Physical and chemical dynamics of the hydrogeologic system in wetlands along the southern shore of Lake Michigan

Miscellaneous · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5689386

Doss, P K

The Miller Woods wetland system is established in the progradational beach deposits along the shore of Lake Michigan in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Long-term study of a detailed monitoring network has identified the large and small scale characteristics of the physical and chemical hydrogeology of the wetland system. The wetlands and related ground water display a complex hydrogeologic behavior, the transient nature of which is a function of stresses imposed by climatic factors and evapotranspiration. Transient hydrogeologic features vary in their scale and include mobile hydrologic boundaries that shift through time and space, and individual wetlands that regularly change their hydrologic regime and function within the whole wetland system. A conceptual model is developed that links different types of hydrologic behavior with different physical characteristics imposed by the progradational nature of the wetland system. Most waters in Miller Woods are near neutral pH, calcium bicarbonate type. Smaller-scale variations in the chemistry of bicarbonate, sulfate, and some metals result from micro and macrobiological influences. Observable impacts on water chemistry have occurred in some parts of the study area as a result of a nearby industrial landfill. Concentrations of essentially all ions are enriched, and found at their maximum values in the vicinity of the landfill.

• Research Organization: Northern Illinois Univ., De Kalb, IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5689386
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
LAKE MICHIGAN
WATER POLLUTION
WETLANDS
HYDROLOGY
ACID CARBONATES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
MONITORING
SULFATES
WATER CHEMISTRY
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMISTRY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAKES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)