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Combination of soil-water balance models and water-table fluctuation methods for evaluation and improvement of groundwater recharge calculations

Combinaison de modèles de bilan eau du sol et de fluctuation de nappe pour l’amélioration des calculs d’évaluation de recharge d’aquifère

Combinación de modelos de balance de agua - suelo y métodos de fluctuación de niveles freáticos para la evaluación y mejoramiento de los cálculos de recarga de agua subterránea

土壤水平衡模型与水位波动模型结合以评价和改进地下水补给量计算值

Combinação de modelos de balanço hídrico de água no solo e métodos de flutuação da superfície freática para avaliação e aperfeiçoamento do cálculo da recarga de águas subterrâneas

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Abstract

Despite a long history of related research, quantifying and verifying recharge is still a major challenge. The combination and comparison of conceptually different methods has been recommended as a strategy for evaluating recharge estimates. In this article, recharge estimates from water-table fluctuation (WTF) methods are combined with and compared to the results of the spatially and temporally discretized soil-water-balance model PROMET (processes of radiation, mass and energy transfer). As PROMET and WTF methods rely on different measurable variables, a comparison of these two contrasting techniques allows improved assessment of the plausibility of recharge estimates. An enhanced approach to WTF methods is presented. The approach assumes that in the case of no recharge, there exists a maximum possible potential decline for any given groundwater level. The primary conclusion is that WTF methods are excellent for determining the plausibility of spatially distributed regional-groundwater-recharge estimation approaches and for detecting inconsistencies in available models. Recharge estimates derived from WTF approaches alone are, however, not suitable for regional-scale recharge estimation due to (1) their strong dependency on local data, applicability of which is limited to only very specific conditions, and (2) their sensitivity to influences other than recharge.

Résumé

Malgré une longue histoire de recherches sur le sujet, quantifier et vérifier une recharge est encore un challenge majeur. La combinaison et la comparaison de méthodes conceptuellement différentes a été recommandée comme stratégie pour évaluer les recharges. Dans cet article, des estimations de recharge déduites de la fluctuation de la nappe (WTF) sont combinées et comparées aux bilans d’eau discrétisés dans le temps et dans l’espace du modèle PROMET (Processus de Radiation, de Transfert de Masse et d’Energie). Comme les méthodes PROMET et WTF s’appuient sur différentes variables mesurables, une comparaison entre ces deux techniques contrastées autorise une évaluation améliorée et plausible de la recharge. Une approche améliorée de la méthode WTF est présentée. L’approche suppose qu’en cas d’absence de recharge, il existe un rabattement potentiel maximum possible pour tout niveau de nappe. La conclusion fondamentale est que les méthodes WTF sont excellentes pour déterminer la plausibilité des estimations de recharge de nappe à distribution spatiale régionale et pour détecter des incohérences dans les modèles disponibles. Les estimations de recharge dérivées des approches WFT seules ne sont toutefois pas adaptées à l’échelle régionale en raison de (1) leur forte dépendance aux données locales, dont l’exploitation est limitée seulement à des conditions très particulières, et (2) leur sensibilité à des influences autres que la recharge.

Resumen

A pesar de una larga historia de investigación sobre el tema, la cuantificación y verificación de la recarga es aún un gran desafío. La combinación y comparación de diferentes métodos conceptuales han sido recomendados como una estrategia para evaluar la estimación de la recarga. En este artículo, las estimaciones de la recarga a partir de los métodos de fluctuaciones de los niveles freáticos (WTF) son combinados y comparados con los resultados del modelo de balance de agua – suelo, espacial y temporalmente discretizado PROMET (Procesos de transferencia de radiación, masa y energía). Puesto que los métodos PROMET y WTF descansan sobre diferentes variables medibles, una comparación de estas dos técnicas contrastantes permite una mejora en la evaluación de la plausibilidad de las estimaciones de la recarga. Se presenta una aproximación mejorada de los métodos WTF. La aproximación supone que en el caso que no haya recarga, existe un máximo descenso potencial posible para cualquier dado nivel de agua subterránea. La conclusión primaria es que los métodos WTF son excelentes para determinar la plausibilidad de las aproximaciones a la estimación de recarga regional del agua subterránea espacialmente distribuida y para detectar inconsistencia en los modelos disponibles. Las estimaciones de la recarga provenientes de las aproximaciones WTF, sin embargo no son adecuadas para la estimación de la recarga a escala regional debido a (1) su fuerte dependencia de los datos locales, cuya aplicabilidad está limitada a sólo condiciones muy específicas, y (2) su sensibilidad influencias diferentes de recarga.

摘要

尽管长期进行相关调查,但补给量的定量确定及验证仍是一个较大挑战。不同概念模型间的结合和比较是评价补给量的可以推荐的一个策略。本文对水位波动模型(WTF)补给估计量与时空离散土壤水平衡模型PROMET(衰变、质量与能量转移的过程)的结果进行结合与比较。由于PROMET 和WTF模型依赖于不同的实测变量,这两个独立技术的比较可改进对补给量合理性的评价。本文提出了WTF模型增强模式。该模式假定在没有补给的情况下,对任一给定的地下水位,存在一个最大可能潜在下降面。初步结论为WTF模型对于确定空间分布区域地下水补给估计量方法的合理性及检查获得模型中的不一致性较好。但是,仅仅用WTF模型对区域尺度上补给量的评估不适用,因为(1) 强烈依赖于当地数据,仅仅在特定条件下才适用;(2) 对除了补给之外其它因素影响的敏感性。

Resumo

Apesar de uma longa história de pesquisas relacionadas, quantificar e verificar a recarga é ainda um grande desafio. A combinação e a comparação de métodos conceptualmente diferentes tem sido recomendada como uma estratégia para avaliar as estimativas de recarga. Neste artigo, métodos de estimativa de recarga a partir da flutuação da superfície freática (WTF) são combinados e comparados com os resultados do modelo de balanço hídrico no solo discretizado no espaço e no tempo PROMET (Processos de Transferência de Massa, Radiação e Energia). Como os métodos PROMET e WTF dependem de diferentes variáveis mensuráveis, uma comparação entre essas duas técnicas distintas permite uma melhor avaliação da plausibilidade das estimativas de recarga. Apresenta-se uma abordagem melhorada aos métodos WTF. A abordagem assume que, no caso de não existir recarga, haverá um possível declínio potencial máximo para qualquer nível da superfície freática. A conclusão principal é que os métodos WTF são excelentes para determinar a plausibilidade de abordagens de estimativa regional espacialmente distribuída da recarga de águas subterrâneas e para a detecção de inconsistências nos modelos disponíveis. As estimativas de recarga resultantes de abordagens WTF, por si só, são no entanto inadequadas para a estimação da recarga à escala regional devido i) à sua forte dependência de dados locais, cuja aplicabilidade está limitada apenas a condições muito específicas, e ii) à sua sensibilidade a influências distintas da recarga.

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Acknowledgements

GLOWA-Danube was funded by the BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research). The authors would like to thank all governmental organizations, private companies and others who supported our work by providing data, models, advice or additional funding. The authors would like to thank their colleagues from partner projects within GLOWA-Danube for their cooperation over the last 10  years. Special thanks go to the research group of Prof. Dr. Wolfram Mauser, Department of Geography, LM-University Munich, Germany, who provided the PROMET-results for the UDC project used in this study as well as tools for the post-processing of these data.

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Jie, Z., van Heyden, J., Bendel, D. et al. Combination of soil-water balance models and water-table fluctuation methods for evaluation and improvement of groundwater recharge calculations. Hydrogeol J 19, 1487–1502 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0772-8

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