Lecture 21: Transmissibility 

In this lecture, the concept of transmissibility (T) in groundwater studies is explored, defined as the rate at which water is transmitted through a unit width of an aquifer or confining bed under a unit hydraulic gradient. Transmissibility is calculated as the product of hydraulic conductivity (K) and the aquifer's saturated thickness (b), with units of m³/day/m or m²/day. It represents the capacity of an aquifer to transmit water, combining the properties of both the porous medium and the fluid. The lecture also distinguishes transmissibility from hydraulic conductivity, noting that while hydraulic conductivity measures the flow capacity of a geologic formation, transmissibility accounts for the thickness of the aquifer. This concept is crucial in groundwater investigations to determine the aquifer's ability to transmit water efficiently.