This book recognises groundwater flow as a fundamental geologic agent, and presents a wide-ranging and illustrated overview of its history, principles, scientific consequences and practical utilization. The author, one of the founding fathers of modern hydrogeology, highlights key interrelationships between seemingly disparate processes and systems by tracing them to a common root cause - gravity-driven groundwater flow. Numerous examples demonstrate practical applications in a diverse range of subjects, including land-use planning, environment protection, wetland ecology, agriculture, forestry, geotechnical engineering, nuclear-waste disposal, mineral and petroleum exploration, and geothermal heat flow. The book contains numerous user-friendly features for a multidisciplinary readership, including full explanations of the relevant mathematics, emphasis on the physical meaning of the equations, and an extensive glossary. It is a key reference for researchers, consultants and advanced students of hydrogeology and reservoir engineering.
• Written by one of the founding fathers of the modern discipline of hydrogeology, with over 45 years of experience in the subject • Provides an introduction to the theory and applications of gravity-driven groundwater flow, serving as a road map for further research in the field • Incorporates a glossary with unambiguous and rigorous definitions of relevant terms, making the book valuable for a wide, multidisciplinary readership
Contents
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The 'unit basin'; 3. Flow patterns in composite and heterogeneous basins; 4. Gravity flow of groundwater: a geologic agent; 5. Practical applications: selected case studies and histories; 6. Gravitational systems of groundwater flow and the science of hydrogeology; 7. Glossary; References; Appendix A; Appendix B; Index.
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