Geology topics

V.C. Fishel

Publications and source records attributed to V.C. Fishel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2014

Further tests of permeability with low hydraulic gradients

Many of the water‐bearing formations in the United States have hydraulic gradients of much less than 20 feet to the mile, and some may have gradients of less than one foot to the mile, whereas most laboratory‐ tests of permeability are made with much higher gradients . An investigation was therefore undertaken by the writer, under the direction of 0. E. Meinzer, in the Hydrologic Laboratory of the United States Geological Survey, to determine whether Darcy's law is valid for very low hydraulic gradients —that is, whether under such low gradients the rate of flow remains proportional to the gradient . In a previous paper by Meinzer and the writer (Amer. Geophysical Union,15th annual meeting, pp.405–409, 1934), it was shown that for the sand tested the rate of flow varies directly with the hydraulic gradient down to a gradient of about one foot to the mile. More recently six additional tests have been made on this sand with the same apparatus, and these tests give evidence of the validity of Darcy's law for still lower gradients .

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS2014

The channel‐storage method of determining effluent seepage

Some years ago the senior author, in collaboration with Norah Dowell Stearns, undertook to make a monthly inventory of the water‐supply of the Pomperaug River Basin, in Connecticut, from a study of data obtained by A. J. Ellis from 1913 to 1916. For this purpose approximate determinations or estimates were made of the ground‐water runoff, that is, of the part of the daily discharge of the river that consisted of water derived from the zone of saturation by effluent seepage. The determinations or estimates were essentially based on the assumption that after a week of fair weather the storm‐water was all discharged and that until the next rain the runoff was essentially all ground‐water (U.S. Geol, Surv. Water‐Supply Paper 597, pp. 107–116 and pi. 19, 1929). In the discussion of the methods and results of this investigation, the following statement was made (Water‐Supply Paper 597, pp. 145–146): “In this investigation the estimates of ground‐water runoff were based on the discharge of the Pomperaug at Bennetts Bridge—that is, on the discharge during the periods between rains, when there was virtually no direct runoff left in the stream‐system. Much better results could be obtained by basing the estimates on periods beginning as soon after rains as all of the direct runoff has reached the streams. With this method the ground‐water runoff during any particular day would be the total runoff minus the decrease in stream‐storage. The decrease in stream‐storage could be estimated by maintaining gages at several points on the trunk‐stream and on selected tributaries and making surveys of the stream‐system showing the approximate water‐areas of different parts of the system at different gage‐heights.”

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS2014

Report of Committee on Ground Water, 1943–44

The Chairman extends an apology to G. W. MUSGRAVE for omission of his name from the list of members given in the report of the Committee on Ground Water for 1942–43. The response from members of the Committee in general has been very gratifying and is much appreciated. Four new members, Messrs. H. F. BLANEY, EDWARD BURWELL, Jr., A. N. SAYRE and V. T. STRINGFIELD have been added to the Committee this year, in order to effect better technical and geographic coverage.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS2014

Appendix B—Notes on the permeability coefficient and its units

In the development of terms and units for a new science such as ground‐water hydrology, which is based on physics, it would seem fitting to adopt the terminology that has become standard in other branches of physics such as heat and electricity. Darcy's law has its counterpart in similar laws in the other branches of physics.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS2014

Long-term trends of ground-water levels in the United States

Ground-water levels at the end of 1954 were at or near record-low stages throughout most of the southern two-thirds of the United States. These low stages, like those of the early 1930's, have led to frequent expression of the opinion that the water table throughout the country is continuously falling and that we are gradually exhausting our ground-water supplies. A good record of changes in ground-water levels is being obtained by the United States Geological Survey and cooperating State agencies from periodical measurements of water levels in nearly 20,000 observation wells. The records of some of these wells extend back 50 years. Many records are available for the period beginning in 1934. These long-term records indicate that in some areas the ground-water supply is overdeveloped. In the great majority of areas, however, the stage of the water levels correlates with the precipitation. Much of the country has been in drought and the water levels are at a low stage. As the precipitation increases, as it is bound to do later, the water levels will return to higher stages.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union↗

USGS1961