Estimation Of Base Level For An Aquifer From Recession Rates Of Groundwater Levels

A model is presented that calculates a base level for an aquifer, assuming that the aquifer can be approximated by a linear reservoir. The base level is geologically dependent and can be seen as a drainage level for the aquifer that represents the lowest groundwater level that will occur from groundwater flow only. The base level affects groundwater-level variations and can be used to help estimate flow paths. Types of information needed to estimate this parameter are groundwater-level records, from which recession rates are calculated, and a recession curve. The recession curve is a function of the properties of the aquifer, and from it the base level is evaluated together with an aquifer parameter that describes the hydrogeological properties. Data from an area in the Groundwater Network in Sweden are used as an example. The results are consistent with the topography and hydrology of the area. Two factors affect the accuracy of the results: the time resolution of the groundwater-level data and the length of the water-level record.     

Using groundwater levels to estimate recharge

Accurate estimation of groundwater recharge is extremely important for proper management of groundwater systems. Many different approaches exist for estimating recharge. This paper presents a review of methods that are based on groundwater-level data. The water-table fluctuation method may be the most widely used technique for estimating recharge; it requires knowledge of specific yield and changes in water levels over time. Advantages of this approach include its simplicity and an insensitivity to the mechanism by which water moves through the unsaturated zone. Uncertainty in estimates generated by this method relate to the limited accuracy with which specific yield can be determined and to the extent to which assumptions inherent in the method are valid. Other methods that use water levels (mostly based on the Darcy equation) are also described. The theory underlying the methods is explained. Examples from the literature are used to illustrate applications of the different methods. Electronic Publication     

Basin-scale groundwater response to precipitation variation and anthropogenic pumping in Chih-Ben watershed, Taiwan

The sustainable use of groundwater has become increasingly challenging due to extreme hydrological events and anthropogenic activity. In this study, the basin-scale groundwater response to precipitation variation was analyzed using an integrated model that comprises lumped models for land and river recharges and a distributed model for groundwater. The integrated model was applied to the Chih-Ben watershed, Taiwan, using 20?years (1988?C2007) of data. The hydrological data were analyzed for trends using statistical tests. Based on decreasing trends in precipitation and groundwater levels and an increasing trend in stream flow, the oblique-cut method was applied to precipitation and excess infiltration to assess land and streambed recharge. Distributed numerical groundwater modeling was used to simulate the basin-scale groundwater responses to precipitation variation and anthropogenic pumping. The model was calibrated using stable-isotope and groundwater-level data. The safe yields were estimated for the Chih-Ben watershed for dry, wet, and normal precipitation scenarios. The safe yield of groundwater was shown to vary with precipitation, which does not guarantee the sustainable use of groundwater resources. Instead, water resources should be assessed at a basin scale, taking into account the whole ecosystem, rather than only considering water for human consumption in the alluvium.     

用地下水潮汐效应确定潜水含水层水文地质参数

目前对潜水含水层地下水潮汐效应和水文地质参数求解方法的研究相对较少.通过对福建古雷半岛滨海潜水含水层地下水潮汐效应和海水潮汐动态的观测, 运用Fourier频谱分析方法确定了研究区海水潮汐波动方程(波动特征参数), 并以此作为地下水的边界条件, 推导了潜水含水层地下水潮汐效应的波动方程, 利用最小二乘法以地下水水位波动观测值为目标函数对潜水含水层的渗透系数与重力给水度的比值进行了反演识别, 为类似地区水文地质参数的确定提供了借鉴, 也为该区后续地下水中溶质迁移规律的研究奠定了基础.      

