Abstract
Pleistocene-aged glacial sediments are found in many parts the Northern Hemisphere and are often composed of clay-rich tills which form aquitards that can control drainage and influence groundwater movement and contaminant transport. Site-scale investigations have characterized the hydraulic properties of till aquitards; however, the hydraulic conductivity of these units has not been quantitatively described at a regional scale of tens of kilometers. This study constrains regionally representative hydraulic conductivity estimates and characterizes the hydrogeological properties of Pleistocene-aged till aquitards from data collected at 15 sites compiled from 21 studies. The data quantify the scale dependence of hydraulic conductivity measurements in till aquitards and further define the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and depth. Data from centimeter-scale laboratory tests remained generally constant with depth, with a geometric mean hydraulic conductivity of 7.0 × 10−11 m/s and a standard deviation of 0.4 orders of magnitude, while the meter-scale in-situ tests had a geometric mean of 4.9 × 10−9 m/s and a standard deviation of 1.0 orders of magnitude at depths less than 10 m, and 3.7 × 10−11 m/s and 0.2 order of magnitude at depths greater than 23 m. The results support the existence of a shallow fractured zone of higher hydraulic conductivity and a deeper zone characterized by matrix permeability. The observed data variability occurred primarily at the site scale, while the central tendency and variability of the data were consistent between sites separated by hundreds of kilometers suggesting that statistically derived, depth-defined regional hydraulic conductivity estimates can be meaningful.
Résumé
Les sédiments glaciaires d’âge pléistocène sont présents dans de nombreuses régions de l’hémisphère nord et sont souvent constitués de moraines riches en argile qui forment des aquitards pouvant contrôler le drainage et influencer le mouvement de l’eau souterraine et le transport de contaminants. Des études à l’échelle du site ont caractérisé les propriétés hydrauliques des aquitards morainiques; cependant, la conductivité hydraulique de ces unités n’a pas été décrite quantitativement à une échelle régionale de dizaines de kilomètres. Cette étude s’astreint à l’estimation de la conductivité hydraulique représentative à l’échelle régionale ainsi qu’à la caractérisation des propriétés hydrogéologiques des aquitards morainiques d’âge pléistocène à partir de données recueillies au niveau de15 sites compilés dans 21 études. Les données permettent de quantifier la dépendance des mesures de conductivité hydrauliques dans les aquitards morainiques vis-à-vis de l’échelle, et de définir en outre la relation entre la conductivité hydraulique et la profondeur. Les valeurs issues de tests effectués en laboratoire à l’échelle centimétrique restent généralement constantes avec la profondeur, avec une moyenne géométrique de la conductivité hydraulique à 7.0 × 10−11 m/s et un écart-type d’un ordre de grandeur de 0.4, tandis que les tests in-situ à l’échelle métrique donnent une moyenne géométrique de 4.9 × 10−9 m/s et un écart-type d’un ordre de grandeur de 1.0 à des profondeurs inférieures à 10 m, et de 3.7 × 10−11 m/s et un ordre de grandeur de 0.2 à des profondeurs supérieures à 23 m. Les résultats soutiennent l’existence d’une zone fracturée peu profonde de conductivité hydraulique plus élevée et d’une zone plus profonde caractérisée par une perméabilité de la matrice. La variabilité des données observées s’est d’abord exprimée à l’échelle du site, alors que la tendance centrale et la variabilité des données sont cohérentes entre les sites distants de centaines de kilomètres, ce qui suggère que les estimations d’une conductivité hydraulique régionale établie statistiquement et définie en profondeur peuvent être significatives.
Resumen
Los sedimentos glaciales de la edad pleistocena se encuentran en muchas partes del hemisferio norte y suelen estar compuestos de arcillas que forman acuitardos que pueden controlar el drenaje e influir en el movimiento de las aguas subterráneas y el transporte de contaminantes. Las investigaciones a escala de sitio han caracterizado las propiedades hidráulicas de los acuitardos de tills; sin embargo, la conductividad hidráulica de estas unidades no se ha descrito cuantitativamente a una escala regional de decenas de kilómetros. Este estudio limita las estimaciones de conductividad hidráulica representativas a nivel regional y caracteriza las propiedades hidrogeológicas de los acuitardos de los tills de la edad del Pleistoceno a partir de los datos recogidos en 15 sitios compilados a partir de 21 estudios. Los datos cuantifican la dependencia de la escala de las mediciones de la conductividad hidráulica en los acuitardos de los tills y definen además la relación entre la conductividad hidráulica y la profundidad. Los datos de las mediciones de laboratorio a escala de centímetros se mantuvieron generalmente constantes con la profundidad, con una conductividad hidráulica media de 7.0 × 10−11 m/s y una desviación estándar de 0.4 órdenes de magnitud, mientras que las pruebas in situ a escala de metro tuvieron una media de 4.9 × 10−9 m/s y una desviación estándar de 1.0 órdenes de magnitud a profundidades inferiores a 10 m, y 3.7 × 10−11 m/s y 0.2 órdenes de magnitud a profundidades superiores a 23 m. Los resultados apoyan la existencia de una zona fracturada poco profunda de mayor conductividad hidráulica y una zona más profunda caracterizada por la permeabilidad de la matriz. La variabilidad de los datos observada se produjo principalmente a escala del sitio, mientras que la tendencia central y la variabilidad de los datos fueron coherentes entre sitios separados por cientos de kilómetros, lo que sugiere que las estimaciones de la conductividad hidráulica regional, derivadas estadísticamente y definidas en función de la profundidad, pueden ser significativas.
