Modelling of ground water recharge-potential in the hard-rock Aravalli terrain, India: a GIS approach

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 929 - 938
• Main Authors: Bhuiyan, C., Singh, Ramesh P., Flügel, W. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Arid zones; Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geographic information systems; Geology; Groundwater; Groundwater recharge; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Infiltration capacity; Internal geophysics; Original Article; Remote sensing; Rocks; Semiarid lands; Sustainable development; Terrestrial Pollution; Water level fluctuations; Water levels; Water potential; Water table; Rajasthan India; Asia; India; GIS; Modelling; Aravalli; Hard-rock; Recharge-potential; models; rainfall; Thematic Mapper; Space remote sensing; Landsat; ground water; water table; arid environment; ground-water recharge; geographic information systems; rain water; infiltration; water resources; aquifers; fluctuations; water resource management; seasonal variations
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-009-0087-4

Modelling of ground water recharge-potential in hard-rock areas principally aims at water-resource evaluation. Various techniques are available to assess recharge-potential, and their capability in estimating recharge is also variable. However, the water level fluctuation method is found capable in computing actual ground water recharge. Demarcation of ground water recharge-potential zones in arid and semi-arid regions is of great importance for human survival and sustainable development. Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques have been widely used by numerous researchers for qualitative assessment of ground water potential of a basin or terrain. In the present study, a GIS-based water table fluctuation method has been attempted for quantitative modelling of ground water recharge of the hard-rock Aravalli terrain. This GIS-based model is further used to evaluate recharge-potential of the terrain by integrated assessment of infiltration capacity, normal rainfall, and its cumulative frequency.