Comparative hydrogeology – reference analysis of groundwater dynamics from neighbouring observation wells

Abstract

Groundwater level fluctuations are caused by spatial and temporal superposition of processes within and outside the aquifer system. Most of the subsurface processes are usually observed on a small scale. Upscaling to the regional scale, as required for future climate change scenarios, is difficult due to data scarcity and increasing complexity. In contrast to the limited availability of system characteristics, highresolution data records of groundwater hydrographs are more generally available. Exploiting the information contained in these records should thus be a priority for analysis of the chronical lack of data describing groundwater system characteristics. This study analyses the applicability of 63 indices derived from daily hydrographs to quantify different dynamics of groundwater levels in unconfined gravel aquifers from three groundwater regions (Bavaria, Germany). Based on the results of two different skill tests, the study aids index selection for different dynamic components of groundwater hydrographs.

Physiographic and Climatic Controls on Regional Groundwater Dynamics

“…The example showed that linear function between indices and system descriptors can have strongly deviating slopes among the three different response classes. Other factors that may be useful for preclassification are which flow system the well is tapping as well as local similarity, whose importance on groundwater dynamics were demonstrated by Giese et al (2020).…”

Similarity-based approaches in hydrogeology: proposal of a new concept for data-scarce groundwater resource characterization and prediction

“…It is also unclear how the boundary conditions should be included in the classification of groundwater systems as the responses of those systems to changes are not only the result of the aquifer properties but also of the unsaturated zone properties, land surface features and processes in adjacent and connected surface-water bodies (e.g. Giese et al 2020). Therefore, the classification of groundwater systems must include consideration of where the system boundaries are drawn and how the boundary processes are viewed.…”

“…Haaf et al (2020) evaluated which of those descriptors significantly influence the dynamic behaviour of groundwater levels. Giese et al (2020) applied the found descriptors to a selection of smaller case study areas. All descriptors defined in the framework of this research are described in Haaf et al (2020).…”

“…Some examples of these studies are: & Using index-based time series characterization and clustering for drought analysis (Heudorfer 2019). & Case study-based evaluation of index-based time series characterization and clustering to describe groundwater flows in different shallow aquifer settings (Giese et al 2020). & Identification of anthropogenic influence on groundwater hydrographs (unpublished).…”

“…The summary avoids details and focusses on the overarching ideas, principles and challenges. Readers interested in more details are referred to Nygren et al (2020), Giese et al (2020), Haaf et al (2020), Haaf and Barthel (2018), as well as the PhD dissertations of Ezra Haaf (Haaf 2020) and Benedikt Heudorfer (Heudorfer 2019).…”