aquiferlagen

Aquiferlagen, literally “aquifer layers” in German, is a term used in hydrogeology to describe stratified sequences of aquifers within a subsurface system. An aquifer is a geological unit that is permeable enough to store and transmit groundwater. When multiple aquifers occur at different depths and are separated by less permeable layers such as clay, silt, or dense rock, these units form distinct aquiferlagen.

Each aquifer layer can have its own hydraulic head and recharge area; the presence of confining beds between layers converts some into confined aquifers, where groundwater is under pressure, and others into unconfined or water-table aquifers, where the upper surface is free to move. Perched aquifers are sometimes present when a local permeable layer overlies an impermeable one within the vadose zone.

Hydrogeologic significance of aquiferlagen lies in their influence on groundwater flow, storage, recharge, drawdown, and vulnerability to contamination. The arrangement and properties of the layers determine well yields, drought resilience, and the risk of cross-layer contamination. Understanding the geometry of aquiferlagen is essential for effective groundwater management and protection of water quality.

Investigation of aquiferlagen typically involves geological mapping, borehole logging, pumping tests, and geophysical surveys to delineate the layers, their porosity and permeability, and the hydraulic connections between them. Management approaches require accounting for interlayer interactions, recharge dynamics, and sustainable extraction across the layered aquifer system.

In practice, many basins host several aquiferlagen forming regional aquifer systems, where coordinated monitoring and protection prove crucial for long-term water security.