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Determination of horizontal‐to‐vertical hydraulic conductivity ratios from seepage measurements on lake beds
Author(s) -
Barwell V. K.,
Lee David Robert
Publication year - 1981
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/wr017i003p00565
Subject(s) - aquifer , hydraulic conductivity , anisotropy , borehole , geology , submarine pipeline , flux (metallurgy) , groundwater , slug test , soil science , groundwater flow , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , steady state (chemistry) , soil water , materials science , physics , quantum mechanics , metallurgy , chemistry
This paper describes a new method of determining the anisotropy of aquifers contiguous with lakes. The method is based on the observed rate of decline of seepage flux with distance offshore and on the thickness of the aquifer. Deviations from an exponential decline in seepage rate with distance offshore give a measure of aquifer heterogeneity and, consequently, an estimate of the reliability of the anisotropy determination. A simple formula, derived as an analytical solution of a steady state two‐dimensional groundwater flow equation, makes it relatively easy to calculate anisotropy ratios from field measurements of seepage flux through lake beds and a small number of boreholes. The importance of the anisotropy ratio in controlling the offshore distribution of groundwater and solute movement into lakes is discussed.