Evaluation of long-term groundwater level data in regular monitoring wells,Barka, Sultanate of Oman

A detailed investigation was carried out to evaluate long-term groundwater level fluctuation in regular monitoring wells constructed by the Ministry of Water Resources in Barka, Sultanate of Oman. For this study, groundwater level data for 71 wells and rainfall data from six stations were collected from 1984 to 2003 and analysed. Based on long-term water level fluctuation, groundwater wells are classified into three groups. In group 1, water level shows a long-term cyclic trend without yearly fluctuation whereas in group 2 the water level declined continuously until 1995 followed by a constant water level. In group 3, water level decreases continuously throughout the study periods with rapid annual cyclic variation. Group 1 wells show high water-level fluctuations (5 to 10 m) and seem to be regulated by discharge (lateral flow) from this aquifer and recharge from the adjacent Jabal Akhdar mountainous region. Constant trend in water level after 1995 in group 2 wells illustrates the advancement of saline–fresh water interface to the inland due to heavy pumping which is justified by higher electrical conductivity and Cl/HCO₃ ratio. In group 3 wells, the water level dropped continuously due to overabstraction by agricultural farms and human settlements. In addition, wells existing near the recharge dams express the influences of recharge dams and rainfall, and exhibit high water-level fluctuations during heavy rainfall periods. The long-term regional variation indicates that water level drops continuously in the coastal and central parts of the study region. Linear regression analysis revealed that the decline in water level is 0·3–0·4 m year⁻¹ near the coastal and central parts of the study area and is almost constant in the remaining area. We conclude that the contribution of man-made activities on groundwater level is well compared with natural factors. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于地震背景噪声监测山东临沂地区地下水位变化

选取山东省临沂地区的JUN与JUX台站数据资料,运用背景噪声互相关技术计算了2009年1月1日—2011年1月1日台站对间的互相关函数,利用移动窗互谱法计算相对速度变化,并分析其与莒县气象观测站记录的降水和莒南鲁14号井记录的地下水水位变化的关联性。研究结果表明,区域降水呈季节性变化,夏季降水量大,冬季降水量小;地下水水位呈季节性变化,初夏季水位较低,随后水位值逐渐增加,初冬季水位较高,随后水位值逐渐减少;地下介质速度变化亦具有季节性特征,变化幅度约为±0.2%,与水位变化呈一定的负相关趋势,即夏季水位增加、相对速度变化降低,冬季水位减少、相对速度变化升高。     

Evolution of Quaternary groundwater system in North China Plain

The Quaternary groundwater system in the North China Plain is formed mainly through the terrestrial water flow action on the united geological and tectonic backgrounds. The analysis of groundwater dynamic field, simulation of groundwater geochemistry, and the¹⁴C dating and extraction of isotope information have provided more evidence for recognizing and assessing the evolution of groundwater circulation system and studying the past global changes. The exploitation and utilization of groundwater on a large scale and overexploitation have given rise to the decline of regional groundwater level, change of flow field, decrease of water resources and downward movement of saline water body. The water environment has entered a new evolution stage in which it is intensely disturbed by the mankind’s activities. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

太湖流域平原水网区浅层地下水动态特征及影响因素

鉴于浅层地下水在维持区域生态功能方面的重要作用,基于2005-2015年太湖平原水网地区苏州市的14个浅层地下水监测井水位及2005-2014年降水、河道水位和蒸发等日尺度数据,开展浅层地下水埋深动态特征及影响因素研究.结果显示:苏州市浅层地下水总体呈由北往南、自西向东的流场方向,主要受地形因素的影响;年际及丰水期埋深有所减小,枯水期反之,各区域变化过程不一致;枯水期浅层地下水动态特征受不同量级降水总量和次数的显著影响,且与地表水过程关系密切,汛期反之.此外均受到引排水和下垫面变化等因素的影响;浅层地下水埋深对降水具有滞后性,多滞后1~2 d;通过对地形地貌条件、土地利用类型、河湖密度以及浅层地下水埋深状况等因素的综合分析,浅层地下水动态特征可表达为耕地区、水网密布区、高度城镇化区及低山林区4种特征类型.     

