Variation process of hydrologic elements of river-aquifer system

By use of the zone budget module in visual MODFLOW, the variation of hydrologic elements, including precipitation, evaporation, groundwater mining, river gaining and lossing, lateral flows along the domain boundaries, and the volume of water storage in aquifers, of the riveraquifer system of the Platte River Valley, Central Nebraska, is analyzed. The monthly and seasonal variations of each element are simulated for five years, and the calculated results indicate that precipitation is the main source of groundwater recharge, groundwater mining with seasonal characteristics is the main consumption, and evaporation also removes a certain volume of water from the aquifer, and that a close water exchange exists between the river and the aquifer. The information obtained is of significance to reasonable development and utilization of water resources of the Platte River Valley and other similar regions.