Lecture series in Ecology and Environmental Research SS 2013

Groundwater - surface water interactions – high resolution measurements for tracing transient events

River and groundwater resources are often considered, and managed, as separate commodities. However, there is significant connection between these reservoirs which is important for water fluxes and water quality. Groundwater discharge to rivers is vital for maintaining river flow in dry periods and rivers can recharge groundwater systems either at high flow or when groundwater levels are below river levels.

But how do we quantify this exchange and how dynamic is this interface? In this talk I will show how high resolution measurements of 222Rn and EC can be used to really understand driving forces behind groundwater – surface water exchange during transient events such as storms. I will focus on an Australian wetland as an example of a gaining system and changes in river stage to illustrate transient storage in river banks.

Overall the talk will focus on the importance of groundwater – surface water exchange, how this is not stationary in time due to transient processes, and how we needed continuous methods to really understand fluxes.

• Announcement (pdf)