Assessing Structural Geological Controls on Groundwater Processes in Mountain Settings: Insights From Three‐Dimensional Numerical Modeling

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dc.article.numbere2024WR037474
dc.catalogadoraba
dc.contributor.authorMarti, Etienne
dc.contributor.authorLeray, Sarah
dc.contributor.authorRoques, Clément
dc.contributor.authorYáñez Carrizo, Gonzalo Alejandro
dc.contributor.authorPoblete, Fernando
dc.contributor.authorAbhervé, Ronan
dc.contributor.authorTapia, Felipe
dc.contributor.authorVillela, Daniela
dc.contributor.authorButikofer, Pol
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-29T15:48:00Z
dc.date.available2025-08-29T15:48:00Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractMountains play a critical role in the hydrological cycle by transferring heavy precipitation to lowland aquifers. However, their complexity and remoteness limit our understanding of groundwater flow, particularly the influence of faults. To fill the gap, semi-idealized 3D numerical models calibrated using the mountain river network and the lowland piezometric gradient were developed. The impact of faults on groundwater flow was explored by varying their hydraulic conductivity, position, orientation, and length. The metrics evaluated were flow partitioning, seepage area, flow path lengths, and residence times. It was found that the hydraulic conductivity contrast between a fault and the pervasive rock controls recharge partitioning as much as the overall transmissivity of the pervasive rock. Regional conductive faults parallel to the orogen promote mountain-block recharge over surface flow, as significantly as thick systems do, and vice versa. Local-scale faults can exert as much influence as regional faults when crossing the catchment outlet, highlighting the importance of local heterogeneity in regional flow dynamics. Intercatchment flow is primarily governed by lithology and topography and is modulated by the fault position relative to major topographic features. Faults influence seepage areas within a multi-kilometer distance in characteristic patterns useful for segregating their effective role. By lowering the water table, conductive faults systematically reduce the seepage areas. Meanwhile, barriers decrease seepage areas downstream of their trace and increase them upstream, without affecting the extent of seepage. Finally, the distributions of flow path lengths and residence times are uncorrelated, highlighting the importance of numerical modeling for groundwater dating.
dc.format.extent25 páginas
dc.fuente.origenORCID
dc.identifier.doi10.1029/2024WR037474
dc.identifier.eissn1944-7973
dc.identifier.issn0043-1397
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR037474
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/105373
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:001547888700001
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Marti, Etienne; S/I; 1139850
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Leray, Sarah; 0000-0002-0341-7210; 1044639
dc.information.autorucEscuela de Ingeniería; Yáñez Carrizo, Gonzalo Alejandro; 0000-0003-0183-9775; 1008795
dc.issue.numero83
dc.language.isoen
dc.nota.accesocontenido completo
dc.revistaWater Resources Research
dc.rightsacceso abierto
dc.rights.licenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subject.ddc620
dc.subject.deweyIngenieríaes_ES
dc.subject.ods06 Clean water and sanitation
dc.subject.odspa06 Agua limpia y saneamiento
dc.titleAssessing Structural Geological Controls on Groundwater Processes in Mountain Settings: Insights From Three‐Dimensional Numerical Modeling
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen89
sipa.codpersvinculados1044639
sipa.codpersvinculados1139850
sipa.codpersvinculados1008795
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadORCID;2025-08-22
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