Barometric Efficiency Formula:
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Barometric Efficiency is a measure of the response of groundwater levels in a confined aquifer to changes in atmospheric pressure. It quantifies how much the water level in a well will change in response to a change in barometric pressure.
The calculator uses the Barometric Efficiency formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the fraction of atmospheric pressure change that is transmitted to the groundwater level in a confined aquifer, taking into account the compressibility of both water and the aquifer material, as well as the soil porosity.
Details: Accurate calculation of barometric efficiency is crucial for interpreting groundwater level fluctuations, correcting water level measurements for atmospheric pressure effects, and understanding the hydraulic properties of confined aquifers.
Tips: Enter soil porosity (0-1), compressibility of water, and compressibility of aquifer material. All values must be positive numbers. Porosity should be between 0 and 1.
Q1: What is the typical range for barometric efficiency?
A: Barometric efficiency typically ranges from 0.2 to 0.8 for most confined aquifers, with values closer to 1 indicating highly confined conditions.
Q2: How does soil porosity affect barometric efficiency?
A: Higher porosity generally increases barometric efficiency, as there is more water in the pore spaces to respond to pressure changes.
Q3: What units are used for compressibility?
A: Compressibility is typically measured in Pa⁻¹ (pascals inverse) or m²/N (square meters per newton).
Q4: When is barometric efficiency measurement important?
A: It's particularly important in confined aquifer studies, groundwater monitoring, and when interpreting water level data for hydrological analysis.
Q5: Can barometric efficiency be greater than 1?
A: No, barometric efficiency is a dimensionless ratio that ranges from 0 to 1. Values greater than 1 would indicate an error in measurement or calculation.