A data-driven approach for analyzing dynamics of tide–aquifer interaction in coastal aquifer systems

Analysis of tidal effects on aquifer systems plays an important role in coastal aquifer management owing to various hydrological, engineering and environmental problems in coastal areas. Using the real-world data of unconfined and confined aquifers, a data-driven approach is presented in this study for the analysis of tide–aquifer interaction in coastal aquifers. Six analytical tide–aquifer interaction models were selected which take into account the effects of vertical beach, sloping beach, tidal loading, aquifer leakage, outlet capping, and combined leakage and outlet capping on tide-induced groundwater fluctuations. The tide–aquifer interaction datasets were obtained from the Konan groundwater basin (unconfined aquifer) of Japan and the Dridrate groundwater basin (confined aquifer) of Morocco. The analysis of the results obtained by the sloping beach model revealed that for a given beach slope, the amplitude of groundwater level increases with an increase in aquifer diffusivity and a decrease in aquifer thickness. However, no significant effect of beach slope was observed in this study at unconfined sites for all the datasets. The influence of tidal loading was found to be considerably less for all the three confined sites. Further, the analysis of the results of the leakage model indicated that with an increase in leakage into the aquifer, the amplitude of groundwater level as well as the phase shift (time lag) decreases. Of all the confined and unconfined datasets, only two confined sites were found to be affected by outlet capping. Overall, it is concluded that the coastal beach bordering the Konan basin is not significantly sloping, the contribution of tidal loading to tide-induced groundwater fluctuations in the Dridrate aquifer is not appreciable, and that the aquifer leakage and outlet capping do not exist at the unconfined sites under investigation.     

Tidal controls on coastal groundwater conditions: field investigation of a macrotidal system

Previous studies of coastal groundwater resources have not properly explored the hydraulic conditions at coastal and estuarine boundaries, despite recognised influences of oceanic and estuarine water-level fluctuations (e.g. tides and waves) on groundwater near these boundaries. Such influences may have important implications for determining submarine groundwater discharge and seawater intrusion. In this paper, oceanic and estuarine controls on the hydrology of coastal aquifers are characterised for a macrotidal system—the Pioneer Valley coastal plain, northeastern Australia. The tidal water-table over-height (tide-induced increase in average water-table height at the coastline) is quantified at three locations and compared with theoretical estimates, which assume simplified physiographical conditions compared with those encountered at the field sites. The results indicate that local geological conditions, beach morphology and characteristics of tidal forcing control the behaviour of nearshore groundwater within the system. Existing analytical and numerical solutions that are commonly applied as first-pass estimates are found to be insufficient for predicting observed tidal water-table over-height in the Pioneer Valley, due to the sediment heterogeneities, non-uniform beach slopes and large tidal ranges of the system. The study reveals the spatial and temporal variability in tidally influenced hydraulic heads at the estuarine and coastal boundaries of the aquifer, and provides estimates of tidal water-table over-height up to 2.41 m during spring tides. These findings highlight the complexity of coastal groundwater systems, and the need to incorporate appropriate nearshore and near-estuary boundary conditions in models of regional groundwater flow in coastal aquifers.     

Use of geospatial technology for delineating groundwater potential zones with an emphasis on water-table analysis in Dwarka River basin,Birbhum, India

Dwarka River basin in Birbhum, West Bengal (India), is an agriculture-dominated area where groundwater plays a crucial role. The basin experiences seasonal water stress conditions with a scarcity of surface water. In the presented study, delineation of groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) is carried out using a geospatial multi-influencing factor technique. Geology, geomorphology, soil type, land use/land cover, rainfall, lineament and fault density, drainage density, slope, and elevation of the study area were considered for the delineation of GWPZs in the study area. About 9.3, 71.9 and 18.8% of the study area falls within good, moderate and poor groundwater potential zones, respectively. The potential groundwater yield data corroborate the outcome of the model, with maximum yield in the older floodplain and minimum yield in the hard-rock terrains in the western and south-western regions. Validation of the GWPZs using the yield of 148 wells shows very high accuracy of the model prediction, i.e., 89.1% on superimposition and 85.1 and 81.3% on success and prediction rates, respectively. Measurement of the seasonal water-table fluctuation with a multiplicative model of time series for predicting the short-term trend of the water table, followed by chi-square analysis between the predicted and observed water-table depth, indicates a trend of falling groundwater levels, with a 5% level of significance and a p-value of 0.233. The rainfall pattern for the last 3 years of the study shows a moderately positive correlation (R ² = 0.308) with the average water-table depth in the study area.     

