Using a geological perspective to improve understanding of bedrock aquifers

The example of flow near the water table in bedrock aquifers was used to compare a data-based geological perspective and a theory-based hydraulic perspective for characterizing aquifers. The geological perspective showed that there are systematic vertical variations in permeability due to chemical weathering and compression, and gave more accurate but less precise answers than the hydraulic approach. Consequently, the geological perspective can provide a useful complementary approach to the prevailing hydraulic perspective for characterizing aquifers.

Automated summary

A comparison between a data-based geological perspective and a theory-based hydraulic perspective in bedrock aquifers near the water table showed that the geological perspective provided more accurate but less precise descriptions of aquifer characteristics due to systematic vertical variations in permeability caused by chemical weathering and compression. This indicates that the geological perspective can be a useful complementary approach to the prevailing hydraulic perspective for characterizing aquifers.