Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1080/10256010701705419
Title (Primary) Using radon-222 for tracing groundwater discharge into an open-pit lignite mining lake - a case study
Author Schmidt, A.; Schubert, M.
Source Titel Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies
Year 2007
Department ANA
Volume 43
Issue 4
Page From 387
Page To 400
Language englisch
Keywords Groundwater; Lake; Meromixis; Radon-222; Surface water; Tracer technique
Abstract Groundwater discharge into an open pit lignite mining lake was investigated using radon-222 as a naturally occurring environmental tracer. The chosen study site was a meromictic lake, i.e., a water body that is divided horizontally into two separate layers - the upper mixolimnion (with seasonal mixing) and the lower monimolimnion (without seasonal mixing). For the estimation of groundwater discharge rates into the lake, a simple box model including all radon sinks and sources related to each layer was applied. Two field investigations were performed. During the October campaign, the total groundwater discharge into the lake was found to be 18.9 and 0.7 m3 d-1 for the mixolimnion and monimolimnion, respectively. During the December campaign, the groundwater discharge into the mixolimnion was 15.0 m3 d-1, whereas no discharge at all was observed into the monimolimnion. Based on the given water volumes, the residence time of lake water was 5.3 years for the monimolimnion and varies between 0.9 and 1.1 years for the mixolimnion. The investigation confirmed radon to be a useful environmental tracer for groundwater and surface water interactions in meromictic lake environments.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=2265
Schmidt, A., Schubert, M. (2007):
Using radon-222 for tracing groundwater discharge into an open-pit lignite mining lake - a case study
Isot. Environ. Health Stud. 43 (4), 387 - 400 10.1080/10256010701705419