• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.3 s.178
• /
• pp.269-284
• /
• 2006

Aquifer responses to the river stage fluctuations were analyzed between the groundwater level and the river stage in an alluvial aquifer. The auto-correlation and cross-correlation as a time series analysis were applied. Study site is a floodplain in the Mangyeong river. Groundwater levels in each depth representing the silt and sand(SS), gravel and sand(GS), and weathered zone(WZ) layer were monitored. The groundwater levels were more sensitive to the river stage fluctuations than rainfall. Since the river stages are influenced by the gate operations downstream and tide, show periodic patterns, and the correlation coefficients with rainfall is low. Cross-correlation function between groundwater level in each depth do not show any delay time, then response time is very short to each depth. Cross-correlation analysis were performed to estimate the response time of groundwater levels to river stage fluctuations. Groundwater levels respond to the river stage within 30 minutes to 1 hour in wells near the stream. Short time lag between groundwater level and river stage indicates the quick response. A different response time imply the hydraulic inhomogeneity of the site, and a probable high permeability zone between river and aquifer can be inferred. Mangyeong-river in study site is a gaining stream normally, and river stage rising by gate operation or floods makes river water flow into groundwater. The auto-correlation and cross-correlation functions as a time series analysis can be a good tool to interpret the aquifer responses to stream stage fluctuation