Hydraulic Conductivity for Each Core
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090116876 “Spatial variability in physical and geochemical properties of sediments affecting nitrogen attenuation in the hyporheic zone of the River Tern” Dissertation submitted as part requirement for the degree of Master of Sciences in Contaminant Hydrogeology By Hannah Wooldridge Supervisor: Dr Stephen Thornton The University of Sheffield Department of Civil and Structural Engineering 3 September 2010 1 090116876 Declaration of originality Hannah Wooldridge certifies that all the material contained within this document is all her own work except where it is clearly referenced to others. 2 090116876 Abstract Six riverbed cores from the River Tern, Shropshire were assessed for a range of physical and chemical properties, at a core and spatial scale, in order to determine the nitrogen attenuation potential. Acid digestions, wet and dry sieving and the Malvern Mastersizer 1E 2000 was used in order to determine the particle grain size distributions and average grain size for each core. The Hazen empirical formula was applied in order to derive hydraulic conductivity for each core. The fraction of organic carbon was determined using the modified Walkley Black method, along with pore water chemistry data to outline the chemical properties of each core. Depth profiles of both the physical and chemical properties were produced and statistically analysed using ANOVA in order to deduce correlations between the physical and chemical properties and to highlight areas of enhanced denitrification. Correlations were found between decreasing grain size and decreasing hydraulic conductivity and increased weight percentage organic carbon. From the statistical analysis hydraulic conductivity was found to be the physical property that exerts the most influence on the nitrate concentrations. The denitrification potential for each core was assessed at a spatial scale, concluding that at certain depths and at geologies with certain physical characteristics nitrate concentrations can successfully be reduced to below the 50 mg/L drinking water limit, as highlighted by The European Union and World Health Organization. These findings demonstrate the potential for nitrate attenuation within the hyporheic zone, and on this basis should be included in environmental risk assessments in order to assess and manage nitrate pollution in both groundwater and surface water. 3 090116876 Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Dr Steve Thornton for all the help, support and advice in the execution and production of this research. 4 090116876 Contents 1 Introduction 5-11 2 Study Site 12-13 3 Literature Review 3.1Biogeochemistry 16-18 3.2 Flow 18-20 3.3 Sedimentology 20-25 4 Aims and Objectives 25 5 Methodologies 5.1Particle Grain Size Analysis 25-27 5.2 Fraction of Organic Carbon 27-28 5.3 Pore Water Chemistry 28 6 Results 6.1 Sediment Core 2.2- 29-34 6.2- Sediment Core 2.4- 34-38 6.3- Sediment Core 2.5- 38-42 6.4- Sediment Core 2.6- 41-44 6.5- Sediment Core 2.7- 44-48 6.6- Sediment Core 2.8- 48-51 6.7 Spatial Scale 51-57 7 Conclusions 58-60 8 References 61-66 9 Appendices 67 5 090116876 List of Figures Figure 1.1 Illustrative hydrogeological conceptual model of the 9 GW/SW interface and hyporheic zone (after Smith et al 2005). Figure 1.2 Illustrative sedimentological conceptual model of the 9 GW/SW interface and hyporheic zone. Figure 1.3 Denitrification reaction chain (Buss et al 2005) 12 Figure 1.4 Nitrate reduction half equation (Rivett et al 2008) 12 Figure 1.5 Denitrification (Rivett et al 2008) 12 Figure 2.1- Site location (www.ordenancesurvey.co.uk) 15 Figure 2.2- River Tern Study Site and Core Locations 15 Figure 6.1- Hyporheic sediment cores stratigraphy 28 Figure 6.2- Sediment Core 2.2- Hydraulic Conductivity (K) profile 29 Figure 6.3- Sediment Core 2.2- wt% Organic Carbon profile 29 Figure 6.4- Sediment Core 2.2- Grain Size profile 29 Figure 6.4- Sediment Core 2.2- Chloride profile 30 Figure 6.5- Sediment Core 2.2- Nitrate and Acetate profile 30 Figure 6.6- Sediment Core 2.2- Alkalinity profile 34 Figure 6.7- Sediment Core 2.4- Hydraulic conductivity (K) profile 35 Figure 6.8- Sediment Core 2.4- Carbon profile 35 Figure 6.9- Sediment Core 2.4- Grain Size profile 35 Figure 6.10- Sediment Core 2.4- Chloride Profile 36 Figure 6.11- Sediment Core 2.4- Nitrate and Acetate profile 36 Figure 6.12- Sediment Core 2.4- Alkalinity profile 38 Figure 6.13- Sediment Core 2.5- Hydraulic Conductivity (K) profile 38 Figure 6.14- Sediment Core 2.5- Carbon profile 39 Figure 6.15- Sediment Core 2.5- Grain size profile 39 Figure 6.16- Sediment Core 2.5- Chloride profile 39 Figure 6.17- Sediment Core 2.5- Acetate and Nitrate profile 40 Figure 6.18- Sediment Core 2.5- Alkalinity profile 40 Figure 6.19- Sediment Core 2.6- Hydraulic Conductivity (K) profile 42 Figure 6.20- Sediment Core 2.6- Carbon profile 42 Figure 6.21- Sediment Core 