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Title: A quantitative analysis of hydraulic interaction processes in stream-aquifer systems

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19876· OSTI ID:1259304
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [4]
  1. Chang'an Univ., Xian (People's Republic of China)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Chang'an Univ., Xian (People's Republic of China); Univ. College Dublin, Dublin (Ireland)
  4. Capital Normal Univ., Beijing (China)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The hydraulic relationship between the stream and aquifer can be altered from hydraulic connection to disconnection when the pumping rate exceeds the maximum seepage flux of the streambed. This study proposes to quantitatively analyze the physical processes of stream-aquifer systems from connection to disconnection. A free water table equation is adopted to clarify under what conditions a stream starts to separate hydraulically from an aquifer. Both the theoretical analysis and laboratory tests have demonstrated that the hydraulic connectedness of the stream-aquifer system can reach a critical disconnection state when the horizontal hydraulic gradient at the free water surface is equal to zero and the vertical is equal to 1. A boundary-value problem for movement of the critical point of disconnection is established for an analytical solution of the inverted water table movement beneath the stream. The result indicates that the maximum distance or thickness of the inverted water table is equal to the water depth in the stream, and at a steady state of disconnection, the maximum hydraulic gradient at the streambed center is 2. In conclusion, this study helps us to understand the hydraulic phenomena of water flow near streams and accurately assess surface water and groundwater resources.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Grant/Contract Number:
20070441ER; 2009ZX07212-002-003-003; 41230314; 40472131; 40872163
OSTI ID:
1259304
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Vol. 6; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 145 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (5)

Quantifying Disconnection of Groundwater From Managed‐Ephemeral Surface Water During Drought and Conjunctive Agricultural Use journal July 2019
Response of the groundwater system in the Guanzhong Basin (central China) to climate change and human activities journal March 2018
Evaluation of surface water–groundwater interaction using environmental isotopes (D, 18O and 222Rn) in Chongli Area, China journal May 2019
Factors influencing streambed hydraulic conductivity and their implications on stream–aquifer interaction: a conceptual review journal October 2017
Hydrological simulation and uncertainty analysis using the improved TOPMODEL in the arid Manas River basin, China journal January 2018

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