Connotea
CiteULike
del.ico.us
BibSonomyAbstract
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
VOL. 36,
L24402,
4 PP., 2009
doi:10.1029/2009GL041251
Effect of exponential decay in hydraulic conductivity with depth on regional groundwater flow
School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
Center for Water Research, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
Regional groundwater flow is critical for understanding a variety of geologic processes. Unfortunately, few studies have considered the impact of gradual decrease in hydraulic conductivity (K) with depth on groundwater flow. In this study, regional groundwater flow through a basin is analyzed under conditions of exponentially decaying K with depth. We found that the development of local versus regional flow systems is sensitive to the decay exponent of K. With higher rates of decrease in K with depth, the penetration depth of local flow systems increases, the regional flow weakens, the amount of recharge decreases, and less water reaches the regional discharge zone. Therefore, the depth decay of K should not be neglected when analyzing hydrologic problems related to regional groundwater flow.
Received 4 October 2009; accepted 20 November 2009; published 19 December 2009.
Citation: (2009), Effect of exponential decay in hydraulic conductivity with depth on regional groundwater flow, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L24402, doi:10.1029/2009GL041251.
Cited By