A remote sensing and geochemical tracing approach for localising groundwater discharge to lakes

Jean Wilson; Carlos Rocha

doi:10.1117/12.2065264

21 October 2014 A remote sensing and geochemical tracing approach for localising groundwater discharge to lakes

Jean Wilson, Carlos Rocha

Proceedings Volume 9239, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology XVI; 92391A (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2065264
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2014, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The combination of thermal satellite remote sensing and geochemical tracing has been demonstrated as a robust and cost effective technique to identify potential groundwater discharge sites in coastal areas on a regional scale. Here, the approach is evaluated in its applicability to lakes, demonstrated through a case study in the west of Ireland. Surface water temperature patterns generated from Landsat 7 ETM+ Thermal Infrared (TIR) images are used to detect groundwater inputs captured as anomalous cold plumes visibly emanating from shallow lake margins during summer months. Qualitative assessments of groundwater inputs are completed using natural tracers (radon (²²²Rn, t½ = 3.8 days) and conductivity) to verify the presence of groundwater and to identify localized seepage sites or groundwater “hotspots”. Despite the difficulties in acquiring cost- and cloud free satellite imagery and the inevitable mismatch between satellite image acquisition and in-situ lake survey dates, the results are extremely promising. Temperature values generated from the thermal images reveal a strong negative correlation with measured radon activity which implies that decreases in surface water temperatures are associated with increases in radon activity and hence groundwater inputs to the lake. The study demonstrates the suitability of the approach as a comprehensive and cost-effective preliminary assessment tool for identification and localization of groundwater discharge entry points for use potentially in any region where discernible temperature differences exist. Understanding where groundwater discharge occurs is the first step towards more in-depth geochemical surveys that seek to clarify the role played by groundwater in lacustrine biogeochemical budgets.

Citation Download Citation

Jean Wilson and Carlos Rocha "A remote sensing and geochemical tracing approach for localising groundwater discharge to lakes", Proc. SPIE 9239, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology XVI, 92391A (21 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2065264

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