Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Earth-tide-induced fluctuations in the salinity of an inland river, New South Wales, Australia: a short-term study

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wybong Creek discharges salts into the agriculturally and industrially important Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. Abrupt increases in salinity occur periodically in the mid-Wybong Creek catchment. In order to understand the processes which cause these abrupt increases, changes in surface and groundwater were investigated. It is shown that salinity increases can be attributed to highly discrete groundwater discharge directly into the river from below. Hourly electrical conductivity data measured in the river showed regular, diurnal electrical conductivity fluctuations of up to 350 μS cm−1. These fluctuations could not be attributed to barometric pressure, temperature, or evapotranspiration. Instead, a similar periodicity in surface water electrical conductivity and groundwater height in nearby groundwater wells was found. Fluctuations were of similar periodicity to the orthotides which cause fluctuations in surface water height and are induced by Earth tides. The geology in the mid-catchment area indicates conditions are optimal for Earth tides to impact groundwater. The reporting of orthotidal changes in water chemistry in this article is believed to be the first of its kind in the scientific literature, with the large fluctuations noted having important implications for water monitoring and management in the catchment. Further research investigating Earth-tide-induced phases of groundwater heights will better constrain the relationships between surface water chemistry and groundwater height.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acworth, R. I., & Brain, T. (2008). Calculation of barometric efficiency in shallow piezometers using water levels, atmospheric and earth tide data. Hydrogeology Journal, 16, 1469–1481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Acworth, R., Rau, G., McCallum, A., Andersen, M., & Cuthbert, M. (2015). Understanding connected surface water/groundwater systems using Fourier analysis of daily and sub-daily head fluctuations. Hydrogeology Journal, 23(1), 143–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allègre, V., Brodsky, E. E., Xiue, L., Nale, S. M., Parker, B. L., & Cherry, J. A. (2016). Using earth-tide induced water pressure changes to measure in-situ permeability: a comparison with long-term pumping tests. Water Resources Research, 52(4), 3113–3126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. (2009). Climate statistics for Australian locations: monthly climate statistics, Scone (Philip Street). Canberra: Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Besedina, A. N., Vinogradov, E. A., Gorbunova, E. M., Kabychenko, N. V., Svintsov, I. S., Piguleveskiy, P. I., Svistun, V. K., & Shcherbina, S. V. (2015). The response of fluid-saturated reservoirs to lunisolar tides: part 1. Background parameters of tidal components in ground displacements and groundwater level. Physics of the Solid Earth, 51(1), 70–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briciu, A.-E. (2014). Wavelet analysis of lunar semidiurnal tidal influence on selected inland rivers across the globe. Scientific Reports, 4(4193), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burbey, T. J. (2009). Fracture characterization using Earth tide analysis. Journal of Hydrology, 380, 237–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burbey, T. J., Hisz, D., Murdoch, L., & Zhang, M. (2012). Quantifying fractured crystalline-rock properties using well tests, Earth tides and barometric effects. Journal of Hydrology, 414-415, 317–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cerveny, R. S., Svoma, B. M., & Vose, R. S. (2010). Lunar tidal influence on inland river streamflow across the conterminous United States. Geophysical Research Letters, 37(22). doi:10.1029/2010GL045564.

  • Chang, C., & Yeh, H. (2015). Uncertainty in applying the linear poroelasticity model to field situations as a result of periodic loading in heterogeneous aquifers. Hydrological Processes, 29, 2454–2462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, P. G. (1999). A guide to regional groundwater flow in fractured rock aquifers. Glen Osmond: CSIRO Land and Water.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creelman, R. A. (1994). The geological and geochemical framework for assessing salinity in the Hunter valley. Epping: R.A. Creelman and associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, S. N., Whittemore, D. O., & Fabryka-Martin, J. (1998). Uses of chloride/bromide ratios in studies of potable water. Ground Water, 36(2), 338–350.

