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For K-12 Students · Groundwater Drawdown

Groundwater Drawdown for a permafrost thaw

Built for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework. Simulate a permafrost thaw live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Groundwater Well DrawdownLive

Thiem steady-state cone of depression

Controls

Presets

Pumping rate Q (m³/day)

Transmissivity T (m²/day)

Radius of influence R (m)

Pumping a well lowers the water table into a cone of depression. Under the Thiem steady-state solution the drawdown is s(r) = Q/(2πT)·ln(R/r): more pumping deepens the cone, higher transmissivity flattens it. Fundamental to well design, water supply, and contaminant capture.

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Data Inspector

Drawdown at well4.7 m

Drawdown at 50 m1.47 m

Radius of influence500 m

Governing equation

s (r) = \frac{Q}{2 π T} ln \frac{R}{r} = \frac{2000}{2 π \cdot 500} ln \frac{500}{r}

Reading this result: Drawdown is Q/(2πT)·ln(R/r): here it is about 4.7 m at the well and falls off logarithmically, so most of the depression sits in the first tens of metres.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for k-12 students?: Yes — this version of "Groundwater Drawdown for a permafrost thaw" is framed for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.