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The Aquifer Thickness is referred as vertical distance between the top and bottom boundaries of an aquifer, typically measured in feet or meters. It represents the saturated thickness of the aquifer through which groundwater can flow.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates aquifer thickness by dividing the transmissivity (which represents the aquifer's ability to transmit water) by the equivalent permeability (the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer material).
Details: Accurate calculation of aquifer thickness is crucial for groundwater resource assessment, well design, contaminant transport modeling, and sustainable water management. It helps determine the available groundwater storage and flow capacity of an aquifer system.
Tips: Enter transmissivity in m²/s and equivalent permeability in m/s. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the difference between transmissivity and permeability?
A: Permeability (hydraulic conductivity) is a property of the aquifer material, while transmissivity is the product of permeability and aquifer thickness, representing the overall transmission capacity.
Q2: How is transmissivity measured in the field?
A: Transmissivity is typically determined through pumping tests, where water is pumped from a well and the drawdown is measured in observation wells over time.
Q3: What factors affect aquifer thickness?
A: Geological formation, depositional environment, tectonic activity, and erosion processes all contribute to variations in aquifer thickness.
Q4: Can this formula be used for confined and unconfined aquifers?
A: The formula applies to both confined and unconfined aquifers, though for unconfined aquifers, the thickness may vary with water table fluctuations.
Q5: What are typical ranges for aquifer thickness?
A: Aquifer thickness can range from a few meters in thin alluvial deposits to hundreds of meters in extensive sedimentary basin aquifers.