Understanding Hyporheic Exchange and Groundwater Contribution in a Northeastern Stream Using Temperature as a Tracer

HR: 16:45h
AN: H24F-04 [Abstracts]
TI: Understanding Hyporheic Exchange and Groundwater Contribution in a Northeastern Stream Using Temperature as a Tracer
AU: * Truslow, D B
EM: d.truslow@comcast.net
AF: University of New Hampshire, Department of Earth Sciences, James Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AU: Jacobs, J
EM: jennifer.jacobs@unh.edu
AF: University of New Hampshire, Environmental Research Group, Gregg Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AU: Davis, J M
EM: matt.davis@unh.edu
AF: University of New Hampshire, Department of Earth Sciences, James Hall, Durham, NH 03824, United States
AB: Understanding the role and extent of the hyporheic zone and groundwater/surface water interaction is becoming increasingly important in safeguarding surface water resources and stream ecosystem quality. Little research has been completed to date on characterizing the hyporheic zone in the Northeastern US. Research on a first order stream in coastal New Hampshire is being conducted to understand the potential physical extent of the hyporheic zone and to understand the flux between this zone and the surrounding landscape. Two primary characteristics, stream morphology and stream and subsurface temperature, are being utilized to understand these fluxes. Geophysical methods were used to characterize the physical extent of the hyporheic zone and potential areas of near surface flow and hill slope groundwater. Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (FO-DTS) using a fiber optic cable is being used as a survey tool in combination with discrete temperature measurements using thermocouple and thermistor sensors, and traditional hydrologic evaluation, to provide a description of the hyporheic zone longitudinally and with depth along a 500-meter stream reach. Results of an intensive field campaign conducted in late summer/fall 2007 will be presented.
DE: 0408 Benthic processes (4804)
DE: 0495 Water/energy interactions (1878)
DE: 1813 Eco-hydrology
DE: 1830 Groundwater/surface water interaction
DE: 1879 Watershed
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting