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Groundwater recharge rates for regional groundwater modelling: a case study using GROWA in the Lower Rhine lignite mining area, Germany

  • Abstract: Groundwater recharge rates calculated with the GROWA model have been applied as the recharge boundary condition for the regional groundwater model Rurscholle. This model simulates groundwater dynamics in the Pleistocene aquifers of the Lower Rhine lignite mining area (Germany). GROWA uses an area-differentiated approach to calculate recharge rates depending on runoff-relevant site characteristics, which are represented by a set of baseflow indices. The regional accuracy of the coupled groundwater and GROWA models has been checked using groundwater hydrographs as validation criteria. The results suggest that the current (unadjusted) version of GROWA underestimates the regional groundwater recharge rate by 10-20 mm/yr. The comparative analysis identified areas where recharge calculations could be improved by adjusting the baseflow indices for areas where runoff is dominated by slope, low water-logging and a low degree of sealing. Using the adjusted set of baseflow indices, the mean groundwater recharge rate of the RurscholleAbstract: Groundwater recharge rates calculated with the GROWA model have been applied as the recharge boundary condition for the regional groundwater model Rurscholle. This model simulates groundwater dynamics in the Pleistocene aquifers of the Lower Rhine lignite mining area (Germany). GROWA uses an area-differentiated approach to calculate recharge rates depending on runoff-relevant site characteristics, which are represented by a set of baseflow indices. The regional accuracy of the coupled groundwater and GROWA models has been checked using groundwater hydrographs as validation criteria. The results suggest that the current (unadjusted) version of GROWA underestimates the regional groundwater recharge rate by 10-20 mm/yr. The comparative analysis identified areas where recharge calculations could be improved by adjusting the baseflow indices for areas where runoff is dominated by slope, low water-logging and a low degree of sealing. Using the adjusted set of baseflow indices, the mean groundwater recharge rate of the Rurscholle region was modelled as approx. 170 mm/yr. This study highlights the benefit of using a coupled approach and being able to independently calibrate and validate groundwater recharge boundary conditions in regional groundwater models.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Frank Herrmann, Christoph Jahnke, Florian Jenn, Ralf Kunkel, Hans-Jürgen Voigt, Jens Voigt, Frank Wendland
Document Type:Scientific journal article peer-reviewed
Language:English
Year of publication:2009
Tag:GROWA; Groundwater recharge/water budget; Mining; Numerical modeling
Quelle aus UBICO:Hydrogeology Journal 17(2009)8, 2049-2060, 1431-2174
Institution name at the time of publication:Fakultät für Umweltwissenschaften und Verfahrenstechnik (eBTU) / LS Umweltgeologie
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