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Theoretical analysis of regional groundwater flow: 2. Effect of water‐table configuration and subsurface permeability variation
Author(s) -
Freeze R. Allan,
Witherspoon P. A.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr003i002p00623
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , water table , geology , aquifer , groundwater , groundwater flow , structural basin , hydrology (agriculture) , permeability (electromagnetism) , terrain , artesian aquifer , outcrop , aquifer properties , groundwater discharge , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , geography , membrane , biology , genetics , cartography
Details of steady‐state flow in regional groundwater basins can be investigated using digital computer solutions of appropriately designed mathematical models. The factors that must be considered are: (1) ratio of depth to lateral extent of the basin; (2) Watertable configuration; and (3) stratigraphy and resulting subsurface variations in permeability. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the following properties of regional flow systems: (1) groundwater discharge will tend to be concentrated in major valleys; (2) recharge areas are invariably larger than discharge areas; (3) in hummocky terrain, numerous sub‐basins are superposed on the regional system; (4) buried aquifers tend to concentrate flow toward the principal discharge area, have a limiting effect on sub‐basins, and need not outcrop to produce artesian flow conditions; (5), stratigraphic discontinuities can lead to distributions of recharge and discharge areas that are difficult to anticipate and that are largely independent of the water‐table configuration. (Key words: Groundwater; computers, digital; drainage basin characteristics)