Groundwater discharge

Groundwater discharge is the volumetric flow rate of groundwater through an aquifer.

Total groundwater discharge, as reported through a specified area, is similarly expressed as:

$Q = \frac{dh}{dl}KA$

where

Q is the total groundwater discharge ([L³·T⁻¹]; m³/s),

K is the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer ([L·T⁻¹]; m/s),

dh/dl is the hydraulic gradient ([L·L⁻¹]; unitless), and

A is the area which the groundwater is flowing through ([L²]; m²)

For example, this can be used to determine the flow rate of water flowing along a plane with known geometry.

See also

• Groundwater flow equation
• Groundwater energy balance
• Submarine groundwater discharge
• Discharge (hydrology) – for rivers
• volumetric flow rate
• flux (transport definition)
• Darcy's Law

References

• Freeze, R.A. & Cherry, J.A., 1979. Groundwater, Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-365312-9