Factors controlling groundwater response to earth and atmospheric tides

Akara, Mahawa-Essa Mabossani; Kuhlman, Kristopher L.; Bowman, Dale Owen; Jackson, Ryan Steele

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133088

Factors controlling groundwater response to earth and atmospheric tides

Journal Article · Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Hydrology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133088· OSTI ID:2531019

Akara, Mahawa-Essa Mabossani ^[1]; Kuhlman, Kristopher L. ^[2]; ^[1]; Jackson, Ryan Steele ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Carlsbad, NM (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Earth and atmospheric tides are natural stresses known to influence subsurface pore pressure. However, the influence of hydrologic parameters, state of confinement, and flow conditions on the groundwater level response to these natural stresses is the subject of ongoing research. Using a dataset derived from 40 wells in an extensively characterized dolomite formation, this study explores the relationships between five hydrologic parameters and the amplitude and phase of the groundwater response to tides. Predictions of confinement from the phase shift sign and barometric response function are also compared with field-based understanding of confinement. Results indicate that the amplitude ratio of the groundwater response relative to Earth tides increases with transmissivity, diffusivity, and storativity. Specific gravity and aquifer depth are negatively correlated with amplitude ratio. Similar correlation trends are observed between the phase shift and hydrologic parameters. The correlations between phase shift and hydrologic parameters are stronger than the correlations between amplitude ratio and hydrologic parameters. Above a certain threshold (1.6 × 10^-5 m²/s) the correlation between amplitude ratio and transmissivity becomes negative, while phase shifts tend to be positive. Predicted amplitude ratios using Hsieh et al. (1987) solution are ≈1 above the threshold. The phase shift sign and the shape of the barometric response function are strongly influenced by diffusivity. Negative phase shift is observed only in unfractured confined regions, where diffusivity is low, whereas positive phase shift is observed regardless of the state of confinement, but only where diffusivity is high (i.e., fractures are present). The barometric response function is accurate at predicting the state of confinement, however, even a confined aquifer can show a semi-confined response function if lateral hydraulic connection to adjacent semi-confined/unconfined areas is significant.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2531019

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2540226

Report Number(s):: SAND--2025-03261J

Journal Information:: Journal of Hydrology, Journal Name: Journal of Hydrology Vol. 657; ISSN 0022-1694

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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