Prediction of Land Subsidence Under Cyclic Pumping Based on Laboratory and Numerical Simulations

In this study subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal was investigated. Kerman Province in Iran is struggling with land subsidence problem due to extensive groundwater withdrawal mainly for farming. The rate and type of groundwater withdrawal has very important impact on settlement rate. In this research, effective parameters on land subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal were determined by laboratory tests. Sampling had done up to depth of 300 m mainly with remolded specimens from Shams-abad, Nouq plain in Kerman province. Similar to the field preconsolidation pressure was applied on specimens in the laboratory. Rate of applied stress on prepared specimens was similar to effect of oscillation of groundwater level. In order to model the actual soil behavior in the laboratory, one-dimensional consolidation device (odometer) was adopted for testing. In these tests, the effect of loading caused by seasonal oscillation of groundwater table is considered by means of cyclic loading in the testing which has great effect on rate of settlements. The results of tests show that when the water table level periodically increases and decreases the amount of settlement decrease, comparing with the case when the groundwater table drop to a constant level. In order to predict the further effects of groundwater level oscillation and actual field condition on land subsidence, a finite element model based on Biots’ three-dimensional consolidation theory was developed. After calibration of finite element model with laboratory tests, this model was used for prediction the effect of groundwater level oscillation on actual field conditions.     

Simulation of groundwater flow and environmental effects resulting from pumping

In coastal lowland plains, increased water demand on a limited water resource has resulted in declining groundwater levels, land subsidence and saltwater encroachment. In southwestern Kyushu, Japan, a sinking of the land surface due to over pumping of groundwater has long been recognized as a problem in the Shiroishi lowland plain. In this paper, an integrated model was established for the Shiroishi site using the modular finite difference groundwater flow model, MODFLOW, by McDonald and Harbaugh (1988) and the modular three-dimensional finite difference groundwater solute transport model, MT3D, by Zheng (1990) to simulate groundwater flow hydraulics, land subsidence, and solute transport in the alluvial lowland plain. Firstly, problems associated with these groundwater resources were discussed and then the established model was applied. The simulated results show that subsidence rapidly occurs throughout the area with the central prone in the center part of the plain. Moreover, seawater intrusion would be expected along the coast if the current rates of groundwater exploitation continue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that certain hydrogeologic parameters such as an inelastic storage coefficient of soil layers significantly contribute effects to both the rate and magnitude of consolidation. Monitoring the present salinization process is useful in determining possible threats to fresh groundwater supplies in the near future. In addition, the integrated numerical model is capable of simulating the regional trend of potentiometric levels, land subsidence and salt concentration. The study also suggests that during years of reduced surface-water availability, reduction of demand, increase in irrigation efficiency and the utilization of water exported from nearby basins are thought to be necessary for future development of the region to alleviate the effects due to pumping.     

Characterization of regional land subsidence in Yangtze Delta, China: the example of Su-Xi-Chang area and the city of Shanghai

Su-Xi-Chang area and the city of Shanghai, located in the south of Yangtze Delta, China, has subsided due to groundwater overpumping. Because of the regional scale of the groundwater exploitation, cone of depression and land subsidence at present, Su-Xi-Chang area and Shanghai are treated as a single area for a land subsidence study, which could more clearly elaborate the relationships between the deformation features of hydrostratigraphic units and the different sites of the cone of depression. All hydrostratigraphic units in the study area were discussed throughout. Based on the field data, including data on compression of individual strata from groups of extensometers and groundwater levels from observation wells, the relationship between the deformation and the groundwater level was analyzed. The results indicate that the deformation features of the hydrogeologic units are greatly related to hydrogeologic properties and groundwater-level variations. An identical hydrogeologic unit may exhibit different deformation features in different locations such as along the periphery and in the center of the cone of depression. In addition, in the same location, a hydrogeologic unit also exhibits different features in different periods because of different groundwater level variations. The delay phenomenon of the sandy aquifer is not specific but occurs widely.     

