Relating the depth of the water table to the depth of weathering

Lebedeva, M. I.; Brantley, S. L.

doi:10.1002/esp.4873

Title: Relating the depth of the water table to the depth of weathering

Journal Article · Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4873· OSTI ID:1774179

^[1]; Brantley, S. L. ^[1]

Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Weathering of bedrock creates and occludes permeability, affecting subsurface water flow. Often, weathering intensifies above the water table. On the other hand, weathering can also commence below the water table. To explore relationships between weathering and the water table, a simplified weathering model for an eroding hillslope was formulated that takes into account both saturated and unsaturated subsurface water flow (but does not fully account for changes in dissolved gas chemistry). The phreatic line was calculated using solutions to mathematical treatments for both zones. In the model, the infiltration rate at the hill surface sets both the original and the eventual steady-state position of the water table with respect to the weathering reaction front. Depending upon parameters, the weathering front can locate either above or below the water table at steady state. Erosion also affects the water table position by changing porosity and permeability even when other hydrological conditions (e.g. hydraulic conductivity of parent material, infiltration rate at the surface) do not change. The total porosity in a hill (water storage capacity) was found to increase with infiltration rate (all else held constant). Furthermore, this effect was diminished by increasing the erosion rate. We also show examples of how the infiltration rate affects the position of the water table and how infiltration rate affects weathering advance.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-05ER15675

OSTI ID:: 1774179

Journal Information:: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 45, Issue 9; ISSN 0197-9337

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (40)

