Response Functions
- What Factors Affect Response Functions?
System response is controlled
by the physical characteristics of the system. The stream depletion effects
resulting from pumping a given well will be controlled by:
1) the proximity of the stream and well,
2) the degree to which the stream and aquifer are interconnected (see Surface
Water/Ground Water Interaction ),
3) the distribution of aquifer properties such as transmissivity and storativity,
4) layering of the aquifer and the depth and open interval of the well,
5) the distance to other hydraulically connected surface water bodies within the
same aquifer, and
6) the distance to low-permeability aquifer boundaries.
Obviously, the estimation
of response functions can become very complicated. Since we never fully
understand the characteristics and physical properties of the aquifer, generated
response functions represent only an approximation of actual system response.
The reliability of estimated response functions depends on the degree of complication
of the real system and the degree to which we understand and represent the complexities
in the method we choose to calculate response functions. There are several
ways, with varying levels of accuracy, to calculate response functions.
These are described in the section on "How
are Response Functions Determined?". Regardless, our understanding
of the real system and our estimates of response functions are far from perfect.
Information supplied by Idaho
Water Resource Research Institute, University of Idaho December 1998
Authors: Dr. Gary Johnson, Donna Cosgrove, and Mark Lovell.
Graphics: Sherry Laney and Mark Lovell
All State of Idaho images and graphics created with GIS files obtained through
Idaho Department of Water Resources Public Domain GIS unless otherwise noted.
Source
Information