Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field
Abstract Here, we explore how differences in morphologic heterogeneity due to logjams and secondary channels drive transient storage across discharge in two stream reaches within the Front Range of Colorado, USA. During three tracer tests conducted from baseflow to near‐peak snowmelt, we collected i...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Water Resources Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036031 |
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| author | Ian Gambill Anna Marshall David A. Benson Sawyer McFadden Alexis Navarre‐Sitchler Ellen Wohl Kamini Singha |
| author_facet | Ian Gambill Anna Marshall David A. Benson Sawyer McFadden Alexis Navarre‐Sitchler Ellen Wohl Kamini Singha |
| author_sort | Ian Gambill |
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| description | Abstract Here, we explore how differences in morphologic heterogeneity due to logjams and secondary channels drive transient storage across discharge in two stream reaches within the Front Range of Colorado, USA. During three tracer tests conducted from baseflow to near‐peak snowmelt, we collected instream fluid conductivity measurements and conducted electrical resistivity surveys to characterize tracer movement in the surface and subsurface of the stream system. The reach with two logjams and an intermittent secondary channel exhibited greater heterogeneity in surface transient storage, driving heterogeneity in hyporheic exchange flows, compared to the reach with a single logjam and a perennial secondary channel. As discharge increased, (a) backwater pools created by logjams increased in size in both systems, (b) channel complexity increased as logjams forced flow into secondary channels, and (c) subsurface flowpath distribution increased. Various transient storage indices provide some insight on solute retention but compressing data from this system into simple values was unintuitive given the noise in breakthrough‐curve tails and secondary peaks in concentration. While subsurface exchange increases with discharge in both reaches, retention may not. Flushing of subsurface tracers is highest at medium discharge as interpreted from the electrical resistivity inversions in both reaches, perhaps because of a tradeoff between the increasing extent of subsurface flowpaths with discharge and larger pressure gradients for driving flow. This work is one of the first to explore controls on exchange and retention in stream systems with multiple logjams and evolving channel planform using geophysical data to constrain the subsurface movement of solutes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2684df02fee40be9abfba20ca08f0c9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0043-1397 1944-7973 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e2684df02fee40be9abfba20ca08f0c92025-08-20T03:31:01ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732025-01-01611n/an/a10.1029/2023WR036031Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the FieldIan Gambill0Anna Marshall1David A. Benson2Sawyer McFadden3Alexis Navarre‐Sitchler4Ellen Wohl5Kamini Singha6Hydrologic Science and Engineering Program, Geology and Geological Engineering Department Colorado School of Mines Golden CO USADepartment of Geosciences Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAHydrologic Science and Engineering Program, Geology and Geological Engineering Department Colorado School of Mines Golden CO USAHydrologic Science and Engineering Program, Geology and Geological Engineering Department Colorado School of Mines Golden CO USAHydrologic Science and Engineering Program, Geology and Geological Engineering Department Colorado School of Mines Golden CO USADepartment of Geosciences Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAHydrologic Science and Engineering Program, Geology and Geological Engineering Department Colorado School of Mines Golden CO USAAbstract Here, we explore how differences in morphologic heterogeneity due to logjams and secondary channels drive transient storage across discharge in two stream reaches within the Front Range of Colorado, USA. During three tracer tests conducted from baseflow to near‐peak snowmelt, we collected instream fluid conductivity measurements and conducted electrical resistivity surveys to characterize tracer movement in the surface and subsurface of the stream system. The reach with two logjams and an intermittent secondary channel exhibited greater heterogeneity in surface transient storage, driving heterogeneity in hyporheic exchange flows, compared to the reach with a single logjam and a perennial secondary channel. As discharge increased, (a) backwater pools created by logjams increased in size in both systems, (b) channel complexity increased as logjams forced flow into secondary channels, and (c) subsurface flowpath distribution increased. Various transient storage indices provide some insight on solute retention but compressing data from this system into simple values was unintuitive given the noise in breakthrough‐curve tails and secondary peaks in concentration. While subsurface exchange increases with discharge in both reaches, retention may not. Flushing of subsurface tracers is highest at medium discharge as interpreted from the electrical resistivity inversions in both reaches, perhaps because of a tradeoff between the increasing extent of subsurface flowpaths with discharge and larger pressure gradients for driving flow. This work is one of the first to explore controls on exchange and retention in stream systems with multiple logjams and evolving channel planform using geophysical data to constrain the subsurface movement of solutes.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036031logjamstransient storagehyporheic exchangeelectrical resistivitytracer teststemporal moments |
| spellingShingle | Ian Gambill Anna Marshall David A. Benson Sawyer McFadden Alexis Navarre‐Sitchler Ellen Wohl Kamini Singha Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field Water Resources Research logjams transient storage hyporheic exchange electrical resistivity tracer tests temporal moments |
| title | Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field |
| title_full | Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field |
| title_short | Exploring the Influence of Morphologic Heterogeneity and Discharge on Transient Storage in Stream Systems: 1. Insights From the Field |
| title_sort | exploring the influence of morphologic heterogeneity and discharge on transient storage in stream systems 1 insights from the field |
| topic | logjams transient storage hyporheic exchange electrical resistivity tracer tests temporal moments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036031 |
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