基坑抽水引起周围地面沉降机理及防治措施

抽水引起周围地面沉降和构筑物地基沉降已成为工程建设中的一个环境灾害问题。根据抽水引起周围地面沉降的机理分析,提出了由抽水引起地下水水头压力变化、含水层颗粒迁移、含水层压缩和水体的膨胀的更具普遍意义的地下水运动方程,该方程可以简化成Biot和Helm的地下水运动方程。在此基础上,通过实例分析和方案对比,提出了抽水引起周围地面沉降的防治措施,并分析了各种措施的适用范围及优缺点。     

Investigation into subsidence hazards due to groundwater pumping from Aquifer II in Changzhou,China

This paper presents an investigation into increased deformation of Aquifer II caused by groundwater pumping from the aquifer in Changzhou, China. As groundwater levels of aquifers have been decreasing in recent decades due to uncontrolled water pumping, land subsidence is becoming a serious geohazard in Changzhou. Based on recently reported field data, the compression of aquitards has not increased compared to that of aquifers with the same scale of layer thickness. The Cosserat continuum model was adopted to analyse the observed phenomenon in this study. A classic Cauchy continuum model is also used for comparison. The comparison between these two models indicates that the proposed approach can interpret the increased deformation well, and the classic Cauchy continuum model underestimates the aquifer deformation as it does not consider shear displacement and macro-rotation. A discussion on the relationship between the groundwater level in the aquifer and subsidence is then undertaken. The results show that the severity of the annual subsidence is correlated with the variation in groundwater level in Aquifer II. To mitigate the subsidence hazards, countermeasures should be adopted to avoid the shear stress in aquifers which results from the high hydraulic gradient, by the appropriate allocation of pumping wells and by restricting groundwater withdrawal volume from each pumping operation.     

Excessive groundwater withdrawal and resultant land subsidence in the Su-Xi-Chang area,China

Excessive groundwater withdrawal has caused severe land subsidence in the Su-Xi-Chang (SXC) area, China. The restriction and prohibition on groundwater pumping have been carried out since the late 1990s. Based on the latest updated field data, the changing pattern of groundwater level and the distribution of land subsidence are analyzed. The distribution of land subsidence in SXC is closely related to that of the cone of depression in the second confined aquifer in time and space. But land subsidence is not in synchronization with the changing groundwater level. Both aquitards and aquifers compacted continuously in the early period of groundwater level rising and behaved as creep materials. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on aquifer sands, which indicated that the creep deformation under virgin compression is much greater than that under recompression and unloading, and that the creep of sands decreases rapidly with the cycles of repeating load. The test results reveal the mechanism of sand creep under the condition of long-term groundwater pumpage. As a consequence of the restriction and prohibition on groundwater pumping, groundwater level has obviously recovered in the vast majority of the SXC area, and land subsidence has slowed down and even a little rebound has occurred in some sites in Suzhou and Changzhou. If the pumpage is strictly limited continuously, the groundwater level will not decline below the historical lowest value but fluctuate within a certain range. In such a case, land subsidence in SXC will no longer develop obviously.     

Land subsidence caused by internal soil erosion owing to pumping confined aquifer groundwater during the deep foundation construction in Shanghai

Land subsidence is presented in many factors in different areas with urbanization. Internal soil erosion, owing to pumping confined groundwater during the deep foundation pit construction, has contributed to land subsidence. Four governing equations are presented to describe the process of internal soil erosion based on the mathematical–physical model. The finite element computation results, based on practical deep foundation pit engineering consisted of 8 layers of soil of Shanghai area, demonstrate that internal soil erosion will cause the increment of land subsidence and deformation and is related to the hydraulic gradient and the characters of the soils.     

The development and control of the land subsidence in the Yangtze Delta,China

Land subsidence in China occurs predominantly in 17 provinces (cities) situated in the eastern and middle regions of the country, including Shanghai, Tianjin and Jiangsu, and Hebei provinces. It is primarily caused by groundwater overpumping. One of the areas most severely affected by land subsidence is the Yangtze Delta, most of which consists of Shanghai City, the Su-Xi-Chang area (Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou cities) of Jiangsu Province, and the Hang-Jia-Hu area (Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou cities) of Zhejiang Province. The excessive exploitation of groundwater forms in a large regional cone of depression and, consequently, land subsidence is also regional, currently centered in the Shanghai and Su-Xi-Chang areas. In 2002, the maximum cumulative subsidence of Shanghai, Su-Xi-Chang and Hang-Jia-Hu were 2.63 m, 2.00 and 1.06 m, respectively. The land subsidence area is continuing to expand throughout the Yangtze Delta. To study the characteristics and the pattern of this land subsidence, the government has implemented a monitoring system involving the placement of 37 groups of extensometers (layers marks) and drilling of more than 1000 observation wells. These provide an invaluable historical record of deformation and pore water pressure and facilitate studies on the special features of soil deformation when the groundwater level changes due to pumping. Several measures have been taken in recent years to control the development of the land subsidence in the different areas; these include groundwater injection, prohibition of pumping deep confined groundwater, and an adjustment of the pumping depth and magnitude of the groundwater withdrawn. At present, although the subsidence area is still increasing slowly, the subsidence rate is controlled.     