Sensitivity of GRACE-derived estimates of groundwater-level changes in southern Ontario,Canada

Amidst changing climates, understanding the world’s water resources is of increasing importance. In Ontario, Canada, low water conditions are currently assessed using only precipitation and watershed-based stream gauges by the Conservation Authorities in Ontario and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Regional groundwater-storage changes in Ontario are not currently measured using satellite data by research institutes. In this study, contributions from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data are compared to a hydrogeological database covering southern Ontario from 2003 to 2013, to determine the suitability of GRACE total water storage estimates for monitoring groundwater storage in this location. Terrestrial water storage data from GRACE were used to determine monthly groundwater storage (GWS) anomaly values. GWS values were also determined by multiplying groundwater-level elevations (from the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network wells) by specific yield. Comparisons of GRACE-derived GWS to well-based GWS data determined that GRACE is sufficiently sensitive to obtain a meaningful signal in southern Ontario. Results show that GWS values produced by GRACE are useful for identifying regional changes in groundwater storage in areas with limited available hydrogeological characterization data. Results also indicate that GRACE may have an ability to forecast changes in groundwater storage, which will become useful when monitoring climate shifts in the near future.     

Identifying non-stationary groundwater level response to North Atlantic ocean-atmosphere teleconnection patterns using wavelet coherence

The first comprehensive use of wavelet methods to identify non-stationary time-frequency relations between North Atlantic ocean-atmosphere teleconnection patterns and groundwater levels is described. Long-term hydrogeological time series from three boreholes within different aquifers across the UK are analysed to identify statistically significant wavelet coherence between the North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic pattern, and the Scandinavia pattern and monthly groundwater-level time series. Wavelet coherence measures the cross-correlation of two time series as a function of frequency, and can be interpreted as a correlation coefficient value. Results not only indicate that there are common statistically significant periods of multiannual-to-decadal wavelet coherence between the three teleconnection indices and groundwater levels in each of the boreholes, but they also show that there are periods when groundwater levels at individual boreholes show distinctly different patterns of significant wavelet coherence with respect to the teleconnection indices. The analyses presented demonstrate the value of wavelet methods in identifying the synchronization of groundwater-level dynamics by non-stationary climate variability on time scales that range from interannual to decadal or longer.     

Groundwater storage variability and annual recharge using well-hydrograph and GRACE satellite data

Most studies using GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) data for examining water storage anomalies have rich hydrogeological databases. Here, GRACE data are analyzed for southern Mali, Africa, a region with sparse hydrogeological data. GRACE data (2002?C2008) did not overlap with observed groundwater-level data (1982?C2002). Terrestrial water storage from GRACE was corrected for soil moisture using the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) model to obtain monthly groundwater storage anomalies and annual net recharge. Historical storage anomalies and net recharge were determined using the water-table fluctuation method for available observation wells. Average annual net recharge averaged 149.1?mm (or 16.4% of annual rainfall) and 149.7?mm (14.8%) from historical water level and GRACE data, respectively. Monthly storage anomaly lows and peaks were observed in May and September, respectively, but have a shift in peak to November using the corrected GRACE data, suggesting that the GLDAS model may poorly predict the timing of soil-water storage in this region. Notwithstanding problems with the GLDAS model, the soil moisture-corrected GRACE data accurately predict the relative timing and magnitude of groundwater-storage changes, suggesting that GRACE data are valuable for identifying long-term regional changes in groundwater storage in areas with sparse hydrogeological data.     

Sinusoidal oscillations radiating from a cylindrical source in thermal conduction or groundwater flow: Closed‐form solutions

The diffusion equation governs thermal conduction and groundwater flow phenomena. In this paper, we study the two‐dimensional radial propagation of a sinusoidal perturbation radiating from a cylindrical source within an infinite slab of homogeneous material. The solution of this problem has several applications. For instance, it can be used to determine the hydraulic diffusivity of the subsurface based on measurements of the hydraulic head around a vertical well during its development. For thermal problems, it can be used to determine the thermal diffusivity based on measurements of the temperature distribution around a cylindrical heat source generating a sinusoidal power per unit length. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analytical solution of this problem and we compare these solutions with numerical solutions. Two approximate analytical solutions, which can be relevant in practice, are also presented. Finally, we give an upper bound for the survival time of the transient part of the solution and we provide an estimate of the radius of influence of the sinusoidal solicitation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling groundwater over-extraction in the southern Jordan Valley with scarce data

