Abstract: Objective The residual surface deformations of closed mines exhibit prolonged duration and complex evolutionary processes, potentially leading to unconventional phenomena like surface uplift, which affects the re-exploitation and reutilization of closed mines. Methods This investigated a mining area in Huainan, Anhui Province as an example to explore the deformation mechanisms, characteristics, and influential factors of the surface uplift of closed mines. Through numerical simulations, this study analyzed the propagation process of surface uplift with an increase in the groundwater level. Accordingly, this study investigated the quantitative impacts of the mining height, groundwater level, and rock strength of the caving zone on the characteristics of the surface uplift. The results indicate that the pore water pressure in rock layers above the goaf increased with the groundwater level. Specifically, as the groundwater level increased from 30 m to 150 m, the pore water pressure in the central portion of the goaf increased from 5.99×10²kPa to 2.17×10²kPa, while that in the surrounding area decreased. Within the mining height threshold, the amplitude of overburden rebound and surface uplift increased with the mining height. The deeply buried rock layers exhibited significant rebound, while the surface uplift occurred after four months of seepage, suggesting a lag effect. An increase in the groundwater level exerted a direct influence on the overburden rebound and surface uplift. The increasing groundwater level resulted in an overall rebound trend of the overburden generally. However, the rebound trend became weak as the groundwater level increased further. Notably, the rebound effect lessened when the groundwater level exceeded 146 m. The attenuation of the modulus of elasticity of the caving zone significantly intensified the surface uplift, with the amplitude of the surface uplift exhibiting a linear positive correlation with the degree of the attenuation. Specifically, the amplitude of the surface uplift was 86.4 mm before the attenuation of the modulus of elasticity and was 160 mm as the degree of the attenuation increased to 50%. The findings of this study determine the deformation characteristics and propaganda mechanisms of surface uplift under different conditions, providing a significant reference for further research on the surface uplift of closed mines caused by an increase in the groundwater level.