2006 Philadelphia Annual Meeting (22–25 October 2006)
Paper No. 103-6
Presentation Time: 3:00 PM-3:15 PM

ENVIRONMENTAL TRACER APPLICATIONS IN AQUIFERS IN AQUIFERS WITH ELEVATED AS CONCENTRATIONS IN BANGLADESH

STUTE, Martin1, HORNEMAN, A.2, SCHLOSSER, Peter3, ZHENG, Yan4, VAN GEEN, Alexander3, SANTELLA, N.5, SMETHIE, William Jr5, HO, D.T.6, AHMED, Kazi Matin7, and HOQUE, M.A.8, (1) Environmental Science, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, mstute@barnard.edu, (2) Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 918 Seeley Mudd Building, 500 West 120th St, New York, NY 10027, (3) Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, (4) Earth and Environmental Sciences, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, (5) Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rte. 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, (6) Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia Univ, 61 Rte. 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, (7) Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh, (8) Geology Department, Dhaka Univ, Dhaka, 1000

Distributions of 3H/3He, atmospheric noble gases, CFCs, and SF6 were determined in aquifers in Bangladesh with elevated dissolved Arsenic concentrations. Tracer distributions provide evidence for degassing during recharge and rapid recharge caused by flooding. Comparison of groundwater 3H+3He data with 3H concentrations in precipitation suggests that some samples are affected by mixing with pre-bomb groundwater. CFC 11 and 12 concentrations in this reducing environment decline rapidly as a function of 3H/3He age at rates of ~0.4 to ~6 yr-1 and from ~0.25 to ~5 yr-1, respectively. SF6 ages were generally higher than 3H/3He ages, most likely due to interactions with subsurface gas phases. SF6 was found in 3H-free deeper groundwater indicating the occurrence of natural SF6 in Bangladesh aquifers. 3H/3He-derived recharge rates are consistent with hydraulic estimates. A tight relationship between arsenic and groundwater age implies that hydrogeology plays an important role in determining the variability of Arsenic concentrations in Bangladesh.

2006 Philadelphia Annual Meeting (22–25 October 2006)
General Information for this Meeting
Session No. 103
Ground Water Age Dating: Current Issues and Applications
Pennsylvania Convention Center: 103 C
1:30 PM-5:30 PM, Monday, 23 October 2006

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 260

© Copyright 2006 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.