GIS-based spatial and temporal prediction system development for regional land subsidence hazard mitigation

An integrated GIS-based approach for establishing a spatial and temporal prediction system for groundwater flow and land subsidence is proposed and applied to a subsidence-progressed Japanese coastal plain. Various kinds of fundamental data relating to groundwater flow and land subsidence are digitized and entered into a GIS database. A surface water hydrological cycle simulation is performed using a GIS spatial data operation for the entire plain, and the spatial and temporal groundwater infiltration quantity is hereby obtained. Through the data transformation from the GIS database to a groundwater flow code (MODFLOW), a 3D groundwater flow model is established and unsteady groundwater flow simulation for the past 21 years is conducted with results which compare satisfactorily with observed results. Finally, a Visual Basic code is developed for land subsidence calculations considering aquifer and aquitard deformation. Future land subsidence in the plain is predicted assuming different water pumping scenarios, and the results provide important information for land subsidence mitigation decision-making.     

Mechanics of land subsidence due to groundwater pumping

This paper presents the formulation of the basic mechanics governing the changes in stress states from groundwater pumping and comparisons among predicted land subsidence from this mechanics with existing analyses and field data. Land subsidence is a growing, global problem caused by petroleum and groundwater withdrawal, mining operations, natural settlement, hydro‐compaction, settlement of collapsible soils, settlement of organic soils and sinkholes. This paper is concerned with the land subsidence due to groundwater level decline by groundwater pumping. It is shown that the stress state consists of asymmetric stresses that are best simulated by a Cosserat rather than a Cauchy continuum. Land subsidence from groundwater level decline consists of vertical compression (consolidation), shear displacement and macro‐rotation. The latter occurs when conditions are favorable (e.g. at a vertical interface) for the micro‐rotation imposed by asymmetric stresses to become macro‐rotation. When the length of the cone of depression is beyond √2 times the thickness of the aquifer, simple shear on vertical planes with rotation is the predominant deformation mode. Otherwise, simple shear on horizontal planes is present. The predicted subsidence using the mechanics developed in this paper compares well with data from satellite‐borne interferometric synthetic aperture radar. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sustainable development and utilization of groundwater resources considering land subsidence in Suzhou,China

Suzhou is located at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in southeastern Jiangsu, China. It is part of the Su-Xi-Chang area including Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou. As one of the most developed areas in China, this region has suffered from severe land subsidence caused by extensive groundwater exploitation since 1980s. The land subsidence was controlled by prohibition of groundwater exploration in the past several years. However, the surface water pollution prompted a new task of how to sustainably utilize the groundwater resource, especially to satisfy the emergency demands of water supply. In this paper, we took Suzhou as a representative case to discuss how to develop groundwater resources while controlling the land subsidence. The relationship between the deformation and the groundwater level was analyzed, with focus on the deformation features after the period of groundwater exploitation ban. The results confirmed the conclusion by Shi et al. (2007, 2008a): even in the period of rising groundwater level, same units may manifest different deformation characteristics, such as elasticity, elasto-plasticity, and visco-elasto-plasticity, at different locations of the cone of depression. A land subsidence model that couples a 3-D groundwater model and a 1-D deformation model was developed to simulate the groundwater level and deformation. A high-resolution local grid (child model) for Suzhou was built based on the regional land subsidence model of Su-Xi-Chang area by Wu et al. (2009). The model was used for a number of predictive scenarios up to the year of 2012 to examine how to develop sustainable use of groundwater resources under the conditions of land subsidence control. Our results indicated that about 3.08 × 10⁷ m³/a groundwater could be provided as emergency and standby water source while meeting the land subsidence control target of 10 mm/a.     

The impact of groundwater recharge on land subsidence: a case study from the Cangzhou test area,Hebei Province,China

Groundwater recharge has become a method to prevent the expansion of land subsidence. A groundwater pumping–recharge test in Cangzhou city, Hebei Province (China), is taken as a representative example in order to monitor the changes in borehole water levels and land subsidence. The aquifer system consists of three main confined aquifers interspersed with silt and clays. Based on the lithology, the test and the Biot consolidation theory, a three-dimensional fully coupled numerical model is established to analyse the influence of groundwater recharge on the seepage field and displacement field. The results show that, due to recharge of the deeper confined aquifers (III1 and III2), the water levels rise rapidly and remain stable for a long time. By 163 days, the water-level rise is approximately 0.5 m, and the land also shows an obvious rebound. Therefore, groundwater recharge takes a long time to control land subsidence. Groundwater recharge controls the occurrence of land subsidence by increasing pore-water pressure and changing the characteristics of the aquifer system. However, the limitation is that the scope of impact of single-well recharge is limited, which is still a challenge to the governance of large areas.

