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Improving groundwater storage change estimates using time-lapse gravimetry with Gravi4GW
  • Landon James Szasz Halloran
Landon James Szasz Halloran
Centre d'hydrogéologie et de géothermie, Université de Neuchâtel, Centre d'hydrogéologie et de géothermie, Université de Neuchâtel

Corresponding Author:landon.halloran@unine.ch

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Abstract

Time-lapse gravimetry is a powerful tool for monitoring temporal mass distribution variations, including seasonal and long-term groundwater storage changes (GWSC). This geophysical method for measuring changes in gravity (∆g) is applicable to any groundwater system, but is likely to be of particular interest for studies of alpine catchments. These important catchments are highly sensitive to climate variations and can experience significant GWSC, while often lacking groundwater monitoring infrastructure. Here, we present Gravi4GW, a python tool for the calculation of β, the conversion factor between ∆g and GWSC, that are site-adapted. To illustrate its usage, we investigate a detailed example of an alpine catchment and examine spatial variations and the effects of depth assumptions. This accessible tool is designed to be useful in both the planning and data-processing stages of time-lapse gravimetric field studies.
Apr 2022Published in Environmental Modelling & Software volume 150 on pages 105340. 10.1016/j.envsoft.2022.105340