The state of land subsidence and prediction approaches due to groundwater withdrawal in China

Abstract

This article gives a general introduction to land subsidence with the prediction approaches due to withdrawal of groundwater in three subsided/subsiding regions in China: the deltaic plain of Yangtse River (YRDP), North China Plain (NCP), and Fenwei Plain (FP). On YRDP, Shanghai is the typical subsided/subsiding city; on NCP Tianjin is the typical subsided/subsiding city, and on FP Taiyuan is the typical subsided/subsiding city. The subsided area with subsidence over 200 mm on YRDP is about 10,000 km 2 and the maximum subsided value reached 2.9 m at Shanghai; on NCP the subsided area reached 60,000 km 2 with the maximum subsidence of 3.9 m at Tianjing; on FP the subsided area is relatively smaller than that on the other two plains and is about 1,135 km 2 with maximum subsidence of 3.7 m at Taiyuan city. In order to protect the civil and industrial facilities, it is necessary to predict the future development of land subsidence based on present state. Many researchers proposed several approaches to predict the land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal according to different geological conditions and groundwater withdrawal practice. This article classifies these approaches into five categories: (i) statistical methods; (ii) 1D numerical method; (iii) quasi-3D seepage model; (iv) 3D seepage model; (v) fully coupled 3D model. In China, the former four categories are presently employed in the prediction practice and their merits and demerits are discussed. According to the prediction practice, 3D seepage model is the best method presently.

Analysis of Factors in Land Subsidence in Shanghai: A View Based on a Strategic Environmental Assessment

“…From 1921 to 1965, land subsidence and the net withdrawal volume (NWV), which equals the groundwater withdrawal volume minus the groundwater recharge volume, both increased annually in the urban area [4,7,8,10,25]. Since 1966, some measures related to groundwater control have been adopted, such as the banning of unnecessary groundwater withdrawal, changing the withdrawal source to deeper aquifers, and adopting artificial recharge; additionally, land subsidence has been controlled within a small region [26].…”

“…The average cumulative subsidence as of 2009 in the urban area has reached 1.97 m [6]. Since 1966, measures relating to groundwater control have been adopted (such as banning unnecessary groundwater withdrawal, changing the withdrawal source to deeper aquifers, and adopting artificial recharge [7,8]). With these measures implemented, land subsidence was controlled for a period of time.…”

“…Sustainability 2016, 8,573 2 of 12 the natural environment, not only in terms of environmental pollution, but also in the deterioration of the geological environment, which can induce geohazards. As depicted in Figure 1, the multi-aquifer-aquitard groundwater system (MAAS) in Shanghai consists of a phreatic aquifer group (Aq0) and five confined aquifers (AqI-AqV), which are divided by six aquitards (AdI-AdVI) [11][12][13].…”

Modelling the impact of land subsidence on urban pluvial flooding: A case study of downtown Shanghai, China

“…Long term subsidence is due to: (i) relatively constant rates of tectonic subsidence (1 mm/year); and (ii) non-uniform compaction of sediments (more than 20 mm/year on average between 1921 and 2007) due to groundwater withdrawal, construction of high-rise buildings, and underground engineering (Yin et al 2013). In some areas, cumulative subsidence levels have exceeded 3 m since the 1920s and changed the urban topography remarkably, thereby increasing local vulnerability to pluvial flooding (Xu et al 2008). Fig.…”

Detection of Land Subsidence in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Using DInSAR Technique

“…Land subsidence tends to change the topographic gradients, and thus causes infrastructure damage, ruptures in the land surface, aggravates flooding, causes inundation of land and reduces the capacity of aquifers to store water; ultimately posing a risk for society and the economy [3]. The occurrence of land subsidence has been studied in many places around the world, including Tokyo, Japan [4]; Mexico [5]; Saudi Arabia [6]; Texas, USA [7]; Jakarta, Indonesia [8]; Ravenna, Italy [9]; Bangkok, Thailand [10,11]; Pingtung Plain, Taiwan [12]; and China [13].…”