     

济宁市地下水与地面沉降三维有限元模拟

在分析济宁市水文地质条件的基础上 ,对引起地面沉降诸因素进行了分析 ,并建立了地面沉降量与地下水位变幅之间的相关关系。集中过量开采地下水是引起济宁市地面沉降的主要原因。在此基础上 ,建立了准三维地下水流模型和一维地面沉降模型。通过水力联系建立地下水与地面沉降耦合数值模型 ,运用有限元法对地下水渗流场和地面沉降量进行模拟 ,并对 2 0 0 0年和 2 0 10年地面沉降进行了预测     

弹塑性变形条件下抽水引起的地面沉降三维数值模拟

基于部分耦合原理,采用TOUGH2和FLAC3D建立抽水引起的三维地面沉降弹塑性模型,模型中综合考虑土体的弹塑性变形特征、渗流-应力的双向耦合作用以及参数的非线性,探讨了持续抽水和脉冲抽水两种抽水过程中地面沉降发展演化过程。研究结果表明:（1）集中抽水停止后地面沉降会发生回弹,抽水中心沉降量不断减小。由于水平方向存在水力梯度,地下水继续向地下水位漏斗中心渗流从而导致沉降漏斗的范围仍继续扩大;（2）脉冲抽水导致土体的孔隙水压力、渗透系数以及沉降量均呈周期性波动变化,地面沉降会局部回弹,但总体仍随着抽水的持续,沉降量不断增加;（3）在抽水量相同前提下,对比持续抽水与脉冲抽水两种方式引发的塑形沉降量可知,抽水速率小、脉冲式多次开采导致的塑性沉降量较小,持续抽水的抽水速率越小、脉冲抽水间隔越短越有利于控制地面沉降。研究成果为地面沉降数值模拟提供了一种新方法,其中算例研究能为抽水条件下地面沉降的控制提供参考。     

广州金沙洲岩溶区地下水位变化与地面塌陷及地面沉降关系探讨

金沙洲可溶性灰岩分布面积广,岩溶洞隙发育,洞隙及地下水的连通性强,上覆第四系松散土体中软土广泛分布,客观存在岩溶地面塌陷及地面沉降的地质环境条件。2007年4月起,受某高铁隧道施工抽排地下水的影响,金沙洲地下水出现异常波动,引发了地面塌陷及地面沉降。文章根据监测数据,经对比分析结果表明,区内岩溶地面塌陷及地面沉降受控于地下水位的变化,地下水位波动至基岩面附近时,是地面塌陷较活跃的时期,地面沉降与地下水位变化呈正向相关。文章进一步对地面沉降与地下水位变化关系的机理进行了探讨,认为目前地下水位尚未恢复正常的区域仍存在地面塌陷及地面沉降的隐患。     

Groundwater resources management under environmental constraints in Shiroishi of Saga plain, Japan

A sinking of the land surface due to the pumping of groundwater has long been recognized as an environmental issue in the Shiroishi plain of Saga, Japan. Land subsidence can have several negative economic and social implications such as changes in groundwater and surface water flow patterns, restrictions on pumping in land subsidence prone areas, localized flooding, failure of well casings as well as shearing of structures. To minimize such an environmental effect, groundwater management should be considered in this area. In this study, a new integrated numerical model that integrates a three-dimensional numerical groundwater flow model coupled with a one-dimensional soil consolidation model and a groundwater optimization model was developed to simulate groundwater movement, to predict ground settlement and to search for optimal safe yield of groundwater without violating physical, environmental and socio-economic constraints. It is found that groundwater levels in the aquifers greatly vary from season to season in response to the varying climatic and pumping conditions. Consequently, land subsidence has occurred rapidly throughout the area with the Shiroishi plain being the most prone. The predicted optimal safe yield of the pumping amount is about 5 million m³. The study also suggests that pumping with this optimal amount will minimize the rate of land subsidence over the entire area. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Assessing the impact of large-scale dewatering on fault-controlled aquifer systems: a case study in the Acque Albule basin (Tivoli, central Italy)

