Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/iii/paper-332/1/b/solution

Let be the grain density and . Vertical force balance for the poroelastic aquifer gives
with compression taken negative in . Hence
The zero-effective-stress condition then gives
This identifies the poroelastic compaction length.
The water volume per unit horizontal distance is
For , a Taylor expansion yields
Storage conservation is . Integrating from river to divide and using gives the river influx
For and a groundwater profile that changes little during one tide, the direct storage oscillation has magnitude
With typical thickness and mean recharge discharge ,
Using the steady balance gives the equivalent estimate .

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