dc.contributor.author |
Montcoudiol, Nelly |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Burnside, Neil M. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Györe, Domokos |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Mariita, Nicholas Obuya |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Mutia, Thecla |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Boyce, Adrian |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2019-11-18T09:00:31Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2019-11-18T09:00:31Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2019-08-15 |
|
dc.identifier.citation |
Montcoudiol, N.; Burnside, N.M.; Györe, D.; Mariita, N.; Mutia, T.; Boyce, A. Surface and Groundwater Hydrochemistry of the Menengai Caldera Geothermal Field and Surrounding Nakuru County, Kenya. Energies 2019, 12, 3131. |
en_US |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://41.89.227.156:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/986 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
In order to assess the sustainability and impact of production from geothermal reservoirs
on hydrological systems, a thorough understanding of local and regional hydrogeological systematics
is a prerequisite. The Menengai Caldera in the Kenya Great Rift Valley is one of the largest explored
geothermal fields in the country. This paper presents a hydrochemical investigation of the Menengai
Caldera geothermal field and the ground and surface waters of the surrounding Nakuru County.
Our results demonstrated a similar, sodium-alkaline dominated, ionic composition across all water
types. Geothermal wells return the highest cation/anion concentrations and largely demonstrate a
meteoric source from their δ
18O and δ
2H signature. Wells MW-09 (central part of the caldera), MW-18
(eastern part) and MW-20 (central part) showed a more evaporitic signature, closely matching with
our own calculated Lake Evaporation Line, suggesting an increased mixing influence of Lake Nakuru
waters. MW-09 also showed evidence of high-temperature oxygen isotopic exchange and significant
water-rock interaction. Lake samples largely demonstrated seasonal shifts in ionic and isotopic values.
Lake Nakuru ionic composition and isotopic values increased throughout the 12-month wet–dry–wet
season sampling period. This correlated with a decrease in area which suggests a lessening of water
inflow and facilitates increased evaporation. Groundwaters demonstrated clear evidence of mixing
between meteoric, irrigation and lake waters. These observations enhanced the understanding of the
hydrological system surrounding the Menengai Caldera and, when combined with future studies, will
provide a powerful tool to assess the sustainability and impact of soon-to-be completed geothermal
power production operations. |
en_US |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_US |
dc.publisher |
MDPI, |
en_US |
dc.subject |
geothermal |
en_US |
dc.subject |
hydrology |
en_US |
dc.subject |
hydrochemistry |
en_US |
dc.subject |
water |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Kenya |
en_US |
dc.subject |
East Africa |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Menengai Caldera |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Nakuru |
en_US |
dc.title |
Surface and Groundwater Hydrochemistry of the Menengai Caldera Geothermal Field and Surrounding Nakuru County, Kenya |
en_US |
dc.type |
Article |
en_US |