Specific Yield Formula:
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The Specific Yield refers to the volume of water that a saturated rock or soil will yield due to gravity drainage to the total volume of the rock or soil. It is a crucial parameter in hydrogeology for understanding water storage and movement in aquifers.
The calculator uses the Specific Yield formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio of total water input (recharge + draft) to the product of water level fluctuation and watershed area, providing the specific yield value.
Details: Accurate Specific Yield estimation is essential for groundwater resource management, aquifer characterization, and sustainable water extraction planning. It helps determine the available water storage capacity of aquifers.
Tips: Enter Possible Recharge and Gross Water Draft in m³/s, Water Level Fluctuation in meters, and Watershed Area in m². All values must be valid positive numbers with Water Level Fluctuation and Watershed Area greater than zero.
Q1: What is the typical range of Specific Yield values?
A: Specific Yield typically ranges from 0.01 to 0.35, depending on the aquifer material. Coarse materials like gravel have higher values, while fine materials like clay have lower values.
Q2: How does Specific Yield differ from Specific Retention?
A: Specific Yield is the drainable water volume, while Specific Retention is the water retained against gravity. Their sum equals porosity.
Q3: Why is water level fluctuation important in this calculation?
A: Water level fluctuation represents the change in aquifer storage and is crucial for determining the volume of water available for extraction.
Q4: What factors affect Specific Yield values?
A: Grain size distribution, particle shape, packing arrangement, and degree of compaction significantly influence Specific Yield values.
Q5: How is Specific Yield used in practice?
A: It's used in groundwater modeling, well design, determining safe yield of aquifers, and planning sustainable groundwater development projects.