To deal with the challenge of groundwater over-extraction in arid and semi-arid environments, it is necessary to establish management strategies based on the knowledge of hydrogeological conditions, which can be difficult in places where hydrogeological data are dispersed, scarce or present potential misinformation. Groundwater levels in the southern Jordan Valley (Jordan) have decreased drastically in the last three decades, caused by over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation purposes. This study presents a local, two-dimensional and transient numerical groundwater model, using MODFLOW, to characterise the groundwater system and the water balance in the southern Jordan Valley. Furthermore, scenarios are simulated regarding hydrological conditions and management options, like extension of arable land and closure of illegal wells, influencing the projection of groundwater extraction. A limited dataset, literature values, field surveys, and the ‘crop water-requirement method’ are combined to determine boundary conditions, aquifer parameters, and sources and sinks. The model results show good agreement between predicted and observed values; groundwater-level contours agree with the conceptual model and expected flow direction, and, in terms of water balance, flow volumes are in accordance with literature values. Average annual water consumption for irrigation is estimated to be 29 million m³ and simulation results show that a reduction of groundwater pumping by 40% could recover groundwater heads, reducing the water taken from storage. This study presents an example of how to develop a local numerical groundwater model to support management strategies under the condition of data scarcity.     

Mechanism of sinkhole formation during groundwater-level recovery in karst mining area,Dachengqiao, Hunan province,China

The Meitanba Coal Mine area in Hunan province, China, had been impacted by severe cover collapse sinkholes since 1982 due to mine dewatering. After the coal mine was closed in February 2015, the groundwater level has increased significantly. A series of sinkholes were recorded in the study area during groundwater-level recovery. Analysis of monitoring results and in-situ investigation indicated that 13 sinkhole collapses were more likely induced by abrupt change of groundwater–air pressure in response to heavy rainfall from March 2015 to July 2016 when the groundwater level increased by as much as 76 m. When the karst conduit was flooded, a relatively sealed environment was formed between saturated sediments and flooded karst conduit. Implosion of entrapped air might have caused the cave roof to collapse followed by surface collapses in a short time. On the other hand, four sinkholes occurred in November 2016 when the groundwater levels were near the soil–bedrock interface at elevations between 52.5 and 58.9 m amsl and the groundwater-level increase was at slower paces. Field measurements indicate that the groundwater-level fluctuation at the soil–bedrock interface could enlarge the soil cavity and accelerate the subsoil erosion process.     

利用观测孔中地下水位潮汐效应计算天津滨海新区含水层参数

在沿海地区,尤其是围海造陆工程形成的陆域地区地下水水位受潮汐影响较大,使传统水文地质试验求取含水层参数存在较大误差。因此通过合理概化地下水在潮汐作用下运动规律,建立数学模型,推导解析公式求取沿海含水层参数具有重要意义。分析天津滨海新区两处观测孔地下水位及潮汐波动特征,在滞后时间不明显的情况下,利用观测孔水位变幅数据计算了含水层水头扩散系数,并根据承压含水层储水系数经验值进一步获得含水层渗透系数。通过两个观测孔分别计算,对比计算结果互相验证发现,该方法取得了令人满意的结果。利用地下水潮汐效应计算含水层参数可以广泛应用于沿海地区水文地质工作中。     

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.      

Assessment of groundwater changing trends through the generalized large well method with confined–unconfined flow model in open-pit mine area

In this paper, a simple but accurate method (generalized large well method) is presented to assess groundwater level trends during mine exploitation. This method includes a mathematical model of confined–unconfined well flow and a corresponding analytical solution. Based on the method, a case study was analyzed with data from the Yimin open-pit mine. As a result, the radius of groundwater level rose, along with the increase of the exploitation intensity. Moreover, a suitable value of pumping flow could be beneficial to understanding potential groundwater contamination concerns. Additionally, it has also been predicted that the groundwater level of the Yimin open-pit mine will change within the next 3 years. The Yimin open-pit mine case study demonstrates the validity of the analytical method explained herein. The presented methodology provides a theoretical foundation for assessment of groundwater changing trends in other open-pit mines with similar hydrogeological conditions.     

