Evaluation of The Geometry and Investigating of Changes in Saturated and Unsaturated Volumes of Mashhad - Chenaran Aquifer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hossein Mohammadzadeh ¹

Raheleh Shahriari ²

Naser Hafezi Moghaddas ³

Azam Ghazi ⁴

¹ Groundwater and Geothermal Research Center (GRC), Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

² Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

³ Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

⁴ Zamin physic Pouya Consulting Company

10.22067/jfcei.2024.87150.1287

Abstract

The assessment of aquifer geometry is crucial to determine the thickness of the alluvium, to estimate the aquifer storage, to predict extractable groundwater, to optimize groundwater resource usage and to better manage aquifer. In this article, the geometry of the Mashhad – Chenaran aquifer and the changes in the volume of its saturated and unsaturated parts were investigated over a period of 30 years (1991-2021). To determine the geometry of the aquifer, digital zoning maps of different surfaces (including the aquifer surface, water table level, and bedrock surface) were prepared, and the aquifer thickness and the volume of the aquifer were estimated. According to the results, the volume reduction in the saturated part is about 42 BCMs over 30 years, as confirmed by decreasing trend of the aquifer unit-hydrograph. The maximum decrease in saturated volume accrued in the 2001 due to large withdrawals. However, in the 2011, the aquifer’s condition was improved. Although there was a slight reduction in the water level drop rate in some parts of the aquifer due to the infiltration of urban effluents and sewage, as well as supplied from the Doosti dam, the aquifer yield decreased due to compaction, which in turn reduced the specific yield of the aquifer materials.

Keywords

Aquifer Geometry

Alluvium Thickness

Saturated volume

Mashhad- Chenaran

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