Short-Term Groundwater Level Fluctuations Drive Subsurface Redox Variability

Machado-Silva, Fausto; Weintraub, Michael N.; Ward, Nicholas D.; Doro, Kennedy O.; Regier, Peter J.; Ehosioke, Solomon; Thomas, Shan Pushpajom; Peixoto, Roberta B.; Sandoval, Leticia; Forbrich, Inke; Kemner, Kenneth M.; O’Loughlin, Edward J.; Stetten, Lucie; Spanbauer, Trisha; Bridgeman, Thomas B.; O’Meara, Teri; Rod, Kenton A.; Patel, Kaizad; McDowell, Nate G.; Megonigal, J. Patrick; Rich, Roy L.; Bailey, Vanessa L.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c01115

Short-Term Groundwater Level Fluctuations Drive Subsurface Redox Variability

Journal Article · Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c01115· OSTI ID:2438280

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]; Doro, Kennedy O. ^[1]; ^[3]; Ehosioke, Solomon ^[1]; Thomas, Shan Pushpajom ^[1]; Peixoto, Roberta B. ^[1]; Sandoval, Leticia ^[1]; Forbrich, Inke ^[1]; ^[4]; ^[4]; ^[4]; Spanbauer, Trisha ^[1]; Bridgeman, Thomas B. ^[1]; ^[5]; ^[3]; ^[3]; McDowell, Nate G. ^[3]; Megonigal, J. Patrick ^[6] more »

Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States)
Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD (United States)

As global change processes modify the extent and functions of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces, the variability of critical and dynamic transitional zones between wetlands and uplands increases. However, it is still unclear how fluctuating water levels at these dynamic boundaries alter groundwater biogeochemical cycling. Here, we used high-temporal resolution data along gradients from wetlands to uplands and during fluctuating water levels at freshwater coastal areas to capture spatiotemporal patterns of groundwater redox potential (E_h). We observed that topography influences groundwater E_h that is higher in uplands than wetlands; however, the high variability within TAI zones challenged the establishment of distinct redox zonation. Declining water levels generally decreased E_h, but most locations exhibited significant E_h variability, which is associated with rare instances of short-term water level fluctuations introducing oxygen. The E_h-oxygen relationship showed distinct hysteresis patterns, reflecting redox poising capacity at higher E_h, maintaining more oxidizing states longer than dissolved oxygen presence. Surprisingly, we observed more frequent oxidizing states in transitional areas and wetlands than in uplands. We infer that occasional oxygen entering specific wetland-upland boundaries acts as critical biogeochemical control points. Finally, high-resolution data can capture such rare yet significant biogeochemical instances, supporting redox-informed models and advancing the predictability of climate change feedback.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; AC05-00OR22725; AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2438280

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2468644
OSTI ID: 2476603

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--201342

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 33 Vol. 58; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Short-Term Groundwater Level Fluctuations Drive Subsurface Redox Variability

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