Identification of the influencing factors on groundwater drought and depletion in north-western Bangladesh

Groundwater drought is a specific type of hydrological drought that concerns groundwater bodies. It may have a significant adverse effect on the socio-economic, agricultural, and environmental conditions. Investigating the effect of different climatic and anthropogenic factors on groundwater drought provides essential information for sustainable planning and management of (ground) water resources. The aim of this study is to identify the influencing factors on groundwater drought in north-western Bangladesh, to understand the forcing mechanisms. A multi-step methodology is proposed to achieve this objective. The standardised precipitation index (SPI) and reconnaissance drought index (RDI) have been used to quantify the aggregated deficit between precipitation and the evaporative demand of the atmosphere, i.e. meteorological drought. The influence of land-cover patterns on the groundwater drought has been identified by calculating spatially distributed groundwater recharge as a function of land cover. Groundwater drought is defined by a threshold method. The results show that the evapotranspiration and rainfall deficits are determining meteorological drought, which shows a direct relation with groundwater recharge deficits. Land-cover change has a small effect on groundwater recharge but does not seem to be the main cause of groundwater-level decline (depletion) in the study area. The groundwater depth and groundwater-level deficit (drought) is continuously increasing with little correlation to meteorological drought or recharge anomalies. Overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation seems to be the main cause of groundwater-level decline in the study area. Efficient irrigation management is essential to reduce the growing pressure on groundwater resources and ensure sustainable water management.     

Groundwater recharge of carbonate aquifers of the Silesian-Cracow Triassic (southern Poland) under human impact

A Triassic carbonate unit has been intensively drained by zinc and lead ore mines and numerous borehole fields since the nineteenth century. Its groundwater recharge has increased due to: pumping of water from boreholes, mining activity, and urbanization. An approach to determine the amounts of the recharge at a variety of spatial scales is presented in the paper. Different methods were used to identify and quantify recharge components on a regional and local scale: mathematical modelling was performed for four aquifers included in an aquifer system, an analytical estimation based on the assumption that an average recharge is equal to the average discharge of the hydrogeological system—for six man-made drainage centres, and the method of water level fluctuation (WLF) was applied in one observation borehole. Results of modelling have been supplemented by observation of environmental tracers (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ³H), noble gases temperatures, and ⁴He_exc in groundwater. The regional aquifer’s current recharge according to estimations performed by means of modelling varies from 39 to 101 mm/year on average. Depending on the aquifer site the average precipitation ranges from 779 to 864 mm/year. In the confined part of the aquifer average recharge ranges from 26 to 61 mm/year. Within outcrops average recharge varies from 96 to 370 mm/year. Current recharge estimated by the analytical method for man-made drainage centres varies from 158 up to 440 mm/year. High values are caused by different recharge sources like precipitation, induced leakage from shallow aquifers, and water losses from streams, water mains and sewer systems. Pumping of water, mining and municipal activities constitute additional factors accounting for the intensified recharge.     

Spatial and temporal variation of groundwater recharge in shallow aquifer in the Thepkasattri of Phuket,Thailand

Whether groundwater resources can be sustainably utilized is largely determined and characterized by hydrogeological parameters.Estimating the groundwater recharge is one of the essential parameters for managing water resources and protecting water resources from contamination.This study researched the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater recharge in the Thepkasattri sub-district through integrating chloride mass balance(CMB)and water table fluctuation(WTF)methods.The chloride content of representative rainfall and groundwater samples was analyzed.Besides,WTF method was adopted from groundwater level data from 2012 to 2015.According to the CMB method,the mean recharge was estimated to be 1172 mm per year,accounting for 47%of the annual rainfall.Moreover,the estimated recharge from the WTF method took 26%of annual rainfall in 2015.The recharge was underestimated according to the WTF method,because of the uncertainty in specific yield estimates and the number of representative wells in the study area.Moreover,the correlation between rainfall and water table fluctuation data indicated the positive linear relationship between two parameters.The spatial recharge prediction indicated that recharge was higher(1200-1400 mm/yr)in the eastern and western catchment,while that in the central floodplains was between 800 mm/yr and 1100 mm/yr.In addition,low recharge value between 450 mm/yr and 800 mm/yr was observed in the south-west part of Thepkasattri.The spatial variation of recharge partly reflects the influences of land use and land cover of the study area.     