摘要
在北半球的许多地方都发现了更新世冰川沉积物,这些沉积物通常由富含粘土的冰碛组成,这些冰碛形成了可以控制排水并影响地下水运动和污染物迁移的隔水层。场地尺度的调查已经表征了冰碛隔水层的水力特性。但是,这些冰碛层的渗透系数尚未在数十公里的区域范围内进行定量描述。本研究选择了区域代表性的渗透系数估计值,并基于21项研究中收集的15个场址数据,表征了更新世至冰碛隔水层的水文地质特征。数据量化了冰碛隔水层渗透系数测量值的尺度依赖性,还进一步确定了渗透系数与深度的关系。厘米级实验室测试的数据通常随深度保持恒定,几何平均渗透系数为7.0 × 10−11 m/s,标准偏差为0.4个数量级,而米级原位测试的几何数据为深度小于10 m时的平均值为4.9 × 10−9 m/s,标准偏差为1.0个数量级,深度大于23 m时的标准偏差为3.7 × 10−11 m/s和0.2数量级。结果发现存在较高渗透系数的浅层破碎区和以基质渗透性为特征的较深区域。观测到的数据变异性主要发生在场地尺度上,而数据的集中趋势和变异性在相距数百公里的场地之间是一致的,这表明统计的以深度定义的区域渗透系数估算值是有意义的。
Resumo
Sedimentos glaciais do Pleistoceno são encontrados em muitas partes do Hemisfério Norte e são frequentemente compostos por tilitos ricos em argila os quais foram aquitardos que podem controlar a drenagem e influenciar o movimento de águas subterrâneas e o transporte de contaminantes. Investigações na escala de campo têm catacterizado as propriedades hidráulicas de aquitardos de tilito; no entanto, a condutividade hidráulica dessas unidades não tem sido descritas quantitativamente em uma escala regional de dezenas de quilômetros. Este estudo restringe estimativas de condutividade hidráulica regionalmente representativas e caracteriza as propriedades hidrogeológicas de aquitardos de tilito do Pleistoceno a partir de dados coletados em 15 locais compilados a partir de 21 estudos. Os dados quantificam a dependência da escala das medidas de condutividade hidráulica em aquitardos de tilito e ainda definem a relação entre a condutividade hidráulica e a profundidade. Dados de testes laboratoriais na escala centimétrica permaneceram genéricamente constantes com a profundidade, com média geométrica da condutividade hidráulica de 7.0 × 10−11 m/s e um desvio padrão de 0.4 ordens de magnitude, enquanto testes em campo na escala de metro tiveram uma média geométrica de 4.9 × 10−9 m/s e um desvio padrão de 1.0 ordens de magnitude em profundidades menores a 10 m, e 3.7 × 10−11 m/s e 0.2 ordens de magnitude em profundidades maiores que 23 m. Os resultados sustentam a existência de uma zona fraturada rasa de alta condutividade hidráulica e uma zona mais profunda caracterizada pela permeabilidade da matriz. A variabilidade dos dados observados ocorre primeiramente em escala local, enquanto a tendência central e a variabilidade dos dados são consistentes entre locais separados por centenas de quilômetros sugerindo que estatisticamente, estimativas de condutividade hidráulica regional definidas de acordo com a profundidade podem ser significativas.
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Acknowledgments
Assistance provided by Dr. S. Lee Barbour during the early research stage is gratefully acknowledged. Support and feedback provided by Dr. Chris Hawkes greatly eased the development of the manuscript. We further acknowledge the valuable and insightful feedback provided by reviewers Dr. Jacek Scibek and Dr. Peter Achtziger-Zupančič. The data set developed through this project (Ferris et al. 2019) is available at the Federal Research Data Repository (FRDR), a FAIR-aligned data repository.
Funding
Funding for this research was provided by the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation. This study was supported by the Prairie Water Project, Global Water Futures, of the Global Institute for Water Security, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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Ferris, D.M., Potter, G. & Ferguson, G. Characterization of the hydraulic conductivity of glacial till aquitards. Hydrogeol J 28, 1827–1839 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02161-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02161-7