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Influence of climate change on the ability of a cover with capillary barrier effects to control acid generation

Influence des changements climatiques sur la capacité d’une couverture à effets de barrière capillaire à contrôler la génération d’acidité

Influencia del cambio climático en la capacidad de una cubierta con efectos de barrera capilar para controlar la generación de ácido

气候变化对毛细阻滞式覆盖层控制产酸能力的影响

Influências das mudanças climáticas na eficiência da cobertura com efeitos de barreira capilar no controle da geração ácida

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Abstract

Annual precipitation, temperature, and the frequency and duration of drought events are expected to increase in Québec (Canada) south of the 50th parallel as a result of climate change. Oxygen barriers such as covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBE), which are used to control acid mine drainage (AMD), are sensitive to climate change. Increases in precipitation may have positive effects on maintaining the saturation of a moisture-retaining layer (MRL), which is necessary for reducing oxygen fluxes to reactive tailings; however, drought events could cause temporary desaturation of a MRL and, consequently, increase the potential for acid generation. The Lorraine mine site, in western Québec, was reclaimed with a CCBE in 1999 and was used as a case study to assess the effects of climate change on reclamation performance. A two-dimensional numerical model was developed and validated using 3 years of meteorological and hydrogeological data. Numerical simulations were performed to assess the CCBE’s performance, considering the influence of: (1) climatic conditions (i.e., precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, albedo and solar radiation) by 2100 for three different climate-change scenarios, and (2) extreme drought events. Performance targets were reached for all tested climate-change scenarios, thus indicating that the Lorraine CCBE design is robust with respect to climate change and extreme droughts. More broadly, this study illustrates how numerical simulations can be used to quantify the influence of climate change on the long-term ability of CCBEs to control the generation of AMD.

Résumé

En raison des changements climatiques, les températures et les précipitations annuelles ainsi que la fréquence et la durée des évènements de sécheresse devraient augmenter au sud du 50ème parallèle, au Québec. Les barrières à l’oxygène qui sont utilisées pour contrôler la génération de drainage minier acide (DMA), telles que les couvertures à effets de barrière capillaire (CEBC), pourraient être affectées par les changements climatiques. L’augmentation des précipitations pourraient avoir un impact positif sur le degré de saturation de la couche de rétention d’eau et sur la capacité à limiter le flux d’oxygène vers les rejets réactifs, alors que les évènements de sécheresse pourraient désaturer temporairement cette couche et donc nuire à sa capacité à contrôler la génération de DMA. Le site minier Lorraine, situé à l’ouest du Québec, a été restauré à l’aide d’une CEBC en 1999 et a été utilisé comme site d’étude pour évaluer plus précisément les effets des changements climatiques sur la performance de ce type de couverture. Un modèle numérique en deux dimensions a été développé et validé en utilisant 3 années de données météorologiques et hydrogéologiques. Des modélisations numériques ont ensuite été réalisées afin d’évaluer la performance de la CEBC en tenant compte de l’influence: (1) des conditions climatiques (i.e., précipitations, température, humidité relative, vitesse du vent, albédo et rayonnement solaire) d’ici 2100 selon trois scénarios de changements climatiques différents, et (2) des événements de sécheresse extrêmes. Les objectifs de performance ont été atteints pour tous les scénarios testés, indiquant ainsi que la conception de la CEBC du site Lorraine est robuste face aux changements climatiques et aux sécheresses extrêmes. De façon plus générale, cette étude montre la capacité des simulations numériques à quantifier l’influence des changements climatiques sur la performance à long terme des CEBC à contrôler la génération de DMA.

Resumen

Se prevé que las precipitaciones anuales, la temperatura y la frecuencia y duración de las sequías aumentarán en Québec (Canadá), al sur del paralelo 50, como consecuencia del cambio climático. Las barreras de oxígeno, como las cubiertas con efecto de barrera capilar (CCBE), que se utilizan para controlar el drenaje ácido de las minas (AMD), son sensibles al cambio climático. El aumento de las precipitaciones puede tener efectos positivos en el mantenimiento de la saturación de una capa de retención de humedad (MRL), que es necesaria para reducir los flujos de oxígeno a los relaves reactivos; sin embargo, los eventos de sequía podrían causar la desaturación temporal de un MRL y, en consecuencia, aumentar el potencial de generación de ácido. La mina de Lorraine, en el oeste de Québec, fue recuperada con un CCBE en 1999 y se utilizó como estudio de caso para evaluar los efectos del cambio climático en el desempeño de la recuperación. Se desarrolló y validó un modelo numérico bidimensional utilizando 3 años de datos meteorológicos e hidrogeológicos. Se realizaron simulaciones numéricas para evaluar el rendimiento del CCBE, teniendo en cuenta la influencia de: (1) las condiciones climáticas (es decir, precipitaciones, temperatura, humedad relativa, velocidad del viento, albedo y radiación solar) para 2100 en tres escenarios diferentes de cambio climático, y (2) los fenómenos de sequía extrema. Se alcanzaron los objetivos de rendimiento para todos los escenarios de cambio climático probados, lo que indica que el diseño del CCBE de Lorena es robusto con respecto al cambio climático y las sequías extremas. En términos más generales, este estudio ilustra cómo pueden utilizarse las simulaciones numéricas para cuantificar la influencia del cambio climático en la capacidad a largo plazo de los CCBEs para controlar la generación de AMD.

