Articles | Volume 25, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5415-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5415-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Oct 2021
Research article |
| 11 Oct 2021
| 11 Oct 2021
Depth to water table correction for initial carbon-14 activities in groundwater mean residence time estimation
Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, 0810, Australia
National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, and College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
Cameron Wood
Department for Environment and Water, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
Ian Cartwright
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University,
Clayton, 3800, Australia
Tanya Oliver
National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, and College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
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Short summary
It is widely assumed that 14C is in contact with the atmosphere until recharging water reaches the water table. Unsaturated zone (UZ) studies have shown that 14C decreases with depth below the land surface. We produce a relationship between UZ 14C and depth to the water table to estimate input 14C activities for groundwater age estimation. Application of the new relationship shows that it is important for UZ processes to be considered in groundwater mean residence time estimation.
It is widely assumed that 14C is in contact with the atmosphere until recharging water reaches...
