Estimating groundwater discharge into a lake through underwater springs by using GIS technologies

• DOI: 10.1007/s00254-003-0829-7
• Publication Date: 2004-03-19T10:43:57Z
• Authors: I. Zacharias; E. Dimitriou; T. Koussouris
• Keywords: Water balance; Hydrological modelling; Groundwater model; Groundwater discharge

Estimating groundwater recharge in a freshwater body such as a deep lake is often a problem for hydrologists, since direct measurements are costly and difficult to implement. This study attempts to calculate the groundwater discharge in a lake using a simple water balance model, water level measurements, aerial photographs and GIS technologies. In particular, a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) for the lake has been developed, which in combination with GIS (Geographical Information System) software and water level fluctuations has provided the lake's monthly water storages. Additional hydrologic elements, including land and water uses, overland flow and evapotranspiration, have been estimated and incorporated in a water balance model which after extensive analysis have provided credible monthly values for the groundwater recharge in Lake Trichonis. This particular methodology can be widely applied in catchments with similar hydrologic regimes and can provide reliable, cost-efficient estimations of groundwater recharges into water bodies.