Effects of aspen harvesting on groundwater recharge and water table dynamics in a subhumid climate


Por: Carrera-Hernández J.J., Mendoza, CA, Devito K.J., Petrone R.M., Smerdon B.D.

Publicada: 28 may 2011
Categoría: Water Science and Technology

Resumen:
Numerical experiments were developed using different water table depths and soil textures to investigate the impact of aspen harvesting on hydrological processes on the Western Boreal Plain. The effect of harvesting on soil moisture dynamics, fluxes at the water table, and water table fluctuation were compared for different harvesting scenarios simulated under wet and dry climatic cycles. Strong interaction between shallow water tables (i.e., 2 m) and atmospheric variability is observed for all soil textures and is reduced as the vadose zone thickens, particularly after a dry cycle, as a series of positive net atmospheric fluxes are needed to reduce soil moisture storage in order for recharge to occur. Because of harvesting, the water table fluxes can increase by 50 mm month(-1), while on a yearly basis, this increase can reach 200 mm yr(-1), with rainfall events taking between 1 and 5 years to become recharge (i.e., time lag). Also, the water table is expected to rise between 1 and 3.

Filiaciones:
Carrera-Hernández J.J.:
 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada

 Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino A la Presa San José 2055, San Luis Potosí 78216, Mexico

Devito K.J.:
 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada

Petrone R.M.:
 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada

Smerdon B.D.:
 CSIRO Land and Water, Waite Campus, Private Mail Bag 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
ISSN: 00431397
Editorial
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION, 2000 FLORIDA AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 47 Número: 5
Páginas:
WOS Id: 000291111100011
imagen Bronze