露头处具有淤泥层的滨海含水层系统中海潮引起的水头波动

滨海地区社会与经济的发展引发了各种各样的水文地质问题, 因此对滨海地区的水文地质条件, 尤其是地下水与海水之间的水力联系的研究尤为重要.本文考察了海底露头处具有淤泥层的滨海含水层系统中由海潮引起的水头波动.该系统由潜水含水层、承压含水层和介于其间的弱透水层构成.建立了该系统的数学模型, 得到了该模型的解析解.该解析解包含2个无量纲参数: 弱透水层的相对越流系数和淤泥层的相对透水系数.解析解表明, 淤泥层使各处的水头波幅被缩小了一个常数倍(波幅缩减因子), 并使各处的波动相位产生了一个不超过45°的正位移常数(时滞).该时滞对半日潮不超过1.5h, 对全日潮不超过3h.波幅缩减因子和正位移常数只与弱透水层的相对越流系数和淤泥层的相对透水系数有关.当这两个无量纲参数取某些特殊值时, 本次研究的解和前人考虑的几种较简单情形所对应的解一致.承压含水层中水头波幅随着淤泥层的相对透水系数的递增而严格递增, 随弱透水层的相对越流系数的递增而严格递减; 波动相位随着这2个无量纲参数的递增均严格递减.分析表明弱透水层的越流和淤泥层的存在均对承压含水层水头波动有显著影响.      

A semi-distributed groundwater recharge model for estimating water-table and water-balance variables

A semi-distributed groundwater recharge model is presented, which estimates water-table fluctuation and water-balance variables. The model is expressed by the water-balance concept linking atmospheric and hydrogeological parameters to different water uses (industrial, agricultural, domestic, etc). It was calibrated and validated using 5 years of data collected in the Dogo Plain in Japan. A 3-year dataset, from 2000 to 2002, was used in the calibration, while a 2-year dataset, from 2003 to 2004, was used for the validation. Calibration of the model was achieved by the shuffled complex evolution automatic optimization of model parameters to match simulated results with measured water-table depth. Square roots of relative error (R²) are 0.88 and 0.90 for calibration and validation processes, respectively. Monthly evolution of water storage change was then estimated and the water-table drawdown in different pumping scenarios was simulated. Finally, the groundwater-pumping amount planned by the government for future sustainable groundwater utilization was evaluated. The government-planned groundwater-pumping amount is feasible in most regions while the midstream region should be paid more attention. This study offers a scientific basis to control and prevent depletion of groundwater resources.     

Spatial relationship of groundwater arsenic distribution with regional topography and water-table fluctuations in the shallow aquifers in Bangladesh

The present study has examined the relationship of groundwater arsenic (As) levels in alluvial aquifers with topographic elevation, slope, and groundwater level on a large basinal-scale using high-resolution (90 m × 90 m) Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model and water-table data in Bangladesh. Results show that high As (>50 μg/l) tubewells are located in low-lying areas, where mean surface elevation is approximately 10 m. Similarly, high As concentrations are found within extremely low slopes (<0.7°) in the country. Groundwater elevation (weekly measured by Bangladesh Water Development Board) was mapped using water-table data from 950 shallow (depth <100 m) piezometers distributed over the entire country. The minimum, maximum and mean groundwater elevation maps for 2003 were generated using Universal Kriging interpolation method. High As tubewells are located mainly in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta, Sylhet Trough, and recent floodplains, where groundwater elevation in shallow aquifers is low with a mean value of 4.5 m above the Public Works Datum (PWD) level. Extremely low groundwater gradients (0.01–0.001 m/km) within the GBM delta complex hinder groundwater flow and cause slow flushing of aquifers. Low elevation and gentle slope favor accumulation of finer sediments, As-carrying iron-oxyhydroxide minerals, and abundant organic matter within floodplains and alluvial deposits. At low horizontal hydraulic gradients and under reducing conditions, As is released in groundwater by microbial activity, causing widespread contamination in the low-lying deltaic and floodplain areas, where As is being recycled with time due to complex biogeochemical processes.     

