Lecture 19 Ground Water (2) Ground water storage Porosity Water retention and yield Storage change
Ground Water Storage Aquifers are reservoirs for water storage Water moves very slowly in aquifers acting as water pipelines The age of aquifers ranges from a few weeks to several tens of thousand years, depending on the depth and size.
Porosity Figure 6.10, WR
Terms to Remember Porosity: percentage of the total volume of a rock or soil which is occupied by interstices or voids Original interstices: pores which were created at the time of origin of the rock Secondary interstices: pores results from subsequent actions of geological, climatic and biotic forces or factors upon the original rock, such as faults and joints enlarged by weathering and solution Effective porosity: total porosity less the portion of interstices which are not interconnected with other and are hydrologically inert.
Porosity vs. soil/rock type Table 5.1, WRGround Water
Specific yield and specific retention Figure 5.3, WRGround Water
Terms to Remember Ground Water Specific yield: the volume of water than can freely drain from a saturated rock or soil under the influence of gravity, usually expressed in percentage of the total aquifer volume Specific retention: the percentage of the total aquifer volume which is retained by the surface tension as films around the individual grains and in capillary openings.
Ground Water Storage Change Infiltration of precipitation Seepage from lakes, rivers, and even oceans Inflow from adjacent aquitards and aquifers Artificial recharge (irrigation, wells, pipelines, sewers, etc.) ΔЅ=Q r -Q d ΔЅ = storage change per unit time Q r = recharge per unit time Q d = discharge per unit time Recharge: Discharge: Evaporation Spring flow and seepage into surface water bodies Leakage to aquitards and other aquifers Artificial extraction
Self reading Characteristics of change in unconfined aquifers (WR Chapter 5.4.3) Characteristics of change in confined aquifers (WR Chapter 5.4.3)