Coupling geomorphology parameters with lithology for micro-level groundwater resource assessment: a case study from semi-arid hard rock terrain in Tamil Nadu, India

Mathai, Jeenu and Das, IC and Subramanian, SK and Lenin, KS and Dadhwal, VK (2015) Coupling geomorphology parameters with lithology for micro-level groundwater resource assessment: a case study from semi-arid hard rock terrain in Tamil Nadu, India. In: ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES, 8 (10). pp. 8077-8087.

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Abstract

The standard procedure of groundwater resource estimation in India till date is based on the specific yield parameters of each rock type (lithology) derived through pumping test analysis. Using the change in groundwater level, specific yield, and area of influence, groundwater storage change could be estimated. However, terrain conditions in the form of geomorphological variations have an important bearing on the net groundwater recharge. In this study, an attempt was made to use both lithology and geomorphology as input variables to estimate the recharge from different sources in each lithology unit influenced by the geomorphic conditions (lith-geom), season wise separately. The study provided a methodological approach for an evaluation of groundwater in a semi-arid hard rock terrain in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. While characterizing the gneissic rock, it was found that the geomorphologic variations in the gneissic rock due to weathering and deposition behaved differently with respect to aquifer recharge. The three different geomorphic units identified in gneissic rock (pediplain shallow weathered (PPS), pediplain moderate weathered (PPM), and buried pediplain moderate (BPM)) showed a significant variation in recharge conditions among themselves. It was found from the study that Peninsular gneiss gives a net recharge value of 0.13 m/year/unit area when considered as a single unit w.r.t. lithology, whereas the same area considered with lith-geom classes gives recharge values between 0.1 and 0.41 m/year presenting a different assessment. It is also found from this study that the stage of development (SOD) for each lith-geom unit in Peninsular gneiss varies from 168 to 230 %, whereas the SOD is 223 % for the lithology as a single unit.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
Publisher:	SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, TIERGARTENSTRASSE 17, D-69121 HEIDELBERG, GERMANY
Keywords:	Lith-geom; Lithology; Recharge; Groundwater draft; Rainfall infiltration factor method; Water table fluctuation method; Groundwater assessment; ASTER-DEM
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited:	30 Oct 2015 07:09
Last Modified:	30 Oct 2015 07:09
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/52583

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