Tidal and non-tidal signals in groundwater boreholes in the KTB area, Germany

Tides and barometric pressure variations cause pore pressure changes in the solid earth. In boreholes which are hydraulically connected to confined aquifers these pore pressure changes can be observed as water level variations. In case of confined aquifers boreholes can be regarded as volumetric strainmeters. From June 2004 until May 2005 a large scale injection experiment was realised in the pilot borehole (4000 m) at the German Continental Deep Drilling (KTB) site in Bavaria. During this test the injection induced deformation was observed by a tiltmeter array around KTB consisting of five tiltmeter stations at horizontal distances from 1.6 to 3 km from the injection borehole. At each station the local groundwater level was observed in depths between 30 and 50 m. The pore pressure was recorded in the boreholes. The time series were checked for tidal signals and injection influence. The injection was not verified presumably due to the fact that the penetration of the injected water was controlled by local geology and tectonic faults zones. Although the boreholes extending only to shallow depth tidal signals are clearly observable in at least two of five stations. On December the 26th 2004 the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake occurred which is clearly detectable in the pore pressure variations at all five stations.