PNNL

Abstract

Well water-level elevation measurements are commonly used as the basis to delineate groundwater-flow patterns (i.e., flow direction and hydraulic gradient). Barometric pressure fluctuations, however, can have a discernable impact on well water-levels. These barometric effects may lead to erroneous indications of hydraulic head within the aquifer. Total hydraulic head within the aquifer, not well water-level elevation, is the hydrologic parameter for determining groundwater-flow direction and hydraulic gradient conditions. For low-gradient, unconfined aquifer sites exhibiting variable vadose zone characteristics (e.g., thickness, pneumatic diffusivity), barometric pressure fluctuations can also cause actual, temporal changes in lateral flow direction and flow velocity. Discrete water-level measurements used to determine the average or long-term groundwater-flow conditions, therefore, may provide non-representative results. Calculation of the barometric response characteristics for individual wells provides the basis to account for the temporal effects of barometric pressure fluctuations from monitor well measurements, so that average, long-term groundwater-flow pattern behavior can be determined.