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

Wang, Wenke; Dai, Zhenxue; Zhao, Yaqian; Li, Junting; Duan, Lei; Wang, Zhoufeng; Zhu, Lin

doi:10.1038/srep19876

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

Journal Article · Wed Jan 27 23:00:00 EST 2016 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19876· OSTI ID:1259304

Wang, Wenke ^[1]; Dai, Zhenxue ^[2]; Zhao, Yaqian ^[3]; Li, Junting ^[1]; Duan, Lei ^[1]; Wang, Zhoufeng ^[1]; Zhu, Lin ^[4]

Chang'an Univ., Xian (People's Republic of China)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Chang'an Univ., Xian (People's Republic of China); Univ. College Dublin, Dublin (Ireland)
Capital Normal Univ., Beijing (China)

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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Natural Science Foundation of China

OSTI ID:: 1259304

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 6; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Quantifying Disconnection of Groundwater From Managed‐Ephemeral Surface Water During Drought and Conjunctive Agricultural Use Fuchs, Erek H.; King, James Phillip; Carroll, Kenneth C. Water Resources Research, Vol. 55, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019wr024941	journal	July 2019

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