浙江北部地区地下水高氟和高砷分布特点和建议

在分析了浙江北部地区地下水类型、特征、地下水开采现状和水位变化基础上,通过对不同类型地下水深井样品测试数据的研究,查明了区域地下水高氟和高砷的分布特点。高氟区主要出现于妙西花岗岩裂隙水和白雀岩溶水分布区,高砷区主要位于南浔第Ⅱ承压含水层局部区域。研究认为高氟和高砷地下水分布区与区域土壤和浅层地下水中总氟和总砷含量没有直接联系,深井地下水中的高氟和高砷主要与深部断裂构造有关。研究地区的这种高氟和高砷地下水目前仍然为很多居民所饮用,作者认为长期饮用这种高氟和高砷地下水容易导致地方病的产生,建议在高氟和高砷地下水分布区停止生活用水开采,有条件的企事业单位应实行改水方案。     

Tidal effects on groundwater dynamics in unconfined aquifers

The variation of seawater level resulting from tidal fluctuations is usually neglected in regional groundwater flow studies. Although the tidal oscillation is damped near the shoreline, there is a quasi‐steady‐state rise in the mean water‐table position, which may have an influence on regional groundwater flow. In this paper the effects of tidal fluctuations on groundwater hydraulics are investigated using a variably saturated numerical model that includes the effects of a realistic mild beach slope, seepage face and the unsaturated zone. In particular the impact of these factors on the velocity field in the aquifer is assessed. Simulations show that the tidal fluctuation has substantial consequences for the local velocity field in the vicinity of the exit face, which affects the nearshore migration of contaminant in coastal aquifers. An overheight in the water table as a result of the tidal fluctuation is observed and this has a significant effect on groundwater discharge to the sea when the landward boundary condition is a constant water level. The effect of beach slope is very significant and simplifying the problem by considering a vertical beach face causes serious errors in predicting the water‐table position and the groundwater flux. For media with a high effective capillary fringe, the moisture retained above the water table is important in determining the effects of the tidal fluctuations. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

陕西石泉井水位阶降异常

针对陕西石泉井水位多次出现的阶降变化,从观测仪器、井孔装置、周边地下水开采、区域降雨、井区河流及水库水位变化、地震影响等方面进行了分析。结果表明,石泉井区附近的石泉水库放水和汉江水位升降会造成石泉井水位的突升-突降变化,但石泉井水位出现的系列阶降变化与仪器故障、地下水开采、井管漏水、远场大震同震效应、区域应力变化以及附近河流水库水位变化等因素均无关。     

Application of a spreadsheet hydrological model for computing the long-term water balance of Lake Awassa,Ethiopia

Abstract

The water balance of the closed freshwater Lake Awassa was estimated using a spreadsheet hydrological model based on long-term monthly hydrometeorological data. The model uses monthly evaporation, river discharge and precipitation data as input. The net groundwater flux is obtained from model simulation as a residual of other water balance components. The result revealed that evaporation, precipitation, and runoff constitute 131, 106 and 83 × 10⁶ m³ of the annual water balance of the lake, respectively. The annual net groundwater outflow from the lake to adjacent basins is 58 × 10⁶ m³. The simulated and recorded lake levels fit well for much of the simulation period (1981–1999). However, for recent years, the simulated and recorded levels do not fit well. This may be explained in terms of the combined effects of land-use change and neotectonism, which have affected the long-term average water balance. With detailed long-term hydrogeological and meteorological data, investigation of the subsurface hydrodynamics, and including the effect of land-use change and tectonism on surface water and groundwater fluxes, the water balance model can be used efficiently for water management practice. The result of this study is expected to play a positive role in future sustainable use of water resources in the catchment.     

