Groundwater flow regimes and systems

The degree to which the shape of the water table is topography-controlled or recharge-controlled largely depends on the ratio of the recharge rate and the aquifer transmissivity: a high ratio (thus, the recharge rate is relatively large; the aquifer transmissivity is relatively small) is favourable for the establishment of a topography-controlled water table (local, intermediate, and regional flow systems), whereas a low ratio is favourable for the establishment of a recharge-controlled water table.