Groundwater recharge and flow on Montserrat, West Indies: insights from groundwater dating

Hemmings, Brioch; Gooddy, Daren; Whitaker, Fiona; Darling, W. George; Jasima, Alia; Gottsmann, Joachim. 2015 Groundwater recharge and flow on Montserrat, West Indies: insights from groundwater dating. Journal of Hydrology, 4 (B). 611-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.08.003

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Abstract/Summary

Study region Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean. Study focus Analysis of δ2H and δ18O isotopes, and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) anthropogenic tracers in Montserrat groundwater provides insights into the age and provenance of the spring waters. New hydrological insights δ2H and δ18O analysis indicates uniform recharge elevations for groundwaters on Montserrat. CFC-11 and CFC-12 analysis reveals age differences between isotopically similar, high elevation springs and low elevation aquifer waters. Low CFC concentrations within a confined low elevation aquifer suggest water ages of ∼45 years. High CFC concentrations in the northern and western springs are explained by rapid infiltration of cool (high CFC concentration) rainfall into saturated compartments, with flow through the vadose zone to the phreatic zone dominated by compartment flow. Lower CFC concentrations in a number of aligned warmer springs suggest a contribution from older, warmer waters from depth. Temperatures and CFC concentrations indicate older component supply rates of up to 8 L/s to the highest yielding spring on Centre Hills, with contributions of up to 75% in the warmest spring waters.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.08.003
ISSN:	0022-1694
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, International development
Date made live:	27 Oct 2016 10:24 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514939

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2015.08.003

ISSN:

0022-1694

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, International development

Date made live:

27 Oct 2016 10:24 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514939