Estimating recharge to mountainous bedrock aquifers in a temperate region – a multi-method approach

Sarah Rathay, Ryan Burgess, Diana M. Allen

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: EcoSystem and Climate Change

ABSTRACT: The presence of fractures and topographic relief in mountainous terrain makes estimating recharge to bedrock aquifers challenging. Two independent but complimentary studies were completed to provide better-constrained estimates of recharge to the Gulf Islands aquifers in British Columbia. The first examined the characteristics of the discharge environment using thermal infrared imagery in combination with the stable isotope composition of the seepage to better conceptualize the seasonal recharge response. The second used a three-dimensional model, constructed in MIKE SHE, to explore the spatial and temporal variability of recharge. Both studies point to the need to conceptualize recharge in this type of mountainous terrain as three-dimensional.

RÉSUMÉ: La présence de fractures et de relief topographique en terrain montagneux rend recharge estimation aux aquifères du substratum rocheux difficiles. Deux études indépendantes mais complémentaires ont été achevés pour fournir des estimations plus contraintes de recharge des aquifères des îles Gulf en Colombie-Britannique. Le premier a examiné les caractéristiques de l™environnement de la décharge en utilisant l™imagerie infrarouge thermique en combinaison avec la composition des isotopes stables de la décharge afin de mieux conceptualiser la réponse de recharge saisonnière. La deuxième a utilisé un modèle, construit en MIKE SHE, pour explorer la variabilité spatiale et temporelle de la recharge. Les deux études soulignent la nécessité de conceptualiser la recharge dans ce type de terrain montagneux en trois dimensions.

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Cite this article:
Sarah Rathay; Ryan Burgess; Diana M. Allen (2017) Estimating recharge to mountainous bedrock aquifers in a temperate region – a multi-method approach in GEO2017. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2017Paper655,author = Sarah Rathay; Ryan Burgess; Diana M. Allen,title = Estimating recharge to mountainous bedrock aquifers in a temperate region – a multi-method approach,year = 2017}