Controls on deep critical zone architecture: a historical review and four testable hypotheses: Four Testable Hypotheses about the Deep Critical Zone Riebe, Clifford S.; Hahm, W. Jesse; Brantley, Susan L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 42, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4052	journal	November 2016
Examination of the seepage face boundary condition in subsurface and coupled surface/subsurface hydrological models: SEEPAGE FACES IN HYDROLOGICAL MODELS Scudeler, C.; Paniconi, C.; Pasetto, D. Water Resources Research, Vol. 53, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019277	journal	March 2017
Reactive transport codes for subsurface environmental simulation Steefel, C. I.; Appelo, C. A. J.; Arora, B. Computational Geosciences, Vol. 19, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-014-9443-x	journal	September 2014
Modeling metamorphic fluid flow with reaction-compaction-permeability feedbacks Balashov, V. N.; Yardley, B. W. D. American Journal of Science, Vol. 298, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.298.6.441	journal	June 1998
Three-Dimensional, Transient, Saturated-Unsaturated Flow in a Groundwater Basin Freeze, R. Allan Water Resources Research, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR007i002p00347	journal	April 1971
Weathering and erosion of fractured bedrock systems: Weathering and erosion of fractured bedrock systems Lebedeva, Marina I.; Brantley, Susan L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 42, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4177	journal	July 2017
Multiple seepage faces on layered slopes and their implications for slope-stability analysis Rulon, Jennifer J.; Freeze, R. Allan Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 22, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1139/t85-047	journal	August 1985
Relationships between CO2, thermodynamic limits on silicate weathering, and the strength of the silicate weathering feedback Winnick, Matthew J.; Maher, Kate Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 485 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.01.005	journal	March 2018
Toward a conceptual model relating chemical reaction fronts to water flow paths in hills Brantley, Susan L.; Lebedeva, Marina I.; Balashov, Victor N. Geomorphology, Vol. 277 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.09.027	journal	January 2017
Transient seepage model for saturated–unsaturated soil systems: a geotechnical engineering approach Lam, L.; Fredlund, D. G.; Barbour, S. L. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 24, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1139/t87-071	journal	November 1987
A low‐dimensional model of bedrock weathering and lateral flow coevolution in hillslopes: 2. Controls on weathering and permeability profiles, drainage hydraulics, and solute export pathways Harman, Ciaran J.; Cosans, Cassandra L. Hydrological Processes, Vol. 33, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13385	journal	February 2019
A mathematical model for steady-state regolith production at constant erosion rate Lebedeva, M. I.; Fletcher, R. C.; Brantley, S. L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1954	journal	January 2010
Analytical solutions for one-dimensional, transient infiltration toward the water table in homogeneous and layered soils Srivastava, Rajesh; Yeh, T. -C. Jim Water Resources Research, Vol. 27, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1029/90WR02772	journal	May 1991
Probing deep weathering in the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory, Pennsylvania (USA): the hypothesis of nested chemical reaction fronts in the subsurface: NESTED REACTION FRONTS Brantley, Susan L.; Holleran, Molly E.; Jin, Lixin Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 38, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3415	journal	April 2013
A clarification and extension of our model of regolith formation on hillslopes: A clarification of our model of regolith formation on hillslopes Lebedeva, M. I.; Brantley, S. L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 43, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4426	journal	June 2018
A physical, mechanistic and fully coupled hillslope hydrology model Raff, David A.; Ramírez, Jorge A. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, Vol. 49, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.1016	journal	January 2005
Using a reactive transport model to elucidate differences between laboratory and field dissolution rates in regolith Moore, Joel; Lichtner, Peter C.; White, Art F. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 93 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.03.021	journal	September 2012
Expanding the role of reactive transport models in critical zone processes Li, Li; Maher, Kate; Navarre-Sitchler, Alexis Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.09.001	journal	February 2017
A Two-State Integral-Balance Model for Soil Moisture and Groundwater Dynamics in Complex Terrain Duffy, Christopher J. Water Resources Research, Vol. 32, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1029/96WR01049	journal	August 1996
Hillslope evolution by diffusive processes: The timescale for equilibrium adjustments Fernandes, Nelson F.; Dietrich, William E. Water Resources Research, Vol. 33, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1029/97WR00534	journal	June 1997
Climate driven coevolution of weathering profiles and hillslope topography generates dramatic differences in critical zone architecture Anderson, Robert S.; Rajaram, Harihar; Anderson, Suzanne P. Hydrological Processes, Vol. 33, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13307	journal	December 2018
Determining mineral weathering rates based on solid and solute weathering gradients and velocities: application to biotite weathering in saprolites White, Art F. Chemical Geology, Vol. 190, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00111-0	journal	October 2002
Homogenization and Porous Media Hornung, Ulrich Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1920-0	book	January 1997
The exponential decline in saturated hydraulic conductivity with depth: a novel method for exploring its effect on water flow paths and transit time distribution: The Exponential Decline in Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity with Depth Ameli, A. A.; McDonnell, J. J.; Bishop, K. Hydrological Processes, Vol. 30, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10777	journal	March 2016
A reactive diffusion model describing transformation of bedrock to saprolite Lebedeva, M. I.; Fletcher, R. C.; Balashov, V. N. Chemical Geology, Vol. 244, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.07.008	journal	October 2007
Modeling the influence of preferential flow on the spatial variability and time-dependence of mineral weathering rates: PREFERENTIAL FLOW, LONG-TERM WEATHERING Pandey, Sachin; Rajaram, Harihar Water Resources Research, Vol. 52, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019026	journal	December 2016
Redox front propagation and banding modalities Ortoleva, P.; Auchmuty, G.; Chadam, J. Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, Vol. 19, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2789(86)90063-1	journal	April 1986
Modeling multiphase non-isothermal fluid flow and reactive geochemical transport in variably saturated fractured rocks: 1. Methodology Xu, T. American Journal of Science, Vol. 301, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.301.1.16	journal	January 2001
Exploring an ‘ideal hill': how lithology and transport mechanisms affect the possibility of a steady state during weathering and erosion Lebedeva, Marina I.; Brantley, Susan L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 45, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4762	journal	March 2020
Global Patterns of Groundwater Table Depth Fan, Y.; Li, H.; Miguez-Macho, G. Science, Vol. 339, Issue 6122 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1229881	journal	February 2013
Enhancement of bedrock permeability by weathering Worthington, Stephen R. H.; Davies, Gareth J.; Alexander, E. Calvin Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 160 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.07.002	journal	September 2016
Where fast weathering creates thin regolith and slow weathering creates thick regolith: FAST WEATHERING - THIN REGOLITH, SLOW WEATHERING - THICK REGOLITH Bazilevskaya, Ekaterina; Lebedeva, Marina; Pavich, Milan Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 38, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3369	journal	December 2012
Exploring geochemical controls on weathering and erosion of convex hillslopes: beyond the empirical regolith production function: HILLSLOPE EVOLUTION AND REGOLITH THICKNESS Lebedeva, Marina I.; Brantley, Susan L. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 38, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3424	journal	April 2013
A Closed-form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils1 van Genuchten, M. Th. Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol. 44, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x	journal	January 1980
The quasi-stationary state approximation to coupled mass transport and fluid-rock interaction in a porous medium Lichtner, Peter C. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 52, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(88)90063-4	journal	January 1988
Weathering, plants, and the long-term carbon cycle Berner, Robert A. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 56, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(92)90300-8	journal	August 1992
Chemical reactions, porosity, and microfracturing in shale during weathering: The effect of erosion rate Gu, Xin; Rempe, Daniella M.; Dietrich, William E. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 269 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.09.044	journal	January 2020
Primary weathering rates, water transit times, and concentration-discharge relations: A theoretical analysis for the critical zone: WEATHERING RATE, PERMEABILITY, STREAM C-Q Ameli, Ali A.; Beven, Keith; Erlandsson, Martin Water Resources Research, Vol. 53, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019448	journal	January 2017
Understanding watershed hydrogeochemistry: 1. Development of RT-Flux-PIHM: DEVELOPMENT OF RT-FLUX-PIHM Bao, Chen; Li, Li; Shi, Yuning Water Resources Research, Vol. 53, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR018934	journal	March 2017
Deep Weathering, Groundwater and Climate Ollier, Cliff D. Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography, Vol. 70, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.2307/521260	journal	January 1988

Similar Records

Relating land surface, water table, and weathering fronts with a conceptual valve model for headwater catchments

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Hydrological Processes · OSTI ID:1774179

Brantley, Susan L.; Lebedeva, Marina I.

Exploring an ‘ideal hill': how lithology and transport mechanisms affect the possibility of a steady state during weathering and erosion

Journal Article · Thu Jan 23 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Earth Surface Processes and Landforms · OSTI ID:1774179

Lebedeva, Marina I.; Brantley, Susan L.

A clarification and extension of our model of regolith formation on hillslopes: A clarification of our model of regolith formation on hillslopes

Journal Article · Thu May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Earth Surface Processes and Landforms · OSTI ID:1774179

Lebedeva, M. I.; Brantley, S. L.

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
erosion
hillslope
reactive transport modelling
water table
weathering

Title: Relating the depth of the water table to the depth of weathering

Citation Formats

References (40)

Similar Records

Related Subjects