Can artesian groundwater and earthquake-induced aquifer leakage exacerbate the manifestation of liquefaction?

Vast quantities of liquefaction ejecta repeatedly inundated properties during the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence in New Zealand, resulting in differential ground surface subsidence and significant damage to buildings and urban infrastructure. There are strong spatial correlations between the occurrence of ejected sediment with groundwater pressure in deep aquifers. When geotechnical testing sites are grouped according to liquefaction vulnerability indices (to control variance relating to shaking strength, water table depth, and soil profile strength), places where 'minor' and 'moderate-severe' liquefaction occurred during the Mw6.2 Christchurch earthquake had distinctly higher aquifer pressure than sites where liquefaction was not observed. Together with observations of earthquake-induced pressure changes and inferred transfer of groundwater from deep aquifers to shallower levels, an interpretation is that leakage from aquifers with artesian (above ground) pressure provided an additional driving mechanism for surface manifestation of water and sediment. It is surmised that above-ground aquifer pressures further promoted suffusion and piping along fractures, flow-pathways and liquefied horizons. The Mw6.2 Christchurch earthquake is presented as an example where leakage of artesian groundwater likely contributed to the near-surface liquefaction-induced ground damage. The process can result in underprediction of liquefaction vulnerability so needs to be considered when evaluating potential for earthquake-induced liquefaction and ground damage wherever groundwater is confined.

Automated summary

During the Canterbury earthquake sequence in New Zealand from 2010 to 2011, vast amounts of liquefaction ejecta led to differential ground subsidence and damage to buildings, with strong spatial correlations between ejecta occurrence and groundwater pressure in deep aquifers. Earthquake-induced pressure changes and leakage from artesian aquifers likely contributed to near-surface liquefaction and ground damage.