摘要

由于气候变化,北纬50度以南的Québec(加拿大)年降水量、气温以及干旱事件的频率和持续时间预计会增加。 氧屏障对气候变化很敏感,如用于控制酸性矿山废水(AMD)的毛细阻滞式覆盖层(CCBE)。降水的增加可能对保持保湿层(MRL)的饱和具有正面的影响,这对于减少对活性尾矿的氧气通量是必要的;然而,干旱事件可能导致保湿层(MRL)暂时失饱和,从而增加产酸的可能性。Québec西部的Lorraine矿区于1999年用毛细阻滞式覆盖层(CCBE)进行了填海,并被用作评估气候变化对开垦效果影响的案例研究。利用三年的气象和水文地质资料,建立了二维数值模型,并对其进行了验证。对毛细阻滞式覆盖层(CCBE)的性能进行了数值模拟,考虑到了以下因素的影响:(1)在2100年之前三种不同气候变化情景下的气候条件(即降水、温度、相对湿度、风速、反照率和太阳辐射);(2)极端干旱事件。所有测试的气候变化情景都达到了性能指标,从而表明Lorraine毛细阻滞式覆盖层设计在应对气候变化和极端干旱方面是可靠的。更广泛地说,这项研究说明了如何使用数值模拟来量化气候变化对毛细阻滞式覆盖层控制产生酸性矿井废水的长期性能的影响。

Resumo

Um aumento das precipitações anuais, da temperatura e da frequência e duração dos eventos de seca são esperados em Québec (Canadá) ao sul do paralelo 50, como resultado das mudanças climáticas. As barreiras de oxigênio, tais como coberturas com efeitos de barreira capilar (CEBC), as quais são usadas para controlar drenagem ácida de mina (DAM), são sensíveis às mudanças climáticas. O aumento da precipitação pode ter efeitos positivos na manutenção da saturação da camada detentora de umidade (CDU), necessária para reduzir fluxos de oxigênio nos rejeitos reativos. Por outro lado, eventos de seca podem causar insaturação temporária na CDU e, consequentemente gerarem um aumento do potencial de geração ácida. A mina Lorraine, no oeste de Québec, foi recuperada com uma CEBC em 1999, e foi usado como estudo de caso para analisar os efeitos das mudanças climáticas na eficiência da recuperação. Um modelo numérico bidimensional foi desenvolvido e validado utilizando dados meteorológicos e hidrogeológicos de um período de 3 anos. Simulações numéricas foram realizadas para reconhecer o desempenho da CEBC, considerando a influência: (1) das condições climáticas (precipitação, temperatura, umidade relativa, velocidade do vento, albedo e radiação solar) até 2100 para três diferentes cenários de mudança climática, e (2) eventos de seca extrema. Os objetivos de performance foram alcançado para todos os cenários de mudança climática testados, indicando que o projeto da CEBC Lorraine se apresenta consistente frente às mudanças climáticas e secas intensas. E de maneira mais ampla, este estudo ilustra como uma simulação numérica poderia ser utilizada para quantificar a influência das mudanças climáticas no desempenho das CEBC no controle de DAM durante longos períodos.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank also the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Quebec (MERN), and Ouranos Inc. for their support. We also acknowledge the World Climate Research Programme’s Working Group on Coupled Modelling, which is responsible for CMIP, and we thank the climate modeling groups for producing and making their model output available. The US Department of Energy’s Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison provided coordinating support and led the development of software infrastructure for CMIP in partnership with the Global Organization for Earth System Science Portals. Gary Schudel is warmly thanked for helping to improve the manuscript.

Funding

This work was funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) and the Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME) UQAT-Polytechnique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, J9X 5E4, Canada

    Gwendoline Hotton, Bruno Bussière & Émilie Bresson

  2. Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME), Département des génies civil, géologique et des mines, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079 succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Thomas Pabst

  3. Ouranos Inc., 550 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B9, Canada

    Philippe Roy

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  1. Gwendoline Hotton
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  2. Bruno Bussière
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  4. Émilie Bresson
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Correspondence to Bruno Bussière.

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Hotton, G., Bussière, B., Pabst, T. et al. Influence of climate change on the ability of a cover with capillary barrier effects to control acid generation. Hydrogeol J 28, 763–779 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02084-y

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