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Understanding connected surface-water/groundwater systems using Fourier analysis of daily and sub-daily head fluctuations

Comprendre les systèmes connectés eaux de surface/eaux souterraines en utilisant l’analyse de Fourier sur les variations de charge journalières et infra journalières

El entendimiento de las conexiones de los sistemas agua superficial y agua subterránea usando el análisis de Fourier de fluctuaciones diaria y subdiaria de la carga hidráulica

对每日和更短周期水头波动进行傅里叶分析来了解相互连接的地表水/地下水系统

Entendimento das interações dos sistemas água superficial-água subterrânea através da aplicação de análise de Fourier em flutuações diárias e sub-diárias de séries piezometricas

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Abstract

The long-term monitoring records of hydraulic heads frequently contain fluctuations originating from different cyclic drivers. Fourier analysis applied to these records can reveal connected surface-water/groundwater system characteristics. The various components of the atmospheric tides, the earth tides and the presence of diurnal responses to evapotranspiration are identified and isolated through band-pass filtering of data recorded from both vented and absolute gauge transducers. The signature of the different cyclic drivers is contained in amplitude and phase of the various signal components and can be used to determine the degree of system confinement. A methodology is described for the calculation of barometric efficiency in confined aquifers based upon the amplitude of the M2 and S2 components of the earth and atmospheric tides. It is demonstrated that Fourier analysis of water-level fluctuations is a simple but underused tool that can help to characterise shallow groundwater systems.

Résumé

Les enregistrements de suivi à long terme des charges hydrauliques renferment fréquemment des fluctuations ayant pour origine différents facteurs cycliques. L’analyse de Fourier appliquée à ces enregistrements peut révéler les caractéristiques de systèmes connectés eaux de surface/eaux souterraines. Les différentes composantes des marées atmosphériques, des marées terrestres et la présence de réponses diurnes à l’évapotranspiration sont identifiées et isolées par filtration des bandes passantes des données, enregistrées tant au moyen de capteurs absolus que compensés en pression atmosphérique. La signature des différents facteurs cycliques est contenue dans l’amplitude et la phase des différentes composantes du signal et peut être utilisée pour déterminer le degré de captivité du système. Une méthodologie est décrite pour le calcul de l’efficacité barométrique des aquifères captifs, basée sur l’amplitude des composantes M2 and S2 des marées terrestres et atmosphériques. Il est démontré que l’analyse de Fourier des fluctuations de niveaux d’eau est un outil simple mais sous-utilisé qui peut aider à caractériser les systèmes aquifères peu profonds.

Resumen

Los registros de monitoreo a largo plazo de las cargas hidráulicas frecuentemente contienen fluctuaciones procedentes de diferentes forzantes cíclicos. El análisis de Fourier aplicado a estos registros puede revelar las características de la conexión de los sistemas agua superficial / aguas subterráneas. Se identificaron y aislaron los distintos componentes de las mareas atmosféricas, las mareas terrestres y la presencia de respuestas diurnas a la evapotranspiración a través de filtros pasa banda de datos provenientes de sensores de presión ventilados y absolutos. Las peculiaridades de los diferentes forzantes cíclicos están contenidas en amplitud y fase de las distintas señales componentes y pueden ser usados para determinar el grado de confinamiento del sistema. Se describe una metodología para el cálculo de la eficiencia barométrica en acuíferos confinados basado en la amplitud de las componentes M2 y S2 de las mareas terrestre y atmosférica. Se demuestra que el análisis de Fourier de las fluctuaciones de los niveles de agua es una herramienta simple pero poco utilizada que puede ayudar a caracterizar sistemas de agua subterránea someros.

摘要

期水头监测记录经常包括不同循环驱动产生的波动。对这些记录进行傅里叶分析可揭示相互连接的地表水/地下水系统的特征。通过对排放的和绝对的计量传感器记录的资料进行带通滤波,确定了大气潮汐、地球潮汐各种各样的成分及存在着对蒸发蒸腾一日间的响应,并对每个因素进行了单独的分析。不同循环驱动的特征码包含在各种各样信号成分的幅相中,可用来确定系统限制的程度。根据地球潮汐和大气潮汐M2 和 S2成分的振幅,描述了计算承压含水层中气压效率的方法。研究表明,水位波动的傅里叶分析法是一个简单而又未充分利用的工具,可有助于描述浅层地下水系统的特征。

Resumo

Os registros de monitorização de níveis piezométricos a longo prazo contêm frequentemente oscilações causadas por fatores cíclicos. Uma análise de Fourier aplicada a esses registros pode revelar caraterísticas do sistema de interações água superficial/água subterrânea. As várias componentes das marés atmosféricas e terrestres e a presença de respostas diurnas à evapotranspiração são identificadas e isoladas por métodos de filtragem passa-banda de dados registados a partir de transdutores de pressão absoluta ou ventilados. A assinatura dos diferentes fatores cíclicos está incluída na amplitude e fase dos vários componentes de sinal e pode ser usada para determinar o grau de confinamento do sistema. É descrita uma metodologia para o cálculo da eficiência barométrica em aquíferos confinados, com base na amplitude das componentes M2 e S2 das marés atmosféricas e terrestres. Demonstra-se que a análise de Fourier das flutuações de nível de água é uma ferramenta simples, mas subutilizada, que pode ajudar a caraterizar sistemas hidrogeológicos subsuperficiais.

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Acknowledgements

Aspects of this paper were first presented in September 2012 at the IAH 49th Congress in Niagara Falls, Canada. The site at Elfin Crossing on Maules Creek has been established using funds provided by the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC as a part of their Catchment Research program. Funding for GCR was provided by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, an Australian Government initiative, supported by the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission. The NSW Office of Water maintains the Elfin Crossing Stream gauge. Borehole and logger installations were only possible by funding from The Australian Government Groundwater Educational Investment Fund (GEIF). MOC was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement No. 299091. The authors are grateful to Edwin Weeks and two other anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre (CWI), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Australia, 110 King Street, Manly Vale, 2093, NSW, Australia

    R. I. Acworth, Gabriel C. Rau, Martin S. Andersen & Mark O. Cuthbert

  2. Affiliated with Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Manly Vale, Australia

    Andrew M. McCallum

  3. School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK

    Mark O. Cuthbert

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  1. R. I. Acworth
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Correspondence to R. I. Acworth.

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Acworth, R.I., Rau, G.C., McCallum, A.M. et al. Understanding connected surface-water/groundwater systems using Fourier analysis of daily and sub-daily head fluctuations. Hydrogeol J 23, 143–159 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1182-5

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