• Assessment of groundwater mass balance and zone budget in the semi-arid region: A case study of Palar sub-basin, Tamil Nadu, India

• # Fulltext

https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jess/130/0187

• # Keywords

Groundwater potential zone; visual MODFLOW; groundwater velocity; electrical resistivity; mass balance.

• # Abstract

The assessment of groundwater potential zones is crucial for estimating and managing available groundwater resources. In the proposed study, quantification of groundwater availability is performed using the information collected from the hydrogeological and geophysical (electrical resistivity) investigation of the aquifer. We delineate groundwater potential zones using a weighted overlay analysis based on the conventional method with 110 electrical resistivity surveys and 40 lithological data. MODFLOW is nused to calibrate and validate the Cow pattern and groundwater characteristics. The study area comprises a complex geological formation. The groundwater potential map is prepared using the observed groundwater level instead of rainfall data as the study area lacks rainfall stations. The final potential map is validated with the speciBc capacity obtained from the pumping test. This map is divided into 13 zones and each zone is considered as boundaries for the MODFLOW simulation. The thickness of each zone is assessed using the electrical resistivity method. The calibration and validation of the groundwater model nare performed for one year and 1.5 years, respectively, between November 2012 and March 2015. We consider two layers, namely topsoil and unconfined/semi-confined aquifers in the groundwater model. During the calibration and validation periods, the groundwater volume is found to be 7.12 and 7.51 Mm$^3$, respectively. The groundwater mass balance assessment performed in this study will be helpful in the planning and management of groundwater resources in the area.

• # Author Affiliations

1. Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, India.

• # Journal of Earth System Science

Volume 130, 2021
All articles
Continuous Article Publishing mode

• # Editorial Note on Continuous Article Publication

Posted on July 25, 2019