Heat Transmission in the Hyporheic Zone

Jennifer Goshorn

Outline

Defining the hyporheic zone

Importance of the hyporheic zone

Heat transport mechanisms

Temporal fluctuations

Hydrology

Biogeochemistry

Ecology

Concluding remarks

Defining the Hyporheic Zone

Ecologist - active ecotone between surface and groundwater in which fauna characteristic of the hyporheos are distributed and live. (Boulton et al., 1998)

Hydrologist - part of the sub-surface in which both surface and groundwater are present, but surface water exceeds 10%of the total volume. (Triksa et al.,

1989)

Hydrogeologist - water beneath the surface of the ground in the saturation zone in direct contact with the subsoil. (Smith, 2005)

Conceptual models reflecting the aims of different disciplines

Buss et al., 2009

Importance of the Hyporheic Zone

controls the flux and location of water exchange between stream and subsurface

provides a habitat for benthic and interstitial organisms

provides a spawning ground and refuge for certain species of fish

provides a rooting zone for aquatic plants

provides an important zone for the cycling of carbon, energy and nutrients

provides a natural attenuation zone for pollutants by biodegradation, sorption and mixing

moderates river water temperature

provides a sink/source of sediment within a river channel.

Heat Transport in the Hyporheic Zone

Advection transports heat via fluid flow

Conduction transports heat between sediment and hyporheic water

Dispersion and conduction occur as groundwater/surface water and hyporheic water interact

Solar radiation indirectly warms water via conduction and transfer of latent and sensible heat

Conceptual diagram showing the different processes that influence hyporheic water

temperatures

Burkholder et al., 2008

Temporal Heat Fluctuations in the Hyporheic Zone

Temperature as a tracer for infiltration of stream water by interpreting time shifts in temperature signals as retarded travel times

Time-series profiles document changes in water flux into and out of a stream

Maximum and minimum temps during a complete cycle form a ‘temperature envelope’ within which all measured temperatures reside. Bounds of envelope (Jan & July, dawn & afternoon)

When groundwater is flowing into a gaining stream, the annual/daily envelope collapses toward the streambed surface. Upwelling groundwater is buffered from temperature fluctuations – constant temp

When the stream is losing water to underlying sediments, the envelope expands downward. Water is heated at the surface and carried down.

Temperature vs. Depth curve

(Constantz et al., 2003)

Thermal Effects on Hydrology in the Hyporheic Zone

Permeability depends of the hydraulic conductivity of the sediment layers

Viscosity and density of water are temperature dependent

Dramatic increases in stream temperature fluctuations reflect fluctuations in hydraulic gradients

Delayed response of subsurface temperatures earlier in the season

Stream and streambed temperatures and hydraulic gradients

from a stream piezometer in Indiana

Constantz, 2008

Thermal Effects on Biogeochemistry in the Hyporheic Zone

The hyporheic zone is characterized by steep physio-chemical gradients, which are controlled by heat and water flux between the GW/SW interface.

Temperature controls the rate of the chemical reactions

As temperature increases less oxygen is dissolved in water

Emission of nitrogen gases increases with temperature

Microbial activity and chemical transformations in the Hyporheic Zone

(Winter et. al, 1998)

Thermal Effects on Hydroecology in the Hyporheic Zone

During cold weather, up-welling groundwater prevents freezing of rivers and provides temperature moderation during the hot summer.

Predictive models have been developed to relate temperature to embryo development and timing of hatching and emergence under saturated dissolved oxygen conditions (Crisp, 1988 and 1990)

Smith, 2005

Conclusions

Temperature plays a vital role in the hyporheic zone and surrounding environments

Heat as a tracer to model the direction and velocity of flow

Controls chemical reactions

Biological dependency

New research due to advancements in modeling technology

Cooperative work between different fields

The full potential of thermal data within the hyporheic zone is still unrecognized

Questions?

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