  • Domenico, P. A., & Schwartz, F. W. (1990). Physical and chemical hydrogeology. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franson, M. A. H. (Ed.). (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Washington: American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandy, C. J., Smith, J. W. N., & Jarvis, A. P. (2007). Attenuation of mining-derived pollutants in the hyporheic zone: a review. Science of the Total Environment, 373, 435–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hach Company. (2009). Chemicals, reagents and standards. Loveland: Hach Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasonsmith, J. F., Macdonald, B. C. T., McPhail, D. C., Beavis, S., Norman, M., Roach, I. C., Harris, B., Isaacson, L., White, I., & Biswas, F. (2011). Salinisation processes in a sub-catchment of Wybong Creek, Hunter Valley, Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 58(2), 177–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kellett, J. K., Williams, B. G., & Ward, J. K. (1987). Hydrogeochemistry of the upper Hunter River valley, NSW. Maitland: Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology, and Geophysics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J.-H., Lee, J., Cheong, T.-J., Kim, R.-H., Koh, D.-C., Ryu, J.-S., & Chang, H.-W. (2005). Use of time series analysis for the identification of tidal effect on groundwater in the coastal area of Kimje, Korea. Journal of Hydrology, 300, 188–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leary, S. P., & Brunton, J. S. (2003). The north west Hunter exploration programme 2003 Hunter Coalfield NSW. NSW Geological survey report no. GS 2004/238. Maitland: Department of Mineral Resources.

  • McMahon, T. A. (1968). Geographical interpretation of hydrologic characteristics in the Hunter Valley. Australian Geographer, 10, 404–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • New South Wales Department of Water and Energy. (2008). Wybong Creek @ Wybong Hydroplot V132. Sydney: New South Wales Department of Water and Energy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojstaczer, S., & Agnew, D. C. (1989). The influence of formation material properties on the response of water levels in wells to Earth tides and atmospheric loading. Journal of Geophysical Research, 94(B9), 12403–12411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, C. W. (2004). An introduction to the environmental physics of soil, water and watersheds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schaetzl, R. S., & Anderson, S. (2005). Soils: genesis and geomorphology. London: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Scheibner, E. (1998). Geology of New South Wales—synthesis. Sydney: Geological Survey of New South Wales.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shumway, R. H. (1988). Applied statistical time series analysis. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Camp, M., & Vauterin, P. (2005). Tsoft: graphical and interactive software for the analysis of time series and Earth tides. Computers and Geosciences, 31, 631–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R. G. (2001). Limnology: lake and river ecosystems. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dave Hoey, Nigel Craddy, Falguni Biswas, and Pete Somerville for support during sampling trips, with many helpful discussions held with the visiting fellows of the Research School of Earth Sciences at the ANU and Brad Sherman at CSIRO. Thanks also to the wonderful farmers of the Manobalai area who so kindly let us use their land for research purposes. Project funding and support was provided by the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the New South Wales Office of Water, in addition to ARC Linkage grants (number LP05060743 and LP100100567). Scholarship funding to JFJ was provided by the Australian National University Faculty of Science and the Research School of Earth Science.

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. F. Jasonsmith

    Present address: Murrang Earth Sciences Pty Ltd, GPO Box 2310, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

  2. B. C. T. Macdonald

    Present address: CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 0200, Australia

    J. F. Jasonsmith

  2. Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, 0200, Australia

    B. C. T. Macdonald & I. White

Authors
  1. J. F. Jasonsmith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. C. T. Macdonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. F. Jasonsmith.

Electronic supplementary material

Table A1

Cation detection limits and concentrations in blanks. BDL indicates where solute concentrations were below detection limit. N/A indicates samples were not analysed for the ion specified (DOC 46 kb)

Table A2

Anion detection limits and concentrations in blanks. BDL indicates where solute concentrations were below detection limit. N/A indicates samples were not analysed for the ion specified (DOC 42 kb)

Fig A1

(DOC 53 kb)

Fig A2

(DOC 48 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jasonsmith, J.F., Macdonald, B.C.T. & White, I. Earth-tide-induced fluctuations in the salinity of an inland river, New South Wales, Australia: a short-term study. Environ Monit Assess 189, 188 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5880-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-5880-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation