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Using geophysical surveys to test tracer-based storage estimates in headwater catchments

Soulsby, C, Bradford, J, Dick, JJ, McNamara, JP, Geris, J, Lessels, J, Blumstock, M and Tetzlaff, D (2016) Using geophysical surveys to test tracer-based storage estimates in headwater catchments. Hydrological Processes, 30 (23). pp. 4434-4445. ISSN 0885-6087

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Abstract

Hydrogeophysical surveys were carried out in a 3.2 km2 Scottish catchment where previous isotope studies inferred significant groundwater storage that makes important contributions to streamflow. We used electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to characterize the architecture of glacial drifts and make an approximation of catchment‐scale storage. Four ERT lines (360–535 m in length) revealed extensive 5–10 m deep drift cover on steeper slopes, which extends up to 20–40 m in valley bottom areas. Assuming low clay fractions, we interpret variable resistivity as correlating with variations in porosity and water content. Using Archie's Law as a first approximation, we compute likely bounds for storage along the ERT transects. Areas of highest groundwater storage occur in valley bottom peat soils (up to 4 m deep) and underlying drift where up to 10 000 mm of precipitation equivalent may be stored. This is consistent with groundwater levels which indicate saturation to within 0.2 m of the surface. However, significant slow groundwater flow paths occur in the shallower drifts on steeper hillslopes, where point storage varies between ~1000 mm–5000 mm. These fluxes maintain saturated conditions in the valley bottom and are recharged from drift‐free areas on the catchment interfluves. The surveys indicate that catchment scale storage is >2000 mm which is consistent with tracer‐based estimates. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Soulsby, C., Bradford, J., Dick, J., McNamara, J. P., Geris, J., Lessels, J., Blumstock, M., and Tetzlaff, D. (2016) Using geophysical surveys to test tracer‐based storage estimates in headwater catchments. Hydrol. Process., 30: 4434–4445, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10889. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Uncontrolled Keywords: 0406 Physical Geography And Environmental Geoscience, 0905 Civil Engineering, 0907 Environmental Engineering
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19)
Publisher: Wiley
Related URLs:
Date Deposited: 01 Nov 2018 11:26
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2021 02:19
DOI or ID number: 10.1002/hyp.10889
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9527
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