Analytical solutions of tidal groundwater flow in coastal two-aquifer system

This paper presents a complete analytical solution to describe tidal groundwater level fluctuations in a coastal subsurface system. The system consists of two aquifers and a leaky layer between them. Previous solutions of Jacob [Flow of groundwater, in: H. Rouse (Ed.), Engineering Hydraulics, Wiley, New York, 1950, pp. 321–386], Jiao and Tang [Water Resour. Res. 35 (3) (1999) 747], Li and Jiao [Adv. Water Resour. 24 (5) (2001a) 565], Li et al. [Water Resour. Res. 37 (2001) 1095] and Jeng et al. [Adv. Water Resour. (in press)] are special cases of the new solution. The present solution differs from previous work in that both the effects of the leaky layer’s elastic storage and the tidal wave interference between the two aquifers are considered. If the upper and lower aquifers have the same storativities and transimissivities, the system can be simplified into an equivalent double-layered, aquifer–aquitard system bounded by impermeable layers from up and down. It is found that the leaky layer’s elastic storage behaves as a buffer to the tidal wave interference between the two aquifers. The buffer capacity increases with the leaky layer’s thickness, specific storage, and decreases with the leaky layer’s vertical permeability. Great buffer capacity can result in negligible tidal wave interference between the upper and lower aquifers so that the Li and Jiao (loc. cit.) solution applies. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.