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Groundwater and the

Hydrological Cycle, Part I
Regional Groundwater Flow
Reference Schwartz and Zhang
Chapter 8
Portions by permission of John Hermance, 2007
Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Lesson Objectives
Components of the hydrologic cycle,
specifically regional groundwater flow and
what controls it.
How to interpret output from a numericalcomputer model
Basic recharge calculations from flow nets

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Aspects of the Hydrologic Cycle

The saturated and unsaturated zones:
Groundwater
Surface water; the land surface
Atmosphere

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Source: Todd and Mays (2005)

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Early Work
Hubbert, Toth

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S&Z (2003) Figure 8.2

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(Source: Fig. 7.1; Fetter, 2001; after

Hubbert, 1941.)

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Water table is a subdued replica

Recharge in upland and discharge in lowland
Steady flow field, axes of symmetry, hinge lines

(Source: Fig. 7.1; Fetter, 2001; after

Hubbert, 1941.)

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Toth Simulations
First attempts at analytic solution for
regional flow in 60s

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Mathematical problem solved by Toth

Schwartz and Zhang (2003) Figure 8.3

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Two Examples of Local, Intermediate

and Regional Flow Patterns.

Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

(Source: Fig. Portions
7.4; Fetter,
2001.)

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DlL ratio is 1:20 and lower is 1:2

What factors affect the partitioning of flow among

local, intermediate and regional patterns ?

Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

(Source: Fig. Portions
7.4; Fetter,
2001.)

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Source: Fetter (2001)

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

7-16

Question: Does the spatial wavelength or the

amplitude, or both, affect the partitioning among
local, intermediate and regional flow patterns?

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

(Source: Fig. 7.5; Fetter,
2001.)

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Amplitude of the undulations cause more penetration of local systems

and overides regional slopes
Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)
(Source: Fig. 7.5; Fetter,
2001.)

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Toth Results
Extended flat area, groundwater flow is
very slow
When local relief (hills) is small, a general
slope across will create regional flow
Local flow develops when local relief is
well defined
Flow velocities in local flow system much
greater that regional flow system
Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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More Recent
Freeze & Witherspoon

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Effects of Basin Geology

Freeze and Witherspoon simulations
More advanced analytic solutions

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

Local Topography

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Absence of local topography causes regional flow to develop

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

Source: Schwartz and Zhang (2003) Figure 8.9

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K contrasts; aquifers

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Effects of
lenticular bodies

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

Freeze and Witherspoon

Results

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Effects of more realistic topography

Buried aquifers
pinched out aquifers
Many other implications not covered

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

Modern Numerical Simulations

Regional Flow

7-25

Slides 26 39 courtesy of Dr. John

Hermance
Numerical simulations (finite difference)
can capture even more realistic
topography and boundary conditions

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Boundary conditions?
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Flow-net in color.
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Note: No flow directions.

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Example of flow direction.

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A Close-up View.

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Utility of Piezometers.

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Not always a correlation between elevation of

watertable and depth of water in a piezometer.
Nested piezometers can provide local flow
direction.

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Groundwater Recharge
Infiltration will be discussed later
Recharge occurs at the water table and is
the amount of water replenishing the
groundwater component
Water required to maintain the water table
at current position
Old thinking: spatially and temporally
constant value (never changes)
Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Recharge Calculations
Use basic flow net methodology
More on recharge and infiltration

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Estimation of recharge

Rule of thumb, R = 5% of precipitation (crude)

Estimate from flow net, see above. Flow exiting from area
B, 8 flow tubes, gives 12.2 cubic m/day
Adapted Schwartz and Zhang (2003) Figure 8.23
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Solved Problems
Problems 1 - 4

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Lesson Review
What are recharge, discharge zones?

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Lesson Review
How are flow systems categorized?

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Lesson Review
Considering the last question and length of
flow paths; where would the best place be
(on the topography) for a toxic waste site?

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Lesson Review
Where to you think that most, if not all,
toxic waste and landfills are constructed
(w/r) to flow systems?

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)

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Lesson Review
How can you estimate (or calculate)
recharge into a groundwater system?

Portions Allan D. Woodbury (2011)