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Estimation of Natural Groundwater Recharge pp 49–72Cite as

A Review of Some of the Physical, Chemical and Isotopic Techniques Available for Estimating Groundwater Recharge

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 222))

Abstract

Groundwater recharge means different things to different people. For example, to an agronomist, water which moves beneath the root zone of crops represents a loss in yield and so should be minimised. Those who are interested in water resources, take the opposite view. A few of the reasons for studying natural groundwater recharge are: to determine the safe yield of a groundwater system; to assess the extent of development of secondary salinisation following land clearing; and, for those interested in storage of waste materials, to identify areas of very low groundwater recharge. Only natural recharge, either local or localized will be considered here. Local (or diffuse) recharge is defined as that reaching the water table by percolation of precipitation in excess of evapotranspiration, through the unsaturated zone. Localized recharge occurs following runoff and subsequent ponded infiltration through low-lying areas, streams or lakes.

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  1. Division of Soils, CSIRO, Private Bag 2, P.O., Glen Osmond, S.A., 5064, Australia

    G. B. Allison

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  1. G. B. Allison
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  1. Institute of Earth Sciences, Free University, P.O.Box 7161, 1007 MC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ian Simmers (Director) (Director)

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Allison, G.B. (1988). A Review of Some of the Physical, Chemical and Isotopic Techniques Available for Estimating Groundwater Recharge. In: Simmers, I. (eds) Estimation of Natural Groundwater Recharge. NATO ASI Series, vol 222. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7780-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7780-9_4

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