Temporal head change and vertical hydraulic gradients

library(potentiomap)
data("synthetic_events")
a <- subset(synthetic_events, event == "spring")
b <- subset(synthetic_events, event == "autumn")
pa <- ps_make_points(a, "x", "y", "head", "well_id", "EPSG:26916")
pb <- ps_make_points(b, "x", "y", "head", "well_id", "EPSG:26916")

change <- ps_head_change(pa, pb, "well_id", method = "IDW", grid_res = 350)
change$summary

##   event_a_wells event_b_wells paired_wells event_a_only event_b_only
## 1            18            18           16            2            2
##   duplicate_ids mean_paired_change mean_modeled_change
## 1             0          -0.634625          -0.6948615

gradient <- ps_vertical_gradient(upper_head = 10, lower_head = 12,
                                 upper_elevation = 100, lower_elevation = 80,
                                 positive = "upward")
gradient[c("signed_gradient", "direction_class", "sign_convention")]

## $signed_gradient
## [1] 0.1
## 
## $direction_class
## [1] "upward"
## 
## $sign_convention
## $sign_convention$positive
## [1] "upward"
## 
## $sign_convention$vertical_separation
## [1] "upper_elevation - lower_elevation"
## 
## $sign_convention$dh_dz
## [1] "(upper_head - lower_head) / vertical_separation"
## 
## $sign_convention$upward_gradient
## [1] "(lower_head - upper_head) / vertical_separation"
## 
## $sign_convention$interpretation
## [1] "Hydraulic-gradient driving potential; not vertical flux."
## 
## $sign_convention$screen_midpoint_assumption
## [1] FALSE

Paired measured change and modeled surface change remain separate. Head change is not storage change, and a vertical hydraulic gradient is not flux.