Effects of Changing Meteoric Precipitation Patterns on Groundwater Temperature in Karst Environments

Climate predictions indicate that precipitation patterns will change and average air temperatures will increase across much of the planet. These changes will alter surface water and groundwater temperatures which can significantly affect the local and regional environment. Here, we examine the role of precipitation timing in changes to groundwater temperature in carbonate‐karst aquifers using measured groundwater level and temperature data from the Konza Prairie Long‐Term Ecological Research Site, Kansas. We demonstrate that shifts to increased cool‐season precipitation may mitigate the increases in groundwater temperature produced by increases in average annual air temperature. In karst, the solution‐enlarged conduits allow faster and focused recharge, and the recharge‐event temperature can strongly influence the groundwater temperature in the aquifer. Our field data and analysis show that predictions of future groundwater conditions in karst aquifers need to consider changes in precipitation patterns, in addition to changes to average annual air temperature.     

Estimation of the effective precipitation recharge coefficient in an unconfined aquifer using stochastic analysis

Effectively managing groundwater relies heavily on estimating the amount of precipitation that may infiltrate the subsurface and supply groundwater. In this study, we present a novel estimation method based on a stochastic approach to evaluate the quantity of precipitation that may recharge groundwater. The precipitation recharge coefficient is also investigated based on an unconfined aquifer with an unbound, infinitely extended boundary condition. Moreover, a spectrum's relationship to the precipitation and groundwater level variation is also derived. The precipitation recharge coefficient can be obtained from the solution of the spectrum equation. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is performed in order to determine the key variable on the precipitation recharge coefficient. Analysis results indicate that the location of an observation well affects the estimated precipitation recharge coefficient. If the precipitation recharge area is large enough, the precipitation recharge coefficient becomes insensitive to the location of the observation well. The spectrum's relationship between the precipitation recharge and groundwater level variation is also applied when estimating the precipitation recharge coefficient upstream of the Cho‐Shui River alluvial fan. According to those results, the precipitation recharge coefficient is 0·03 and the amount of groundwater recharge from precipitation is 35 million tons of water annually upstream of the Cho‐Shui River alluvial fan. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modeling of geothermal groundwater flow in karst aquifer system in eastern Weibei,Shaanxi Province,China

The quantitative assessment of geothermal water resources is important to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources. In the geothermal water systems the density of groundwater changes with the temperature, therefore the variations in hydraulic heads and temperatures are very complicated. A three-dimensional density-dependent model coupling the groundwater flow and heat transport is established and used to simulate the geothermal water flow in the karst aquifers in eastern Weibei, Shaanxi Province, China. The multilayered karst aquifer system in the study area is cut by some major faults which control the regional groundwater flow. In order to calibrate and simulate the effect of the major faults, each fault is discretized as a belt of elements with special hydrological parameters in the numerical model. The groundwater dating data are used to be integrated with the groundwater flow pattern and calibrate the model. Simulation results show that the calculated hydraulic heads and temperature fit with the observed data well.

     

Numerical modeling of geothermal groundwater flow in karst aquifer system in eastern Weibei, Shaanxi Province, China

The quantitative assessment of geothermal water resources is important to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources. In the geothermal water systems the density of groundwater changes with the temperature, therefore the variations in hydraulic heads and temperatures are very complicated. A three-dimensional density-dependent model coupling the groundwater flow and heat transport is established and used to simulate the geothermal water flow in the karst aquifers in eastern Weibei, Shaanxi Province, China. The multilayered karst aquifer system in the study area is cut by some major faults which control the regional groundwater flow. In order to calibrate and simulate the effect of the major faults, each fault is discretized as a belt of elements with special hydrological parameters in the numerical model. The groundwater dating data are used to be integrated with the groundwater flow pattern and calibrate the model. Simulation results show that the calculated hydraulic heads and temperature fit with the observed data well.     

