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| Titel |
The water table at continental scales |
| VerfasserIn |
Lars Marklund, Tom Gleeson, Leslie Smith, Andrew H. Manning |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2011
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 13 (2011) |
| Datensatznummer |
250057368
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Water tables at regional to continental scales can be divided into two distinct types: recharge-controlled water tables that are largely disconnected from topography and topography-controlled water tables that are closely tied to topography. We use geomatic synthesis of extensive hydrologic, geologic and topographic data sets to quantify and map water-table type over the contiguous United States using a dimensionless criterion introduced by Haitjema and Mitchell-Bruker [2005], called the water-table ratio, which differentiates water-table type. Our analysis indicates that specific regions of the United States have broadly contiguous and characteristic water-table types. Water-table ratio relates to water-table depth and the potential for regional groundwater flow. In regions with recharge-controlled water tables, for example the Southwest or Rocky Mountains, USA, water-tables depths are generally greater and more variable and regional groundwater flow is generally more important. Water-table depths are generally shallow and less variable and regional groundwater flow is limited in areas with topography-controlled water tables such as the Northeast USA. The water-table ratio is thus a simple but powerful criterion for evaluating regional groundwater systems over broad areas. |
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