Theoretical analysis of regional groundwater flow: 2. Effect of water‐table configuration and subsurface permeability variation

Abstract

Details of steady‐state flow in regional groundwater basins can be investigated using digital computer solutions of appropriately designed mathematical models. The factors that must be considered are: (1) ratio of depth to lateral extent of the basin; (2) Watertable configuration; and (3) stratigraphy and resulting subsurface variations in permeability. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the following properties of regional flow systems: (1) groundwater discharge will tend to be concentrated in major valleys; (2) recharge areas are invariably larger than discharge areas; (3) in hummocky terrain, numerous sub‐basins are superposed on the regional system; (4) buried aquifers tend to concentrate flow toward the principal discharge area, have a limiting effect on sub‐basins, and need not outcrop to produce artesian flow conditions; (5), stratigraphic discontinuities can lead to distributions of recharge and discharge areas that are difficult to anticipate and that are largely independent of the water‐table configuration. (Key words: Groundwater; computers, digital; drainage basin characteristics)