Information - HS7.4 Hydro-ecology of riparian zones: hyporheic controls at the groundwater - surface water interface
Event Information
The hydro-ecological functions of riparian zones are important for the ecological health of rivers and catchments as they represent a crucial interface between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Its hydrological and ecological process dynamics are often controlled by the complex interactions between the groundwater and the surface water. Especially the hyporheic zone, the area where groundwater and surface water mix in the streambed, can have substantial impact on the hydro-ecological conditions of floodplains.
Numerous investigations have shown that the hydrological, chemical and biological characteristics of the hyporheic zone can vary significantly from its surrounding groundwater and surface water environments. The hyporheic is often characterised by sharp chemical gradients as for instance in redox potential and oxygen content. Exchange fluxes between the groundwater and the surface water and the residence times of water passing the hyporheic zone are dependent upon the spatial pattern of streambed conductivity.
As a result of its specific hydrological and chemical conditions the hyporheic zone has the potential to substantially affect the transport of water and solutes. The hyporheic passage across the groundwater - surface water interface can be chemically very active and causes the conversion of nutrients and pollutants. It has been observed to act as attenuation zone as well as an area of enrichment in other cases. The hyporheic furthermore creates a unique environment with specific habitat functions, hosting a number of highly specialised species.
A number of recent multi-disciplinary studies investigated the impact of the hyporheic passage on the riparian hydro-ecology. Most of this studies focused in particular on hyporheic controls on groundwater - surface water exchange, on the transport and attenuation of nutrient and contaminants as well as its implications for riparian and riverine ecology.
However, it still remains difficult to precisely describe and to quantify the process dynamics in the hyporheic zone and in particular its impacts on the riparian hydro-ecology on different spatial and temporal scales.
This session solicits papers with a focus on the:
i)The development and application of novel experimental methods to investigate physical and chemical conditions of the hyporheic zone, its exchange fluxes and chemical activity
ii)Studies investigating the role of hyporheic processes for the retention and natural attenuation of nutrients and pollutants as well as its impacts on the surface water and groundwater quality
iii)Hydrological, chemical and ecological modelling approaches (transient storage models, coupled groundwater - surface water models....) and applications that take into account hyporheic transport and conversion
iv)Impact studies focussing on the importance of hyporheic controls on floodplain and surface water hydro-chemistry and ecology at different scales
v)Investigations of the implications of groundwater - surface water interactions in the hyporheic zone for management and risk assessment frameworks in regard to the European Water Framework Directive.
Preliminary List of Solicited Speakers
Scott W Tyler (University of Nevada, Reno)
Gilles Pinay (University of Birmingham)
Co-Sponsorship
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