Testing Highly Instrumented Floating Interrogators (HIFI) for dense measurements of stream-aquifer interactions
Abstract
Groundwater (GW) carries unique geochemical signatures that prove useful to identifying localized zones of GW discharge in small streams in Wisconsin. GW discharge to surface water (SW) systems is an important regulator of stream temperature and habitat in a changing climate, and understanding and quantifying GW discharge is critical for input and calibration data in GW flow models.
We have collected dense data sets from representative streams across Wisconsin's physiographic regions utilizing low-cost methods and Arduino software with the goal of creating a snapshot of GW discharge to streams at a given time. The data include basic stream chemistry and temperature, stream depth and flow rate, video of the stream, and geophysical properties such as resistivity. Instruments mounted in a canoe in a controlled float collect data, which is georeferenced to provide detailed information about spatial variability. Video recorded during the duration of data collection is used to provide information about stream bank environment as it relates to changes in water chemistry and geophysical parameters within the stream. Stream float data collected largely supports existing knowledge and studies identifying zones of GW discharge in streams established using conventional methods for identification and quantification of GW-SW interaction (i.e. seepage meters, mini-piezometers, DTS). The stream float-data collection proves to be a useful low-cost, easy to execute tool for identifying discrete zones of GW discharge across miles-long stream segments. Integrating stream float data with video of the stream provides an effective visual representation of changing stream parameters through space and time.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.H41K1863C
- Keywords:
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- 0408 Benthic processes;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES;
- 0439 Ecosystems;
- structure and dynamics;
- BIOGEOSCIENCES;
- 1813 Eco-hydrology;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1829 Groundwater hydrology;
- HYDROLOGY