Improved Recharge Estimation from Portable, Low‐Cost Weather Stations

Abstract

Groundwater recharge estimation is a critical quantity for sustainable groundwater management. The feasibility and robustness of recharge estimation was evaluated using physical-based modeling procedures, and data from a low-cost weather station with remote sensor techniques in Southern Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Recharge was determined using the Richards-based vadose zone hydrological model, HYDRUS-1D. The required meteorological data were recorded with a HOBO(TM) weather station for a short observation period (about 1 year) and an existing weather station (Abbotsford A) for long-term study purpose (27 years). Undisturbed soil cores were taken at two locations in the vicinity of the HOBO(TM) weather station. The derived soil hydraulic parameters were used to characterize the soil in the numerical model. Model performance was evaluated using observed soil moisture and soil temperature data obtained from subsurface remote sensors. A rigorous sensitivity analysis was used to test the robustness of the model. Recharge during the short observation period was estimated at 863 and 816 mm. The mean annual recharge was estimated at 848 and 859 mm/year based on a time series of 27 years. The relative ratio of annual recharge-precipitation varied from 43% to 69%. From a monthly recharge perspective, the majority (80%) of recharge due to precipitation occurred during the hydrologic winter period. The comparison of the recharge estimates with other studies indicates a good agreement. Furthermore, this method is able to predict transient recharge estimates, and can provide a reasonable tool for estimates on nutrient leaching that is often controlled by strong precipitation events and rapid infiltration of water and nitrate into the soil.

Quantification of Groundwater Nitrate Loading after Raspberry Field Renovation Using High‐Resolution Passive Diffusion Sampling

“…The annual recharge estimates were between 65 and 75% of the annual measured precipitation, which was consistent with the proportion of precipitation occurring outside of the growing season and with previous estimates that 37 to 81% of annual total precipitation typically contributes to groundwater recharge (Kohut, 1987; Scibek and Allen, 2006). The annual recharge estimates from this study were consistent with other recharge estimates for the ASA (Kohut, 1987; Scibek and Allen, 2006; Holländer et al, 2016) and water balance estimations for the same field and period (Loo et al, 2019).…”

“…The mean annual precipitation (1981–2010), measured at the Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station at the Abbotsford International Airport, was 1538 mm including 1483 mm yr −1 as rainfall (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2018). Surface runoff is rarely observed, and annual groundwater recharge estimates range spatially from 650 to 1150 mm yr −1 (Scibek and Allen, 2006; Holländer et al, 2016). Low precipitation during the crop growing season (April–September) makes the region irrigation dependent.…”

Quantifying Nitrate Leaching under Commercial Red Raspberry Using Passive Capillary Wick Samplers

“…Estimates of recharge rates on the ASA vary spatially from ∼630 to 1150 mm, with estimates of 950 to 1000 mm at the location of the study site (Scibek and Allen, 2006). A more recent study estimated recharge rates of 848 to 859 mm for the ASA (Holländer et al, 2016). Therefore, the water flux recorded by PCAPSs (Y1, 1286 mm; Y2, 512 mm) and recharge measured at the water table by the WTF method (Y1, 1134 mm; Y2, 826 mm) in this study were generally comparable with previous estimates of recharge (Holländer et al, 2016; Scibek and Allen, 2006).…”

“…On average, ∼70% of the rainfall occurs outside of the April to October growing season (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2018). Model estimates of recharge rates range spatially from 650 to 1150 mm yr −1 (Holländer et al, 2016; Scibek and Allen, 2006).…”

Integration of hydrogeophysics and remote sensing with coupled hydrological models

“…recharge/discharge areas, allowing to register the spatio-temporal variability of the driving forces and the responses of the hydrological system. Such data are critical to provide reliable and realistic input to hydrological models (Holländer et al, 2015). In this study, the conversion of meteorological data into boundary fluxes is proposed to be implemented through the newly developed MARMITES model.…”