Estimating groundwater recharge

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union
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Abstract

Groundwater recharge is the entry of fresh water into the saturated portion of the subsurface part of the hydrologic cycle, the modifier “saturated” indicating that the pressure of the pore water is greater than atmospheric. Briefly stated, recharge is downward flux across the water table. The term “groundwater recharge” can refer either to the multiple interacting processes generating and controlling the flux or to the fluxR itself. When referring to flux, R can represent either (1) a value integrated over large areas and long periods of time or (2) a point value, or instantaneous flux density, that varies erratically as well as continuously in time and space. Knowing how R is distributed through space and time is required for understanding the dynamics of groundwater flow and transport in any watershed, aquifer, or selected domain of interest and for understanding heads, flow paths, and discharges to streams, wetlands, and other surface water bodies. Clearly among the most important of hydrologic fluxes, R is also one of the most difficult to measure. Advancements in hydrologic science have proceeded surprisingly in lockstep with advances in determining R.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Estimating groundwater recharge
Series title Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union
DOI 10.1029/2011EO320008
Volume 92
Issue 32
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) National Research Program - Western Branch
Description 1 p.
First page 269
Last page 269
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