Estimation of regional-scale groundwater flow properties in the Bengal Basin of India and Bangladesh

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1329-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly A. Michael ◽  
Clifford I. Voss
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Bengal Basin ◽  
Flow Properties

scholarly journals Groundwater contribution to river flows – using hydrograph separation, hydrological and hydrogeological models in a southern Quebec aquifer

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 7809-7838 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Larocque ◽  
V. Fortin ◽  
M. C. Pharand ◽  
C. Rivard
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Groundwater Flow Model ◽  
Hydrograph Separation ◽  
River Flows ◽  
Groundwater Contribution ◽  
Base Flows

Abstract. Groundwater contribution to river flows, generally called base flows, often accounts for a significant proportion of total flow rate, especially during the dry season. The objective of this work is to test simple approaches requiring limited data to understand groundwater contribution to river flows. The Noire river basin in southern Quebec is used as a case study. A lumped conceptual hydrological model (the MOHYSE model), a groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) and hydrograph separation are used to provide estimates of base flow for the study area. Results show that the methods are complementary. Hydrograph separation and the MOHYSE surface flow model provide similar annual estimates for the groundwater contribution to river flow, but monthly base flows can vary significantly between the two methods. Both methods have the advantage of being easily implemented. However, the distinction between aquifer contribution and shallow subsurface contribution to base flow can only be made with a groundwater flow model. The aquifer renewal rate estimated with the MODFLOW model for the Noire River is 30% of the recharge estimated from base flow values. This is a significantly difference which can be crucial for regional-scale water management.

scholarly journals Characterization of Surface Evidence of Groundwater Flow Systems in Continental Mexico

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2459
Author(s):  
Alessia Kachadourian-Marras ◽  
Margarita M. Alconada-Magliano ◽  
José Joel Carrillo-Rivera ◽  
Edgar Mendoza ◽  
Felipe Herrerías-Azcue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
The Public ◽  
Groundwater Flow Systems ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Vegetation And Climate

The dynamics of the underground part of the water cycle greatly influence the features and characteristics of the Earth’s surface. Using Tóth’s theory of groundwater flow systems, surface indicators in Mexico were analyzed to understand the systemic connection between groundwater and the geological framework, relief, soil, water bodies, vegetation, and climate. Recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow systems were identified from evidence on the ground surface. A systematic hydrogeological analysis was made of regional surface indicators, published in official, freely accessible cartographic information at scales of 1:250,000 and 1:1,000,000. From this analysis, six maps of Mexico were generated, titled “Permanent water on the surface”, “Groundwater depth”, “Hydrogeological association of soils”, “Hydrogeological association of vegetation and land use”, “Hydrogeological association of topoforms”, and “Superficial evidence of the presence of groundwater flow systems”. Mexico’s hydrogeological features were produced. The results show that 30% of Mexico is considered to be discharge zones of groundwater flow systems (regional, intermediate, and recharge). Natural recharge processes occur naturally in 57% of the country. This work is the first holistic analysis of groundwater in Mexico carried out at a national–regional scale using only the official information available to the public. These results can be used as the basis for more detailed studies on groundwater and its interaction with the environment, as well as for the development of integrative planning tools to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems and satisfy human needs.

scholarly journals Editorial of Special Issue “Advances in Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport: Pushing the Hidden Boundary”

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Hongbin Zhan ◽  
Quanrong Wang ◽  
Zhang Wen
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Methods ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Solute Transport ◽  
Vadose Zone ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Chemical Transport ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Flow And Transport ◽  
Wide Range

The theme of this special issue is to explore the new territories beyond conventional subsurface flow and transport theories. We have selected 12 articles in this special issue and these articles cover a wide range of problems including (1) Non-Fickian chemical transport in various environments; (2) Non-Darcian flow; (3) Flow and transport in low-permeability media; (4) Vadose zone process; (5) Regional scale groundwater flow and groundwater-surface interaction; (6) Innovative numerical methods. The major contributions of these papers are summarized in this editorial.

scholarly journals Influence of aquifer and streambed heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater discharge

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kalbus ◽  
C. Schmidt ◽  
J. W. Molson ◽  
F. Reinstorf ◽  
M. Schirmer
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Base Case Scenario ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Heterogeneous Aquifer ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low K

Abstract. The spatial distribution of groundwater fluxes through a streambed can be highly variable, most often resulting from a heterogeneous distribution of aquifer and streambed permeabilities along the flow pathways. Using a groundwater flow and heat transport model, we defined four scenarios of aquifer and streambed permeability distributions to simulate and assess the impact of subsurface heterogeneity on the distribution of groundwater fluxes through the streambed: (a) a homogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer; (b) a heterogeneous streambed within a homogeneous aquifer; (c) a well connected heterogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer; and (d) a poorly connected heterogeneous low-K streambed within a heterogeneous aquifer. The simulation results were compared with a base case scenario, in which the streambed had the same properties as the aquifer, and with observed data. The results indicated that the aquifer has a stronger influence on the distribution of groundwater fluxes through the streambed than the streambed itself. However, a homogeneous low-K streambed, a case often implemented in regional-scale groundwater flow models, resulted in a strong homogenization of fluxes, which may have important implications for the estimation of peak mass flows. The flux distributions simulated with heterogeneous low-K streambeds were similar to the flux distributions of the base case scenario, despite the lower permeability. The representation of heterogeneous distributions of aquifer and streambed properties in the model has been proven to be beneficial for the accuracy of flow simulations.