海潮引起有越流的滨海承压含水层地下水头变化的数值模拟

海潮波动可以引起海岸带有越流的承压含水层地下水头发生波动。建立了基于有限差分法的滨海地区一维承压含水层地下水运动数值模型。通过将潮汐波动概化为正弦波,分别对初始水头水平及线性倾斜的承压含水层模拟了滨海地区有越流的承压含水层地下水头随潮汐波动的变化。通过对两种情形下的变化比较,结果表明,受海潮影响的滨海承压含水层地下水头与海潮有相似的波动特征,但变幅减小,受海潮的影响程度与离海岸的距离有关,随着离海岸距离的增加,地下水头的变幅及潮汐效率呈负指数函数衰减,水头倾斜情形下变幅更小,潮汐效率更小,滞后时间更短,地下水头对海潮的滞后时间随距离呈线性增加。     

Characterisation of sea-water intrusion in the Pioneer Valley, Australia using hydrochemistry and three-dimensional numerical modelling

Sea-water intrusion is actively contaminating fresh groundwater reserves in the coastal aquifers of the Pioneer Valley, north-eastern Australia. A three-dimensional sea-water intrusion model has been developed using the MODHMS code to explore regional-scale processes and to aid assessment of management strategies for the system. A sea-water intrusion potential map, produced through analyses of the hydrochemistry, hydrology and hydrogeology, offsets model limitations by providing an alternative appraisal of susceptibility. Sea-water intrusion in the Pioneer Valley is not in equilibrium, and a potential exists for further landward shifts in the extent of saline groundwater. The model required consideration of tidal over-height (the additional hydraulic head at the coast produced by the action of tides), with over-height values in the range 0.5–0.9 m giving improved water-table predictions. The effect of the initial water-table condition dominated the sensitivity of the model to changes in the coastal hydraulic boundary condition. Several salination processes are probably occurring in the Pioneer Valley, rather than just simple landward sea-water advancement from “modern” sources of marine salts. The method of vertical discretisation (i.e. model-layer subdivision) was shown to introduce some errors in the prediction of water-table behaviour.     

北京市平原区地下水补给量计算方法对比研究

大气降水入渗是北京市地下水补给的主要来源。为丰富地下水补给量计算方法,以基于遥感数据的水量均衡法对比传统的地下水位动态法评价求取降水入渗量。水位动态法计算北京市平原区2011年地下水垂向入渗补给量为17.39×10~8m~3,遥感水量均衡法计算北京市平原区补给量为13.13×10~8m~3,同面积区两种计算结果相关性R~2=0.9631。两种计算方法各有其优缺点及适用条件。     

Groundwater targeting in a hard-rock terrain using fracture-pattern modeling, Niva River basin, Andhra Pradesh, India

In hard-rock terrain, due to the lack of primary porosity in the bedrock, joints, fault zones, and weathered zones are the sources for groundwater occurrence and movement. To study the groundwater potential in the hard-rock terrain and drought-prone area in the Niva River basin, southern Andhra Pradesh state, India, Landsat 5 photographic data were used to prepare an integrated hydrogeomorphology map. Larsson's integrated deformation model was applied to identify the various fracture systems, to pinpoint those younger tensile fracture sets that are the main groundwater reservoirs, and to understand the importance of fracture density in groundwater prospecting. N35°–55°E fractures were identified as tensile and N35°–55°W fractures as both tensile and shear in the study area. Apparently, these fractures are the youngest open fractures. Wherever N35°–55°E and N35°–55°W fracture densities are high, weathered-zone thickness is greater, water-table fluctuations are small, and well yields are high. Groundwater-potential zones were delineated and classified as very good, good to very good, moderate to good, and poor. Electronic Publication     

Modelling the response of vegetation restoration to changes in groundwater level,based on ecologically suitable groundwater depth

Groundwater-level fluctuations at a large scale have a significant effect on the preservation and restoration of vegetation. This study determined suitable groundwater depth within which natural vegetation grows well, and analysed the effect of groundwater regulation on vegetation restoration in Tianjin City, northern China. Normal and lognormal distributions were used to fit the curve of the relation between vegetation and groundwater depth. The groundwater depth range corresponding to the higher frequency of vegetation distribution was regarded as the ‘suitable water depth’ range for vegetation growth. The suitable groundwater depth for shrub growth was 3–5 m and for grass growth 1–3 m. A groundwater flow model predicted the future changes of groundwater depths in the vegetation distribution area under the condition that the current levels of groundwater extraction are maintained. The results showed that there is potential for the extraction of groundwater in shrubland areas, but for grassland areas the water-table elevation showed a downward trend, meaning that water shortages in some areas may be more severe in the future. Finally, based on the current groundwater extraction regime, two regulation schemes were developed: (1) for shrubland, groundwater extraction was reduced by 10% in the ecological water deficit areas, and extraction was increased by 10% in the ecological water surplus and suitable areas, and (2) for grassland, groundwater recharge was increased by the restoration of the wetland areas. In conclusion, the groundwater depths in most of the area would be more suitable for vegetation growth under the regulation schemes.     