The development of large-scale bedrock quarry operations often requires high-volume and long-term groundwater extraction to maintain a sustainable working environment. These dewatering activities often influence groundwater levels and flow patterns regionally. In the present study, the influence of the dewatering of the travertine quarry operations near the city of Tivoli, Italy, are quantitatively investigated through an integrated analysis of field data and numerical modeling. Lowering of regional groundwater levels in the vicinity of the quarry has led to destructive land subsidence and alterations to the flow system sustaining a hot-spring area. The study employs a finite element numerical model (FEFLOW) to evaluate and quantify the impact of the extensive dewatering on fault-controlled regional groundwater flow in the Acque Albule basin. By incorporating the physical field data and historical hydrologic information, the numerical model was calibrated against three groundwater scenarios, reproducing the effects of different exploitation activities, coupled with natural changes over the course of the quarry operation. The results indicate that groundwater withdrawals by the mining industry and by “Terme di Roma” spa resulted in the cessation of flow from the primary thermal spring and a drop in the phreatic level in the area consequently affected by land subsidence.     

Microwave D-InSAR technique for assessment of land subsidence in Kolkata city,India

An effective microwave Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (D-InSAR) technique was used to rapidly assess the potential land subsidence with high precision by exploiting the phase difference of two temporally separated SAR data in the region of Kolkata city, India. The objective of this study is to assess land subsidence using D-InSAR technique and to delineate the regions of land subsidence caused by over exploitation of groundwater by minimising the errors by applying topographic and atmospheric corrections. The study area forms a part of Indo-Gangetic plain. Three ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar ?(ASAR) images of the years 2003, 2007 and 2010 were acquired to study the temporal evolution of land subsidence in the study area. The phase changes due to topography in the interferograms were removed by using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) degital elevation model data. Medium Spectral Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) data were applied to remove the atmospheric noise in the interferogram. The deformation fringes were observed in the northern and central part of the study area where the land subsidence was 12 and 18 mm during the years of 2003–2007 and 2007–2010. The regional variation in the piezometric head compares well with the fringes of the interferogram. This confirms over extraction of groundwater is the main cause for land subsidence in this region. Hence, it is necessary to reduce groundwater pumping and to augment rainfall recharge in northern part of the study area.     

苏锡常地区地下水禁采后的地质环境效应研究

1995年以来,针对严重的区域性地面沉降和地裂缝灾害,苏锡常地区地下水资源保护和管理工作逐渐加强,特别是从2000年开始,江苏省政府分阶段实施限期禁止开采工作,首先在超采区实行地下水禁采,到2005年底,在苏锡常地区全面禁止开采地下水,全区地下水环境、地面沉降状况出现明显好转,地下水水位普遍回升,地面沉降速率逐渐减缓。根据近年来苏锡常地区地面沉降基岩标、分层标的系统监测资料,对地下水禁采后地质环境的效应特别是地面沉降的变化特征进行了初步分析、研究,并对该区今后地质环境保护工作提出了对策和建议。     

Characterization of land subsidence induced by groundwater withdrawals in Su-Xi-Chang area, China

Su-Xi-Chang area is one of the typical regions in China which suffers from severe land subsidence. Various tools of field monitoring were integrated to study the characteristics and mechanisms of land subsidence in this region. The occurrence and the development of the land subsidence in this region are strongly related to the groundwater pumping both in time and space. The main consolidation layers are the soft mud layers; however, the compressibility of the confined sandy layers should not be ignored. The second and third confined aquifers contributed more than 30% of total subsidence. Meanwhile, irrecoverable deformations were also observed in the sandy layers. Different sandy layers deform diversely under different stress conditions. Some have the elastic feature. But the soil strata, including both sandy layers and clayey layers, located in the center of the groundwater level depression cone exhibited obvious viscous mechanical behavior which caused the common lag phenomenon. The sand composition (mingled with small clay particles or interbeds) and sand rheology are the two main reasons for the lag phenomena in sandy layers. A series of laboratory tests for modeling the effective stress changes due to groundwater withdrawals, were conducted to investigate the mechanism of the lag phenomenon. Based on the test results, the relationship of stress–strain–time for saturated sands is obtained; and it could be expressed as power functions. The results also showed that the compression of the sandy layers was time dependent, and its deformation could be remarkable. When establishing land subsidence model, the deformation for the similar soil formation could be elastic, visco-elastic and even visco-elastic–plastic, because of the different groundwater level fluctuation experienced.