On the hydraulics of Extensive perched aquifers

Perched aquifers are commonly formed in the arid and semi-arid regions where the thick unsaturated zone exists. The stored water in perched aquifers can be sufficient to meet limited local domestic demand in locations such as large wadis. Perched aquifers may several meters thick and extend to large distance. Despite their importance there are little analytical works on perched aquifers. In this work, the analytical solution of flow to a partially penetrating pumping well in an extensive perched aquifer is used to analysis the hydraulic behavior of these aquifers. Effects of the underlying aquitard on the perched aquifer hydraulic behavior are explored using the scaled sensitivity curves and maps. The effects of the pumping well penetration and depths on the leakage from the perched aquifer to the underlying unsaturated zone are also investigated. The results of this study can be used to analysis of the hydraulic behaviors of extensive perched aquifers and the groundwater management and the water budget assessment of these aquifers.

Keywords:

perched aquifer , analytical solution , scaled sensitivity , water budget assesment