Recharge estimation from discrete water-table datasets in a coastal shallow aquifer in a humid subtropical climate

A time-series approach to the estimation of recharge rate in unconfined aquifers of highly variable water level is proposed. The approach, which is based on the water-table fluctuation method (WTF), utilizes discrete water-level measurements. Other similar techniques require continuous measurements, which makes them impossible to apply in cases where no data from automatic loggers are available. The procedure is deployed at the Ressacada Farm site, southern Brazil, on a coastal shallow aquifer located in a humid subtropical climate where diurnal water-level variations of up to 1 m can follow a precipitation event. The effect of tidal fluctuations on the groundwater levels is analyzed using a harmonic component builder, while a time-variable drainage term is evaluated through an independent analysis and included in the assessment. The estimated recharge values are compared with those obtained from the continuous measurements showing a good agreement with the approaches for discrete dataset intervals of up to 15 days. Subsequently, the estimated recharge rates are incorporated into a transient groundwater-flow model and the water levels are compared showing a good match. Henceforth, the approach extends the applicability of WTF to noncontinuous water-level datasets in groundwater recharge studies.     

Groundwater-recharge estimation in the Ordos Plateau, China: comparison of methods

Groundwater recharge is a key factor in water-balance studies, especially in (semi-)arid areas. In this study, multiple methods were used to estimate groundwater recharge in the Ordos Plateau (China), including reference to water-table fluctuation, Darcy’s law and the water budget. The mean annual recharge rates found were: water-table-fluctuation method (46??09?mm/yr); saturated-zone Darcian method (17??4?mm/yr); and water-budget method (21??09?mm/yr). Generally, groundwater-recharge rates are higher in the eastern part of the plateau where the land surface is covered by permeable sand that is favorable for infiltration. Along with results from previous studies using the empirical method, the chloride-mass-balance method, the unsaturated-zone Darcian method and the hydrograph-separation method, groundwater recharge rates were compared. There is no one method that would consistently produce the largest or smallest estimate of annual recharge for all groundwater systems. The largest recharge estimates were usually determined using the unsaturated-zone Darcian method and the smallest estimates were usually determined using the chloride-mass-balance method. Comparison of multiple methods is found to be valuable for determining the range of plausible recharge rates and for highlighting the uncertainty of the estimates.     

Comparison of groundwater recharge estimation methods for the semi-arid Nyamandhlovu area, Zimbabwe

The Nyamandhlovu aquifer is the main water resource in the semi-arid Umguza district in Matebeleland North Province in Zimbabwe. The rapid increase in water demand in the city of Bulawayo has prompted the need to quantify the available groundwater resources for sustainable utilization. Groundwater recharge estimation methods and results were compared: chloride mass balance method (19–62 mm/year); water-table fluctuation method (2–50 mm/year); Darcian flownet computations (16–28 mm/year); ¹⁴C age dating (22–25 mm/year); and groundwater modeling (11–26 mm/year). The flownet computational and modeling methods provided better estimates for aerial recharge than the other methods. Based on groundwater modeling, a final estimate for recharge (from precipitation) on the order of 15–20 mm/year is believed to be realistic, assuming that part of the recharge water transpires from the water table by deep-rooted vegetation. This recharge estimate (2.7–3.6% of the annual precipitation of 555 mm/year) compares well with the results of other researchers. The advantages/disadvantages of each recharge method in terms of ease of application, accuracy, and costs are discussed. The groundwater model was also used to quantify the total recharge of the Nyamandhlovu aquifer system (20?×?10⁶–25?×?10⁶ m³/year). Groundwater abstractions exceeding 17?×?10⁶ m³/year could cause ecological damage, affecting, for instance, the deep-rooted vegetation in the area.     

考虑淤泥层弹性储水的滨海承压含水层中海潮引起的地下水头波动

综合考虑了海底淤泥层的弹性储水系数、海潮荷载效应和渗透性,对海底露头处具有淤泥层的滨海承压含水层系统中海潮引起的水头波动进行分析,给出了相应的数学模型,并推导出其解析解,讨论了淤泥层弹性储水对于水头波动的影响.分析表明,当淤泥层的厚度或弹性储水系数较小时,或者其渗透性较好时,可以忽略其弹性储水效应,从而把整个淤泥层简化为第三类边界条件来处理.文章还考虑了承压含水层和淤泥层中可能存在的垂向流动,对垂向剖面二维地下水流动方程进行了数值模拟,将二维数值解与忽略垂向流动的一维解析解进行了比较,结果表明该含水层系统的垂向流动是可以被忽略的.     

