Hydrogeological Characterization of Aquifer Systems
Summary
Hydrogeological characterisation of aquifer systems encompasses the assessment of geological, geophysical and hydrodynamic properties that govern groundwater occurrence, movement and storage. It integrates field-based investigations—such as drilling, aquifer testing and geochemical analysis—with geophysical methods like electrical resistivity and airborne electromagnetic surveying to delineate subsurface architecture and identify water-bearing features. Conceptual models of aquifer structure, spanning sedimentary, carbonate and crystalline-rock environments, inform numerical simulations of flow and transport, guiding resource evaluation and sustainable abstraction. Characterisation underpins strategies for well siting, contamination risk assessment and managed aquifer recharge, addressing challenges from climate variability to population growth across diverse hydroclimatic settings.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have harnessed airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to map fracture networks in crystalline hardrock aquifers at regional scale, revealing low-resistivity zones that correspond to groundwater-saturated lineaments. Calibration with drilling and geophysical logs has established depth-specific thresholds—beyond which well yield correlates strongly with fracture connectivity—facilitating the delineation of sustainable sources. This integration of AEM-derived resistivity mapping with hydrogeological logs has advanced frameworks for locating high-yield zones and understanding subsurface flow pathways in hardrock terrains worldwide.
Hydrogeological Characterization of Aquifer Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hydrogeological characterization of aquifer systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Aquifer system: A geological formation or set of formations that stores and transmits groundwater.
Saprolite: A layer of deeply weathered rock below the soil zone with low but significant porosity and permeability.
Stratiform fractured layer: A subhorizontal zone of enhanced fracture density within weathered rock that predominantly governs groundwater flow.
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey: A geophysical technique that measures subsurface resistivity from an aircraft to infer water content and geological structures.
Hydrogeological lineament: A linear anomaly in geophysical or remote-sensing data indicative of fractures or faults that may conduct groundwater.
Transmissivity: The rate at which water can move through an aquifer’s entire saturated thickness under a hydraulic gradient of one.
Hydraulic conductivity: A property of porous material that describes the ease with which water can move through pore spaces or fractures.
Regolith: The blanket of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock, including soil, saprolite and other weathered deposits.
References
- Review: Hydrogeology of weathered crystalline/hard-rock aquifers—guidelines for the operational survey and management of their groundwater resources. Hydrogeology Journal (2021).
- Large Scale Mapping of Fractures and Groundwater Pathways in Crystalline Hardrock By AEM. Scientific Reports (2019).
- The role of superficial geology in controlling groundwater recharge in the weathered crystalline basement of semi-arid Tanzania. Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies (2021).
- Investigating the Productivity and Sustainability of Weathered Basement Aquifers in Tropical Africa Using Numerical Simulation and Global Sensitivity Analysis. Water Resources Research (2020).
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