Hydrogeological factors: their association and relationship with seasonal water-table fluctuation in the composite hardrock Aravalli terrain,India

Seasonal rise of groundwater level manifests aquifer recharge through infiltration. Spatial variation of aquifer recharge within the same basin or terrain is a function of terrain heterogeneity governed by different hydrogeological factors. However, assessment of relations between water-level fluctuations (WLF) with various hydrogeological factors is not straightforward. In the present study, various hydrogeological factors that could influence aquifer recharge in the deformed crystalline Aravalli terrain of India have been analysed. Frequency plots have been used to assess the variations in WLF under different geological parameter classes. Seasonal WLF associated with these factors have been compared using various statistical parameters. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests have been used to determine the statistical significance of fluctuation difference. The study infers that saturated thickness, lineament, lineament-intersection, and drainage beside surface elevation and well depth are the main geological factors influencing aquifer recharge in the Aravalli terrain. Median values under these factors are integrated and compared with the interpolated values of mean WLF at hypothetical well locations. They are found to closely resemble each other. This infers capability and applicability of the technique in identifying key factors governing WLF, and in predicting WLF at unexplored locations.     

Dupuit模型的改进——具入渗补给

Dupuit（1863年）提出的模型是“圆岛状含水层稳定井流模型”,这个模型只有侧向湖海边界条件,而不涉及上边界降水入渗补给条件。因此,Dupuit模型只能在旱季用于地下水井流试验求取含水系统的参数,而不能够用于预测。文章发展Dupuit潜水井流模型,考虑地面均匀稳定入渗补给（蒸发排泄示为其负值）作用。以质量守衡原理为基础,假定渗流服从Darcy定律并满足Dupuit徦定,建立极坐标下的地下水流微分方程,再依边界条件建立相应的流量方程和水位方程。这些方程为具地面入渗补给条件下井流试验求取水文地质参数以及预测相应条件下地下水抽水的效果,提供了基础条件。讨论了引入Dupuit假定对本问题解析研究可以降维（略去z变量）带来好处的同时,在地下水分水岭附近及抽水井附近可能出现偏离Dupuit假定,建议在抽水试验求取含水层参数时,观测孔的部署要尽量回避这些区段。     

Evaluation of correlations between precipitation, groundwater fluctuations, and lake level fluctuations using spectral methods (Wisconsin, USA)

Spectral methods and 2 years of daily data were used to estimate the phase lag between precipitation and groundwater-level response, and two decades of quarterly data were used to analyze the interaction between precipitation, lake levels and groundwater in the Trout Lake watershed located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, USA. The phase-lag function between precipitation and groundwater response is used to estimate recharge travel time. The recharge travel time and precipitation–groundwater–lake interactions have been traditionally studied using time-domain methods such as physically-based modeling. In this article, the innovative and efficient use of spectral methods is demonstrated to uncover the time scales that are significant in those interactions and estimate the recharge travel time, which is extracted from the underlying daily time series data. The results consistently show that precipitation leads groundwater-level response by up to 5 days in all cases. The effects of precipitation on lake and groundwater levels display strong similarities. Both the precipitation–lake level and the precipitation–groundwater level coherency functions show significant peaks at interannual and seasonal frequencies. The groundwater level–lake level coherency function shows a significant, broad peak at interannual frequencies, and no significant peak at seasonal frequencies, demonstrating the predominance of annual and lower frequencies in groundwater–lake interaction.     

采煤对地下含水层的影响研究--以河南焦作矿区为例

大规模煤炭开采导致了地下水环境演化轨迹严重偏离天然状态的演化方向,引发了诸如地下水位下降、降落漏斗形成和扩展、水质恶化等一系列的地下水环境问题,并反作用于矿区的经济发展和居民的生产生活,使矿区陷于生态环境恶化、经济发展迟缓的境地。究其根本原因,就在于大规模煤炭开采造成了矿区含水层结构变异,进而导致了区域含水介质发生非均质性变化,最终影响了地下水循环演化态势。因此,开展含水层变异研究,揭示采煤对区域地下水环境演化的影响,显得尤其重要。以焦作矿区为例,通过野外调查、资料收集等工作,研究了采煤前后含水层环境的变化,阐明了采煤活动对地下含水层的影响。