2.6- Grain Size profile 43 Figure 6.22- Sediment Core 2.6- Chloride profile 43 Figure 6.23- Sediment Core 2.6- Nitrate and Acetate profile 43 6 090116876 Figure 6.24- Sediment Core 2.6- Alkalinity profile 44 Figure 6.25- Sediment Core 2.7- Hydraulic Conductivity (K) profile 45 Figure 6.26- Sediment Core 2.7- Carbon profile 46 Figure 6.27- Sediment Core 2.7- Grain Size profile 46 Figure 6.28- Sediment Core 2.7- Chloride profile 46 Figure 6.29- Sediment Core 2.7- Acetate and Nitrate profile 47 Figure 6.30- Sediment Core 2.7- Alkalinity profile 47 Figure 6.31- Sediment Core 2.8- Hydraulic Conductivity (K) profile 49 Figure 6.32- Sediment Core 2.8- Carbon profile 49 Figure 6.33- Sediment Core 2.8- Grain Size profile 50 Figure 6.34- Sediment Core 2.8- Chloride profile 50 Figure 6.35- Sediment Core 2.8- Acetate and Nitrate profile 50 Figure 6.36- Sediment Core 2.8- Alkalinity profile 51 Figure 6.40 Nitrate Distribution Contour Plot 54 Figure 6.41 River Tern Study Site and Core Locations 57 List of Tables Table 3.1 Classification table for the Coefficient of sorting and grain 24 size (Fetter et al 2001) Table 6.71 ANOVA results for grain size, hydraulic conductivity, 52 wt% organic carbon and depth Table 6.72 ANOVA results for grain size, hydraulic conductivity, wt% 53 organic carbon and depth parameters Table 6.73 – Spatial variability of denitrification 56 7 090116876 1. Introduction The hyporheic zone is part of the groundwater-surface water interface that is established within saturated fluvial sediments, beneath or adjacent to a river or stream, where there is interaction and exchange between the two water bodies (The hyporheic network, www.hyporheic.net) (Smith et al 2005) (Figure 1.1). There are distinct differences between the geochemical, sedimentological, hydrogeological and ecological properties of the aquifer and the hyporheic zone, with the hyporheic zone being fairly rich in organic carbon and microbial populations. The hyporheic zone is both temporally and spatially dynamic and frequently displays continuous fluctuation in both chemical and physical conditions (The Hyporheic Handbook 2009). The Hyporheic zone is defined as the section of fluvial sediments in which there is an exchange of water from the stream to the riverbed sediments (geological media) and back to the stream, with this occurring within the order of days to months (The Hyporheic Handbook 2009). This definition alters within differing disciplines which can use various indicators such as hyporheic ecology or biogeochemically active zones as the basis for characterization. Throughout the zone there are frequently chemical and temperature gradients which influence the behaviour of both chemicals and organisms at the interface, and in the neighbouring aquifer and stream environments (The Hyporheic Handbook 2009). Figure 1.1 is outlining the GW/SW interface and hyporheic zone in a hydrogeological context. From figure 1.1 it is apparent that the nature and extent of the hyporheic zone is highly variable, with the principle controlling factor being the localised heterogeneity and geology of the site. This variation results in differences in hydraulic gradients within an individual reach over a time period, resulting in varying extents of GW/SW interaction and the direction of water movement, with the aquifer discharging or recharging. Further exchange processes also take place involving the down welling of river water into the sediment and re-emerging back into the stream; at times the re-emerging water can contain both groundwater and stream water. The driving force behind this exchange is pressure variations driven by Geomorphological features such as pool and riffle sequences or variations in slope and riverbed profiles (Kalbus et al 20006). The hyporheic zone can also be subdivided into the surface and interactive zones as a result of depth and contact 8 090116876 faces. Figure 1.2 highlights the fact that the hyporheic flow/zone can extend through topographical features such as river bends and meanders. Figure 1.2 is illustrating the GW/SW interface and hyporheic zone in a sedimentological setting. The fluvial sediments, where the interface is established, are controlled by the sediment parent and bedrock geology as well as the local Geomorphological controls on sedimentation and erosion. The fluvial sediments are established over time due to the varying conditions, resulting in different depths of sediment having different sediment structures. For example river braiding depositional bars will establish areas of coarse deposits. Differences in sediment structures, such as grain size, particle sorting, packing, bedding and jointing and bed form shape can result in various hydraulic conductivities throughout the fluvial sediments. Generally clays will display a reduction in hydraulic conductivity and fine grained gravel and silt, typically in the form of riffles and pools will display enhanced hydraulic conductivity.