Advances in 222Rn application in the study of groundwater-surface water interactions

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.1.44

Abstract

Abstract:

Groundwater-surface water interaction is important for water resource management and aquatic ecosystem protection. Radon (²²²Rn) has been widely used in the investigation of groundwater-surface water interaction owing to its application advantages, such as its large concentration difference between groundwater and surface water, noble gas properties, and ease of measurement. In this study, we analyzed ²²²Rn applications in different surface waters (sea, river, lake, etc.) and identified the ²²²Rn concentration variation in groundwater as a key challenge in the estimation of groundwater discharge into surface water. When estimating submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), ²²²Rn mixing loss and its variable concentrations in seawater, and the complexity of SGD components would produce uncertainties in the estimation results. Also, it is difficult to determine ²²²Rn atmospheric loss when estimating riverine groundwater discharge using the ²²²Rn method. Further, little attention has been paid to the application of ²²²Rn in tracing surface water flow into groundwater. Thus, future studies on ²²²Rn application in regarding to groundwater-surface water interaction should focus on (1) reducing final uncertainty in ²²²Rn-based estimation of groundwater discharge due to variable ²²²Rn concentrations in groundwater; (2) accurately characterizing the ²²²Rn atmospheric loss for different surface waters under different hydrological conditions; (3) expanding scientific applications of the ²²²Rn method; and (4) developing a software that integrates the ²²²Rn mass balance model and uncertainty analysis.

Key words: radon (²²²Rn), groundwater-surface water interaction, groundwater discharge

CLC Number:

P641.12

LIAO Fu, LUO Xin, XIE Yueqing, YI Lixin, LI Hailong, WANG Guangcai. Advances in 222Rn application in the study of groundwater-surface water interactions[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2022, 29(3): 76-87.

Figures/Tables 3

References 82

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