Comparison of Groundwater Flow Systems under the Control of Different Aquifer Structures

The structure of groundwater flow system is the core of study of groundwater system and the base of evaluation of groundwater resources. The control role of aquifer system to groundwater flow system is a key of study of the structure of groundwater flow system. The groundwater systems of the Ordos basin are analyzed as a case study. The control role of aquifer system to groundwater flow system is studied by comparison of groundwater flow systems under the control of different aquifer structures in 2-D profile numerical model. The research shows that the groundwater flow systems of the Ordos basin have the multilayer structure characteristics. The groundwater flow systems in the north of the Ordos basin show a cross-formational multi-hierarchy nested flow pattern in the northern aquifer systems without regional impermeable layer where the hydraulic connection between aquifer layers is closely. While, the hydraulic connection is discontinuous in the southern aquifer systems because there are regional impermeable layers in the aquifer systems. The groundwater flow systems in the south of the Ordos basin show a follow-formational flow pattern.