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Isotopic Composition of the Ogallala-high Plains Aquifer Andvadose Zone
- Source :
- Procedia Earth and Planetary Science. 13:39-42
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2015.
-
Abstract
- The Ogallala-High Plains aquifer is an important resource for irrigated agriculture in a semi-arid region of the United States. Steep declines in groundwater levels are putting increasing strain on the viability of the aquifer for irrigation, necessitating improved estimates of recharge rates and sources to the aquifer. This study uses a combined approach to obtain high resolution geochemical and isotopic composition of the vadose zone and aquifer pore fluids to better understand recharge dynamics to the aquifer. Significant differences between the shallow, intermediate and deep vadose zone and shallow and deep aquifer indicate modern precipitation is not providing a significant source of recharge to the aquifer across a large area (diffuse recharge). Rather, recharge to the aquifer is a result of either focused recharge or long-term, delayed drainage from the portion of the vadose zone which was saturated before irrigation development.
- Subjects :
- Hydrology
geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Artesian aquifer
Specific storage
Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Aquifer
General Medicine
Groundwater recharge
vadose zone
recharge
Ogallala-High Plains aquifer
Aquifer test
Phreatic zone
Depression-focused recharge
Groundwater model
stable isootpes
equilibrium method
Geology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18785220
- Volume :
- 13
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Procedia Earth and Planetary Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f7ac63c55308be217fa2a401bb4b05bd