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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #35306
Title: GIS MODELING OF RECHARGE ON A WATERSHED

Author
item ROGOWSKI A S - 1902-05-00

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Application of geographic information systems (GIS) in earth sciences requires precise positioning of measured attribute values in space, assessment of their spatial distributions, and assessment of their variability. The study addresses these concerns through the use of global positioning system (GPS) and detailed geostatistical analyses of spatially distributed data on a 123 sq. km agricultural watershed. The topics are explored by analyzing spatial distributions of soil hydraulic conductivity, water content, and associated variables, which were measured in the field at precisely geo-positioned locations on different landform and land use combinations. When combined with currrently available GIS and GPS technology, the analysis successfully accounted for spatial variation of soil water parameters. The results may help to identify potential groundwater recharge zones on a watershed scale.

Technical Abstract: Spatial distribution of field measured soil attributes was examined, and a procedure was developed to delineate potential recharge contributing areas on a large agricultural watershed. The procedure utilizes interpolated values of depth to water table and field derived estimates of hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture characteristics to describe distribution of estimated travel time to the groundwater and potential recharge flux at the water table. The procedure was applied to a 123 sq. km watershed in Pennsylvania. Field data were collected in the spring, summer, and fall of 1990. The analysis combined quantity-arrival-time distributions of recharge flux from below the root zone with kriged overlays of spatially variable soil and climatic input parameters. When coupled with currently available GIS and GPS technology, the analysis successfully accounted for spatial variation of field measured soil attributes, and helped to identify ypotential groundwater recharge zones on a watershed scale.