Coseismic response of groundwater level in the Three Gorges well network and its relationship to aquifer parameters

The 12 May 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake caused notable changes in the water levels of wells in the Three Gorges area. This work examines the relationship between these coseismic changes in water level and the changes in aquifer parameters. Three wells in the area with good responses to earth tide were chosen for analysis. Water-level data from February to June 2008 were used to calculate the aquifer transmissivity, permeability and specific storage of the rocks, and analyze the relationship between the coseismic responses of the wells and their aquifer parameters. The results show that the Wenchuan earthquake changed these parameters considerably, thereby controlling co- and postseismic variations of water level. The values of these parameters prior to the earthquake are linearly related with the amplitudes of coseismic variations in water level. The larger the aquifer transmissivity, the more remarkable the coseismic change in water level. During the earthquake, changes in aquifer parameters were found to be associated with coseismic variations in water level, with the larger changes occurring when the coseismic variation in water level was larger. The tectonic setting has a certain degree of influence on the co- and postseismic changes in water level. The permeability structures of the fault zone appear to determine the manner of coseismic variation in water level. Moreover, it seems that the water level in wells where groundwater converges more easily can recover faster following an earthquake. Insight from this study helps to improve understanding of the characteristics of water-level changes caused by earthquakes.