| Summary: | Objective Geological, climatic, and topographical conditions control regional groundwater flow systems. Previous researchers have made significant advancements in developing the theory of groundwater flow systems under steady-state climatic conditions. However, there has been limited progress in comprehensively understanding transient groundwater flow systems. Methods To address this gap, we constructed a two-dimensional numerical model that couples groundwater and surface water using HydroGeoSphere. We then examined the relationships among the subsystems of transient groundwater flow systems in response to variations in rainfall. Results The results demonstrate that the areas occupied by subsystems change with rainfall fluctuations. Local groundwater flow systems may neither expand during wet seasons nor contract during dry seasons. The relationships among the penetration depths, which indicate the elevation of the lowest point in a local flow system, can be positive, negative, or unrelated. This variation mainly arises from the high activity of intermediate groundwater flow systems under transient conditions, where their inputs, outputs, flow paths, and areas of recharge and discharge vary with rainfall fluctuations. These relationships are also sensitive to factors such as geology (hydraulic conductivity, specific storage), climate (rainfall rate), and topography (local and regional). Conclusion Based on a sensitivity analysis of five scenarios, changes in local flow systems are more influenced by aquifer anisotropy. Future research should prioritize conducting a more comprehensive analysis of the non-steady-state response patterns exhibited by groundwater flow systems, considering climate fluctuations on a seasonal scale, over multiple years, and even across centuries.
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