Groundwater flow refers to the movement of water through the pore spaces and fractures of unsaturated and saturated geologic media, governed primarily by hydraulic gradients and the hydraulic properties of the aquifer. It is quantitatively described by Darcy’s law, which relates specific discharge to hydraulic conductivity and the gradient of hydraulic head, and by the groundwater flow equation, a partial differential equation combining Darcy’s law with conservation of mass. Groundwater flow processes control recharge, discharge, solute transport, and aquifer response to stresses such as pumping, and are analyzed using analytical solutions, numerical models, and field measurements of head, permeability, and storage parameters.
Science never stops. Get notified about trending stories.
