Poroelastic Response of Shallow Crust Induced Seasonal Changes in
Geohydrologic Parameters
Abstract
Quantitative evaluations of hydrological processes that induce changes
in the geohydrologic parameters of groundwater systems are of great
significance in subsurface hydrology. In this study, the tidal response
of the water level in Lijiang well was considered as an indicator of the
hydrological parameters, and the seasonal changes of the tidal response
were investigated. The results suggested that the seasonal change of
tidal response should be attributed to the seasonal changes in the
geohydrologic parameters, which are caused by the opening/closing of
pre-existing fractures or fracture aperture changes in the groundwater
system, owing to regional precipitation recharge that produces a
poroelastic response in the groundwater system. This suggests that the
groundwater system in the shallow crust can be viewed as a natural
positive feedback poroelastic-hydraulic coupled system during the
hydrological processes. These findings may have far-reaching
implications for the safety of the subsurface environment, ecosystem,
and groundwater resources.