Numerical modeling of geothermal groundwater flow in karst aquifer system in eastern Weibei,Shaanxi Province,China

The quantitative assessment of geothermal water resources is important to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources. In the geothermal water systems the density of groundwater changes with the temperature, therefore the variations in hydraulic heads and temperatures are very complicated. A three-dimensional density-dependent model coupling the groundwater flow and heat transport is established and used to simulate the geothermal water flow in the karst aquifers in eastern Weibei, Shaanxi Province, China. The multilayered karst aquifer system in the study area is cut by some major faults which control the regional groundwater flow. In order to calibrate and simulate the effect of the major faults, each fault is discretized as a belt of elements with special hydrological parameters in the numerical model. The groundwater dating data are used to be integrated with the groundwater flow pattern and calibrate the model. Simulation results show that the calculated hydraulic heads and temperature fit with the observed data well.     

Seasonal and interannual behaviour of groundwater catchment boundaries in a Chalk aquifer

Groundwater catchment boundaries and their associated groundwater catchment areas are typically assumed to be fixed on a seasonal basis. We investigated whether this was true for a highly permeable carbonate aquifer in England, the Berkshire and Marlborough Downs Chalk aquifer, using both borehole hydrograph data and a physics‐based distributed regional groundwater model. Borehole hydrograph data time series were used to construct a monthly interpolated water table surface, from which was then derived a monthly groundwater catchment boundary. Results from field data showed that the mean annual variation in groundwater catchment area was about 20% of the mean groundwater catchment area, but interannual variation can be very large, with the largest estimated catchment size being approximately 80% greater than the smallest. The flow in the river was also dependent on the groundwater catchment area. Model results corroborated those based on field data. These findings have significant implications for issues such as definition of source protection zones, recharge estimates based on water balance calculations and integrated conceptual modelling of surface water and groundwater systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Groundwater Level Analysis Using Regional Kendall Test for Trend with Spatial Autocorrelation

Assessment of historical evolution of groundwater levels is essential for understanding the anthropogenic impact on groundwater exploitation and developing response policies. In this study, regional groundwater level trend was addressed based on the regional Kendall test with correlated spatial data. With a limited number of data at one location, an exponential relation was proposed to be used to approximate covariances of a variable as a function of distances between locations. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated using synthetic data experiments. The regional Kendall method was applied to assess evolution of groundwater levels and their annual decline rates in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei in China based on county-level data in 1959, 1984, 2005, and 2013. Results indicated that a continuing declining regional trend was shown in groundwater levels, revealing generally higher groundwater recharge rates than withdrawal rates in the study region. The annual groundwater decline rates presented a firstly increasing then decreasing regional trend, which is consistent with the environmental Kuznets curve. The earlier accelerating groundwater decline rate was attributed to supply-driven water resources management, whereas the reversed trend in accelerating groundwater decline rate in the latter period was due to many measures implemented to relieve local water stresses.     

地下水位中地震前兆信息提取方法研究

地下水位观测值的影响因素包含降雨、气压、固体潮、地质构造作用等.为凸显地质构造作用对地下水位的影响,需要滤除降雨、固体潮、气压等因素的影响量.本文首先分离地下水位受固体潮、气压作用的影响量;然后依据降雨影响地下水位可以分为长期和短期变化的思路,利用基流分割方法对地下水位的两种变化进行分离,确定地下水位的降雨影响量;最后分析各分量异常与地震活动性关系,探查其中包含的地震前兆信息.本文的研究思路为地下水位观测值中地震前兆信息研究提供了一套可供尝试的系统技术方法.     

Numerical studies on the influences of the South‐to‐North Water Transfer Project on groundwater level changes in the Beijing Plain,China

Groundwater is an important component of the water supply, and overexploitation has triggered many problems in the Beijing Plain. The South‐to‐North Water Transfer Project has been proposed as a promising solution to alleviate these problems. Evaluation of different scenarios of groundwater management after the implementation of the South‐to‐North Water Transfer Project is necessarily required. In this study, a numerical model of groundwater flow was established using FEFLOW software and was well calibrated by parameter optimization and groundwater withdrawal inversion in the Beijing Plain. Sixteen scenarios that considered groundwater exploitation, artificial recharge, and precipitation were designed to simulate the groundwater dynamics after 11 years of the project. The results showed that the groundwater level in the study area would recover to various degrees due to the reductions of groundwater withdrawal and the increments of infiltration; additionally, it was concluded that groundwater was significantly affected by precipitation. Generally, in the designed scenarios, the groundwater‐level increment in the upper streams of the model area was higher than that in the lower streams. The groundwater level would obviously increase from artificial recharge in the immediate and adjacent areas. In addition, modes of reducing exploitation had no significant influence on the change in groundwater level during the 11‐year study period. The developed model offers a reliable and effective way to improve groundwater management.     

