Cited by 222Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesGroundwater and Isotope GeochemistryGroundwater flow and contamination studies

River basins as groundwater exporters and importers: Implications for water cycle and climate modeling

Schaller, Morgan F., Fan, Ying·2009·Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Abstract

The groundwater reservoir and its interaction with surface water facilitate lateral transport of continental water and energy. Current climate models do not account for long‐distance groundwater flow between model cells but route the atmospheric surplus (precipitation (P) minus evapotranspiration (ET)) directly to stream discharge within a model grid cell. We ask how much water exits a river basin without ever passing through its surface outlet? What are the climatologic and geologic factors influencing this flux? To answer these questions, a separation of groundwater flow from river flow is necessary. We use the ratio of stream discharge (Qr) to basin recharge (R = P − ET) for this purpose; where Qr:R 1, a basin is considered a groundwater importer. Here Qr is obtained from 39 years of U.S. Geological Survey Hydro‐Climatic Data Network observed stream discharge from 1555 basins across the continental United States, and R (P − ET) is derived from 50 years of hydrologic simulation by the Variable Infiltration Capacity model. It was found that the Qr:R ratio deviates significantly from 1 across the continent. Detailed investigations of individual basins suggest that the deviations are primarily a function of geology, while climate and basin scale influence the magnitude of these deviations. Further, a marked incongruity between the surface and groundwater flow directions is apparent, suggesting that surface drainage is only partially indicative of subsurface flow regimes. The a…

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Crossref · 10.1029/2008jd010636

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Authors
Schaller, M. F., & Fan, Y.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Venue
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
Published
2009-02-18
Volume
114
Issue
D4
ISSN
0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1986962256
Cited by
222
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
7.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Groundwater flow and contamination studies
Keywords
groundwater flow, river basins, river discharge, water cycle modeling, climate modeling, groundwater-surface water interaction, Variable Infiltration Capacity model

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