, compacted earth cutoff walls, seepage and contaminant transport modelling.


1979 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 493-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P. Tripathi ◽  
B.P. Ghildyal

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