Temporal and spatial variability of cross-fault groundwater level differences: the impact of fault-induced permeability reduction, precipitation and evapotranspiration

Rimbaud Ernst Lapperre, V.F. Bense, C Kasse, Ronald van Balen

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Faults in the Roer Valley Rift System (Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany) act as barriers to lateral groundwater flow in unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers. This causes a cross-fault groundwater-level step of up to several metres. Using a dataset obtained through 5 years of high-frequency monitoring, the effect of fault-zone permeability, precipitation and evapotranspiration on cross-fault groundwater-level steps is studied at two sites situated across the Peel Boundary Fault. Hydraulic conductivity values at the fault are 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than that of similar lithologies away from the fault, indicating that fault displacement has a significant impact on groundwater flow. The influence of precipitation and evapotranspiration on fault-zone hydrology is inferred from water-table fluctuations over short distances across the fault. On the foot wall, the water table is nearer to the surface and displays a shorter level range with a spiky temporal variability. On the hanging wall, a deeper water table is sloping away from the fault and shows a wider level range with a smoother temporal variability. The observed groundwater level fluctuations are attributed mainly to precipitation and evapotranspiration dynamics. At a larger spatial scale, the 5-year-average cross-fault groundwater-level steps at the two sites are 1.59 and 1.39 m. At a smaller scale, the cross-fault groundwater-level step is much less because of the rising water table towards the fault on the hanging wall. At the smallest scale, just across the fault zone, the groundwater level step is around 0.2 m, indicating that the fault is semi-impermeable.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1233-1257
Number of pages25
JournalHydrogeology Journal
Volume30
Issue number4
Early online date9 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

Other titles:
Variabilité temporelle et spatiale des différences de niveaux d’eaux souterraines de part et d’autre d’une faille: impact de la diminution de la perméabilité induite par une faille, précipitation et évapotranspiration

Variabilidad temporal y espacial de las diferencias de nivel de agua subterránea transversal a fallas: el impacto de la reducción de la permeabilidad inducida por las fallas, la precipitación y la evapotranspiración

跨断层地下水位差异的时空变化:断层引起的渗透率降低、降水和蒸散发的影响

Variabilidade temporal e espacial das diferenças de nível das águas subterrâneas entre falhas: o impacto da redução da permeabilidade induzida por falhas, da precipitação e da evapotranspiração

Funding

The support of water authority Aa en Maas, the Province of Noord-Brabant and drinking water company Brabant Water for providing monitoring equipment and having the monitoring data validated is very much appreciated. In particular the support from Emmy Zwier and Chris van Rens from the water authority was very helpful. TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research in Utrecht (Eppie de Heer, Ronald Harting and Stefanie Bus) carried out all laboratory permeability measurement and assisted in correct interpretation. Marcel Bakker (TNO) aided during the trench excavation. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Hans Huisman and Mario van IJzendoorn) shared their knowledge on making the box cores presented in this paper and Esmee Sanders carried out the fine tuning of multiple figures. Jon and Tom Mensink are very much thanked for keeping the Bakel and Geneneind monitoring sites operational since late 2014. Without their contribution, it would not have been possible to study the valuable data sets now available. Last but not least, we would like to thank editors Martin Appold and John Paul Moore and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments to improve this manuscript.

FundersFunder number
Cultural Heritage Agency
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research in Utrecht

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