消除气压效应估算黄土潜水的蒸发蒸腾强度

潜水蒸发蒸腾（ET_g）是干旱半干旱地区浅埋深地下水最主要的排泄方式,也是地下水系统中重要的均衡项。如果存在气压效应,用于估算地下水蒸发蒸腾强度的传统水位波动法则不适用。以黄土潜水为例,提出了一种基于水位变化和大气压变化规律的水位图方法,用于消除气压效应以获取潜水蒸发蒸腾强度。研究表明,大气压变化通常在午夜前,一般为22:00—24:00,会出现一个峰值,该时间段气压效应可以忽略,而且潜水蒸发蒸腾强度最小,此时潜水位的变化速率相当于净补给速率;在获取潜水净补给强度后,选择第二个时间段,0:00—4:00,此时潜水蒸发蒸腾强度最小,且气压一般处于连续下降阶段,可以用来估算气压效应系数。在此基础上,可利用水位均衡和水位波动法方便地估算潜水蒸发蒸腾强度。该方法数据获取容易,估算结果也较为准确。     

Groundwater response to serial stream stage fluctuations in shallow unconfined alluvial aquifers along a regulated stream (West Virginia,USA)

Groundwater response to stream stage fluctuations was studied in two unconfined alluvial aquifers using a year-long time series of stream stages from two pools along a regulated stream in West Virginia, USA. The purpose was to analyze spatial and temporal variations in groundwater/surface-water interaction and to estimate induced infiltration rate and cumulative bank storage during an annual cycle of stream stage fluctuation. A convolution-integral method was used to simulate aquifer head at different distances from the stream caused by stream stage fluctuations and to estimate fluxes across the stream–aquifer boundary. Aquifer diffusivities were estimated by wiggle-matching time and amplitude of modeled response to multiple observed storm events. The peak lag time between observed stream and aquifer stage peaks ranged between 14 and 95 hour. Transient modeled diffusivity ranged from 1,000 to 7,500 m²/day and deviated from the measured and calculated single-peak stage-ratio diffusivity by 14–82 %. Stream stage fluctuation displayed more primary control over groundwater levels than recharge, especially during high-flow periods. Dam operations locally altered groundwater flow paths and velocity. The aquifer is more prone to surface-water control in the upper reaches of the pools where stream stage fluctuations are more pronounced than in the lower reaches. This method could be a useful tool for quick assessment of induced infiltration rate and bank storage related to contamination investigations or well-field management.     

Modeling approaches and strategies for data-scarce aquifers: example of the Dar es Salaam aquifer in Tanzania

Management of groundwater resources can be improved by using groundwater models to perform risk analyses and to improve development strategies, but a lack of extensive basic data often limits the implementation of sophisticated models. Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is an example of a city where increasing groundwater use in a Pleistocene aquifer is causing groundwater-related problems such as saline intrusion along the coastline, lowering of water-table levels, and contamination of pumping wells. The lack of a water-level monitoring network introduces a problem for basic data collection and model calibration and validation. As a replacement, local water-supply wells were used for measuring groundwater depth, and well-top heights were estimated from a regional digital elevation model to recalculate water depths to hydraulic heads. These were used to draw a regional piezometric map. Hydraulic parameters were estimated from short-time pumping tests in the local wells, but variation in hydraulic conductivity was attributed to uncertainty in well characteristics (information often unavailable) and not to aquifer heterogeneity. A MODFLOW model was calibrated with a homogeneous hydraulic conductivity field and a sensitivity analysis between the conductivity and aquifer recharge showed that average annual recharge will likely be in the range 80–100 mm/year.     

Comparison of groundwater recharge estimation techniques in an alluvial aquifer system with an intermittent/ephemeral stream (Queensland,Australia)

This study demonstrates the importance of the conceptual hydrogeological model for the estimation of groundwater recharge rates in an alluvial system interconnected with an ephemeral or intermittent stream in south-east Queensland, Australia. The losing/gaining condition of these streams is typically subject to temporal and spatial variability, and knowledge of these hydrological processes is critical for the interpretation of recharge estimates. Recharge rate estimates of 76–182 mm/year were determined using the water budget method. The water budget method provides useful broad approximations of recharge and discharge fluxes. The chloride mass balance (CMB) method and the tritium method were used on 17 and 13 sites respectively, yielding recharge rates of 1–43 mm/year (CMB) and 4–553 mm/year (tritium method). However, the conceptual hydrogeological model confirms that the results from the CMB method at some sites are not applicable in this setting because of overland flow and channel leakage. The tritium method was appropriate here and could be applied to other alluvial systems, provided that channel leakage and diffuse infiltration of rainfall can be accurately estimated. The water-table fluctuation (WTF) method was also applied to data from 16 bores; recharge estimates ranged from 0 to 721 mm/year. The WTF method was not suitable where bank storage processes occurred.