Impact of Depth-Dependent Heterogeneity in Aquifers on the Response of Unsaturated-Saturated Flow to Earth Tides

Wang, Guoliang1; Liang, Xiuyu1,2; Li, Jiebiao1,3; Wang, Ju3; Wang, Chi-Yuen4

2024-06-01

10.1029/2023WR036310

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH   影响因子和分区

0043-1397

1944-7973

["Heterogeneity is a natural characteristic of aquifers, which has a profound influence on groundwater flow and solute transport. However, the heterogeneity in an aquifer is difficult to characterize and its impact on groundwater response to Earth tides remains insufficiently explored. A common heterogeneity in thick aquifers is the decrease in porosity and hydraulic conductivity with depth. In the present study, we present an analytical model that includes this particular heterogeneity in both the unsaturated and saturated zones to explore its impact on the tidal response. Our results reveal that, as the hydraulic conductivity decays with depth, the amplitude ratio of the tidal response increases and its phase shift decreases, and the impact of the capillary zone on tidal responses is primarily restricted to the shallow region of the aquifer. Neglecting the decay of conductivity in the previous models would result in underestimation of the amplitude ratio and overestimation of the phase shift. The solutions are applied to the field data to effectively estimate the decay in conductivity with depth. This study highlights the importance of considering aquifer heterogeneity in the analysis of the response of saturated and unsaturated flow to Earth tides.","Decay in conductivity with depth causes an increase in amplitude ratio and a decrease in phase shift Influence of capillary zones on tidal responses is restricted to shallow aquifers due to decrease in conductivity with depth Homogeneous solutions estimate mean conductivity well with smaller decay rates of conductivity, but underestimate with larger decay rates"]

tidal response of saturated and unsaturated flow impact of aquifer heterogeneity analytical solution

SCI ; EI

英语

第一 ; 通讯

Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen[20220814221815001] ; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control[2023B1212060002] ; China National Nuclear Corporation Fundamental Research Project[JCYJ2201] ; null[42372289] ; null[41977165]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Marine & Freshwater Biology ; Water Resources

Environmental Sciences ; Limnology ; Water Resources

WOS:001242790800001

AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Guangdong Prov Key Lab Soil & Groundwater Pollut C, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
3.Beijing Res Inst Uranium Geol, CAEA Innovat Ctr Geol Disposal High Level Radioact, Beijing, Peoples R China
4.Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Earth & Planetary Sci, Berkeley, CA USA

Wang, Guoliang,Liang, Xiuyu,Li, Jiebiao,et al. Impact of Depth-Dependent Heterogeneity in Aquifers on the Response of Unsaturated-Saturated Flow to Earth Tides[J]. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH,2024,60(6).

Wang, Guoliang,Liang, Xiuyu,Li, Jiebiao,Wang, Ju,&Wang, Chi-Yuen.(2024).Impact of Depth-Dependent Heterogeneity in Aquifers on the Response of Unsaturated-Saturated Flow to Earth Tides.WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH,60(6).

Wang, Guoliang,et al."Impact of Depth-Dependent Heterogeneity in Aquifers on the Response of Unsaturated-Saturated Flow to Earth Tides".WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH 60.6(2024).