Quantifying spatial groundwater dependence in peatlands through a distributed isotope mass balance approach

Abstract

The unique biodiversity and plant composition of peatlands rely on a mix of different water sources: precipitation, runoff, and groundwater (GW). Methods used to delineate areas of ecosystem groundwater dependence, such as vegetation mapping and solute tracer studies, are indirect and lack the potential to assess temporal changes in hydrology, information needed in GW management. This paper outlines a new methodology for mapping groundwater-dependent areas (GDAs) in peatlands using a 2H and 18O isotope mass balance method. The approach reconstructs the initial isotopic composition of the peat pore water in the uppermost peat layer before its modification by evaporation. It was assumed that pore water in this layer subject to evaporation is a two-component mixture consisting of GW and precipitation input from the month preceding the sampling period. A Bayesian Monte Carlo isotope mixing model was applied to calculate the proportions of GW and rainwater in the sampled pore water and to assess uncertainties. The approach revealed large spatial variability in the contribution of GW to the pore water present in the top layer of peatland, covering the range from approximately 0 to 100%. Results show that the current GW protection zones determined by Finnish legislation do not cover the GDAs in peatlands and highlight a need for better classification of groundwater-dependent ecosystems and conceptualization of aquifer-ecosystem interactions. Our approach offers an efficient tool for mapping GDAs and quantifying the contribution of GW to peatland pore water. However, more studies are needed to test the method for different peatland types.