Groundwater discharge
Groundwater discharge is the volumetric flow rate of groundwater through an aquifer.
Total groundwater discharge, as reported through a specified area, is similarly expressed as:
where
- Q is the total groundwater discharge ([L3·T−1]; m3/s),
- K is the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer ([L·T−1]; m/s),
- dh/dl is the hydraulic gradient ([L·L−1]; unitless), and
- A is the area which the groundwater is flowing through ([L2]; m2)
For example, this can be used to determine the flow rate of water flowing along a plane with known geometry.
See also
- Groundwater flow equation
- Groundwater energy balance
- Submarine groundwater discharge
- Discharge (hydrology) – for rivers
- volumetric flow rate
- flux (transport definition)
- Darcy's Law
References
- Freeze, R.A. & Cherry, J.A., 1979. Groundwater, Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-365312-9