Analysis of the transient movement of water and solutes in stream-aquifer systems

Abstract

A Galerkin-type finite-element method is used to formulate the problem of simulating the transient movement of water and solute in saturated or partially-saturated porous media. The numerical model uses linear triangular elements. The model includes the effects of advection, dispersion, sorption, a first-order reaction, and a source or sink for the dissolved constituent. The model is tested for flow with finite-difference results and for solute transport with analytical solutions results. The results from a hypothetical case of simulating water and solute transport in a stream-aquifer system are presented and discussed.