Complex wave propagation from open water bodies into aquifers: A fast analytical approach

Aquifers are of particular interest in the vicinity rivers, lakes and coastal areas due to their extensive usage. Hydraulic properties such as transmissivity storativity can be deduced from periodical water level fluctuations both open bodies groundwater. Here, we model effect complex wave propagation into adjacent isotropic homogeneous aquifers. Besides confined aquifers, also study leaky aquifers situations with flow barriers near encountered harbours where sheet piling place. We present a fast analytical solution for hydraulic head distribution which allows determining diffusivity (Ss/K) aquifer, low investigational efforts. make use Fast Fourier Transform decompose boundary conditions derive solutions through superposition. Analytical verified by comparing numerical MODFLOW models three application examples: tidal measured harbour Rotterdam, synthetic square river Rhine Lobith. setup parameter estimation routine identify diffusivity, easily adapted real observation data piezometers. Inverse estimates show relative differences less than 2% input data. A sensitivity further shows how achieve reliable depending on piezometer location or other influencing factors resistance values confining layer (for aquifers) barriers.