Evaluation of groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and mixing behavior in the Daying and Qicun geothermal systems,Xinzhou Basin

This paper examines groundwater hydrochemical characteristics during mixing between thermal and non-thermal groundwater in low-to-medium temperature geothermal fields. A case study is made of Daying and Qicun geothermal fields in the Xinzhou basin of Shanxi province, China. The two geothermal fields have similar flow patterns, with recharge sourced from precipitation in mountain areas heated through a deep cycle, before flowing into overlying Quaternary porous aquifers via fractures. Hydrochemical features of 60 ground- and surface water samples were examined in the context of hydrogeologic information. The average temperatures of the deep geothermal reservoirs are estimated to be 125 °C in Daying field, and 159 °C in Qicun field, based on Na–K–Mg geothermometry, while slightly lower estimates are obtained using silica geothermometers. Hydrochemical features of thermal water are distinct from cold water. Thermal groundwater is mainly Cl·SO₄–Na type, with high TDS, while non-thermal groundwater is mostly HCO₃–Ca·Mg and HCO₃–Ca type in the Daying and Qicun regions, respectively. Hydrogeochemical processes are characterized by analyzing ion ratios in various waters. Higher contents of some minor elements in thermal waters, such as F, Si, B and Sr, are probably derived from extended water–rock interaction, and these elements can be regarded as indicators of flow paths and residence times. Mixing ratios between cold and thermal waters were estimated with Cl, Na, and B concentrations, using a mass balance approach. Mixing between ascending thermal waters and overlying cold waters is extensive. The proportion of water in the Quaternary aquifer derived from a deep thermal source is lower in Daying geothermal field than in Qicun field (5.3–7.3% vs. 6.3–49.3%). Mixing between thermal and non-thermal groundwater has been accelerated by groundwater exploitation practices and is enhanced near faults. Shallow groundwater composition has also been affected by irrigation with low-temperature thermal water.     

八宝山断层的变形行为与降雨及地下水的关系

利用北京丰台大灰厂观测台站1970——2003年的长期综合观测资料,系统分析了降雨和地下水对北京八宝山断层变形行为的影响. 研究结果表明:当降雨量持续稳定周期性变化,则断层孔隙压也呈稳定周期性变化,断层变形行为也表现出明显的规则周期性变化;当降雨量明显偏低或偏离正常周期性变化,则断层孔隙压周期性消失,断层的变形行为方式也发生改变. 降雨通过改变断层带孔隙压力的变化而影响着八宝山断层的变形行为. 结合该断层已有研究结果,认为降雨和地下水有可能通过改变断层变形行为方式而影响着区域构造应力/应变场的调整. 这一结果将对研究地球浅部流体与固体相互作用提供直接的观测证据.      

Stable isotopes in precipitation in the volcanic island of Cheju,Korea

Stable isotopes in precipitation sampled at different locations and altitudes over the volcanic island of Cheju, Korea, were analysed to elucidate the circulation patterns of water over the island where groundwater is a major water resource and the characteristics of stable isotopes in precipitation inputs to the hydrological cycle are a very important indicator of groundwater flow. Areal and altitudinal variation of stable isotopes in precipitation showed the contribution of different air masses to the precipitation on mountain slope areas and in the atmosphere above and below the boundary at around 1000 m a.s.l. Seasonal change of the isotopic composition of precipitation also gave a good illustration of the influence of the dominant regional air currents on precipitation inputs. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.