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AGU: Water Resources Research

 
Abstract
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Abstract

Chlorofluorocarbons as Tracers of Groundwater Transport Processes in a Shallow, Silty Sand Aquifer

P. G. Cook

Centre for Groundwater Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.

D. K. Solomon

Department of Geology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

L. N. Plummer

Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

E. Busenberg

Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

S. L. Schiff

Centre for Groundwater Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.

Detailed depth profiles of Chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11 (CFCl3), CFC-12 (CF2Cl2) and CFC-113 (C2F3Cl3) have been obtained from a well-characterized field site in central Ontario. Aquifer materials comprise predominantly silty sands, with a mean organic carbon content of 0.03%. Nearly one-dimensional flow exists at this site, and the vertical migration of a well-defined 3H peak has been tracked through time. Detailed vertical sampling has allowed CFC tracer velocities to be estimated to within 10%. Comparison with 3H profiles enables estimation of chlorofluorocarbon transport parameters. CFC-12 appears to be the most conservative of the CFCs measured. Sorption at this site is low (K d < 0.03), and degradation does not appear to be important. CFC- 113 is retarded both with respect to CFC-12 and with respect to 3H (K d = 0.09−0.14). CFC-11 appears to be degraded both in the highly organic unsaturated zone and below 3.5 m depth in the aquifer, where dissolved oxygen concentrations decrease to below 0.5 mg L−1. The half-life for CFC-11 degradation below 3.5 m depth is less than 2 years. While apparent CFC-12 ages match hydraulic ages to within 20% (up to 30 years), apparent CFC-11 and CFC-113 ages significantly overestimate hydraulic ages at our field site.

Received 9 May 1994; accepted 26 September 1994; .

Citation: Cook, P. G., D. K. Solomon, L. N. Plummer, E. Busenberg, and S. L. Schiff (1995), Chlorofluorocarbons as Tracers of Groundwater Transport Processes in a Shallow, Silty Sand Aquifer, Water Resour. Res., 31(3), 425–434.

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