On the thermal effects of groundwater flow: 1. Regional scale systems

1983 ◽  
Vol 88 (B1) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Smith ◽  
David S. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Regional Scale

Including hydrologic signatures in the calibration of a groundwater-surface water model to improve representation of artificial drain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Stisen ◽  
Raphael Schneider ◽  
Anker Lajer Højberg
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Water Model ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
Drain Flow

<p>About half of the Danish agricultural land is artificially drained to make land arable and increase crop yield. Those artificial drains, mostly in the form on tile drains, have a significant effect on the groundwater flow patterns and the whole water cycle. Consequently, the drainage system must also be represented in hydrological models that are used to understand and simulate, for example, recharge patterns, groundwater flow paths, or the transport and retention of nutrients. However, representation of drain in regional- and large-scale hydrological models is challenging due to i) issues with scale, ii) a lack of data on the distribution of the drain network, and iii) a lack of direct observations of drain flow. This calls for more indirect methods to inform such models.</p><p>We assume that drain flow leaves a signal in certain hydrograph signatures, as it impacts the generation of streamflow. Based on a dataset of observed discharge covering all of Denmark, and simulation results from regional-scale hydrological models, we use machine learning regressors to shed light on possible correlations between hydrograph signatures and artificial drainage. Building up on this step, we run a series of calibration exercises on a hydrological model of the agriculturally dominated Norsminde catchment, Denmark (~100 km<sup>2</sup>). The model is set up in the DHI MIKE SHE software, as distributed coupled groundwater-surface water models with a grid size of 100 m. The different calibration exercises differed in the objective functions used: either we only use conventional stream flow metrics (KGE), or also include hydrograph signatures that showed sensitive towards drain flow in our regression analysis. We then evaluate the results from the different calibration exercises, in terms of how well the model reproduces directly observed drain flow, and spatial drainage patterns.</p><p>Despite including hydrologic signatures in the calibration process, the representation of drain flow in large-scale models remains challenging. Eventually, the insight gained from this and similar studies will be incorporated in the National Water Resources Model for Denmark, to help improving national targeted regulation of nitrate application through fertilizers.</p>

Regional-scale groundwater flow in a Canadian Shield setting

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 813-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan F. Sykes ◽  
Stefano D. Normani ◽  
Mark R. Jensen ◽  
Edward A. Sudicky
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Surface Topography ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Canadian Shield ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Matrix Permeability

A three-dimensional numerical analysis of a 5734 km2 watershed situated in the Canadian Shield has been conducted to illustrate aspects of regional-scale groundwater flow in a crystalline rock setting. An essential requirement of the analysis is the preservation and accurate description of the complex topography, surface water drainage network, groundwater salinity distribution, and permeability distributions. The postglacial evolution of the groundwater flow system was investigated using the finite difference model SWIFT-III. Robustness was assessed by exploring the sensitivity of groundwater flow to topography, variable matrix permeability distribution models, pore-water salinity, and the dissipation of elevated initial pore pressures that result from ice that overlaid the watershed in the last glacial period. Groundwater flow analyses indicate that freshwater heads in all model layers are highly correlated with the complex surface topography such that the transition from zones of groundwater recharge to zones of discharge occurs over distances that can be relatively short. Shallow flow to a depth of tens of metres dominates the overall water balance, and the length of flow paths is relatively short. The analyses of this study indicate that the flow in deeper rock is not regional but rather is a subdued reflection of the local-scale surface topography.

scholarly journals A high resolution global scale groundwater model

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 5217-5250 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. M. de Graaf ◽  
E. H. Sutanudjaja ◽  
L. P. H. van Beek ◽  
M. F. P. Bierkens
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Land Surface Model ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Groundwater Model ◽  
Aquifer Systems

Abstract. Groundwater is the world's largest accessible source of fresh water. It plays a vital role in satisfying needs for drinking water, agriculture and industrial activities. During times of drought groundwater sustains baseflow to rivers and wetlands, thereby supporting ecosystems. Most global scale hydrological models (GHMs) do not include a groundwater flow component, mainly due to lack of geohydrological data at the global scale. For the simulation of lateral flow and groundwater head dynamics a realistic physical representation of the groundwater system is needed, especially for GHMs that run at finer resolution. In this study we present a global scale groundwater model (run at 6' as dynamic steady state) using MODFLOW to construct an equilibrium water table at its natural state as the result of long-term climatic forcing. The aquifer schematization and properties were based on available global datasets of lithology and transmissivities combined with estimated aquifer thickness of an upper unconfined aquifer. The model is forced with outputs from the land-surface model PCR-GLOBWB, specifically with net recharge and surface water levels. A sensitivity analysis, in which the model was run with various parameter settings, showed variation in saturated conductivity causes most of the groundwater level variations. Simulated groundwater heads were validated against reported piezometer observations. The validation showed that groundwater depths are reasonably well simulated for many regions of the world, especially for sediment basins (R2 = 0.95). The simulated regional scale groundwater patterns and flowpaths confirm the relevance of taking lateral groundwater flow into account in GHMs. Flowpaths show inter-basin groundwater flow that can be a significant part of a basins water budget and helps to sustain river baseflow, explicitly during times of droughts. Also important aquifer systems are recharged by inter-basin groundwater flows that positively affect water availability.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document