Hydrogeological insights from groundwater ice formation on the Niagara Escarpment, Hamilton, Canada

Groundwater discharges from Silurian bedrock exposures at the Niagara Escarpment have been documented using photography. It is demonstrated that patterns of groundwater discharges are best discernible from ice formation during sub-zero winter conditions. The photographs indicate that discharges at natural exposures tend to follow hydrostratigraphic boundaries, with point seeps indicating channelized preferential flow. At anthropogenic exposures, the groundwater discharges appear more closely related to the actual exposure morphology with vertical fracturing causing vertical flow and bypass of aquitards, as well as aquifers with groundwater discharge occurring at local topographical lows. The associated seeps at anthropogenic exposures may approximate planar preferential horizontal flow horizons if competent beds are encountered.