HYDROGEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND WATER-BEARING CAPACITY OF THE PERMAFROST ACTIVE LAYER IN THE STEINVIK CATCHMENT AREA (SW SPITSBERGEN)

Hydraulic conductivity variability of the Boom Clay in north-east Belgium based on four core drilled boreholes

Understanding the spatial and temporal characteristics of water flux into or out of shallow aquifers is imperative for water resources management and eco‐environmental conservation. In this study, the spatial variability in the vertical specific fluxes and hydraulic conductivities in a streambed were evaluated by integrating distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data and vertical hydraulic gradients into an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and smoother (EnKS) and an empirical thermal‐mixing model. The formulation of the EnKF/EnKS assimilation scheme is based on a discretized 1D advection‐conduction equation of heat transfer in the streambed. We first systematically tested a synthetic case and performed quantitative and statistical analyses to evaluate the performance of the assimilation schemes. Then a real‐world case was evaluated to calculate assimilated specific flux. An initial estimate of the spatial distributions of the vertical hydraulic gradients was obtained from an empirical thermal‐mixing model under steady‐state conditions using a constant vertical hydraulic conductivity. Then, this initial estimate was updated by repeatedly dividing the assimilated specific flux by estimates of the vertical hydraulic gradients to obtain a refined spatial distribution of vertical hydraulic gradients and vertical hydraulic conductivities. Our results indicate that optimal parameters can be derived with fewer iterations but greater simulation effort using the EnKS compared with the EnKF. For the field application in a stream segment of the Heihe River Basin in northwest China, the average vertical hydraulic conductivities in the streambed varied over three orders of magnitude (5 × 10−1 to 5 × 102 m/d). The specific fluxes ranged from near zero (qz < ±0.05 m/d) to ±1.0 m/d, while the vertical hydraulic gradients were within the range of −0.2 to 0.15 m/m. The highest and most variable fluxes occurred adjacent to a debris‐dam and bridge pier. This phenomenon is very likely the result of heterogeneous streambed hydraulic characteristics in these areas. Our results have significant implications for hyporheic micro‐habitats, fish spawning and other wildlife incubation, regional flow and hyporheic solute transport models in the Heihe River Basin, as well as in other similar hydrologic settings.

Based on the Boit's theory, the governing equation was established to account for the response of moisture pavement. The analytical solutions were obtained through the expansion of Fourier series. Furthermore, the effects of parameters (i.e. hydraulic conductivity, traffic load velocity, drainage boundary and solid modulus) on dynamic response were investigated in terms of water-induced damage of pavement. Compared with the dry–elastic pavement, the negative normal stress in saturated asphalt pavement is concentrated beneath the traffic load, which may be a reason for a damage phenomenon in asphalt pavement. Hydraulic conductivity anisotropy plays a significant role in influencing the physical fields. Between vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivity, the physical field almost depends on vertical hydraulic conductivity rather than horizontal hydraulic conductivity which just affects the horizontal pore-water velocity obviously. Moreover, the drained boundary evidently influences the seepage field of surface course with high permeability.

Variation of the hydraulic conductivity of Boom Clay under various thermal-hydro-mechanical conditions

The hydraulic conductivity of Singapore Marine Clay at Changi was studied by both in situ and laboratory methods. In situ tests, such as the Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Dilatometer Test (DMT), Self-boring Pressuremeter Test (SBPT) and BAT permeameter test were carried out. Rowe Cells and oedometers were used to determine the horizontal hydraulic conductivity and vertical hydraulic conductivity respectively. Hydraulic conductivity values were found to range between 10 -10 m/s and 10 -9 m/s. Hydraulic conductivity values in the horizontal direction measured from laboratory Rowe Cell tests were found to be about twice the vertical hydraulic conductivity from oedometer tests. Horizontal hydraulic conductivity values measured from Rowe Cell tests were also higher than those measured from BAT and SBPT but about the same order as values obtained from CPTU and DMT. Most hydraulic conductivity values evaluated indirectly from in situ dissipation tests were higher than direct measured values from BAT permeameter tests. DMT and CPTU gave the highest horizontal hydraulic conductivity values and SBPT yielded values in between. However CPTU, DMT and SBPT dissipation tests were found to be suitable alternative methods for estimating the hydraulic conductivity of clay. The variation of vertical hydraulic conductivity was characterized by the relationship between void ratio and hydraulic conductivity change index which, based on oedometer results, is only C kv =0.3e 0 .

This paper presents streambed hydraulic conductivities of the Platte River from south-central to eastern Nebraska. The hydraulic conductivities were determined from river channels using permeameter tests. The vertical hydraulic conductivities (K v ) from seven test sites along this river in south-central Nebraska belong to one statistical population. Its mean value is 40.2 m/d. However, the vertical hydraulic conductivities along four transects of the Ashland test site in eastern Nebraska have lower mean values, are statistically different from the K v values in south-central Nebraska, and belong to two different populations with mean values of 20.7 and 9.1 m/d, respectively. Finer sediments carried from the Loup River and Elkhorn River watersheds to the eastern reach of the Platte River lowers the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the streambed. Correlation coefficients between water depth and K v values along a test transect indicates a positive correlation – a larger K v usually occurs in the part of channel with deeper water. Experimental variograms derived from the vertical hydraulic conductivities for several transects across the channels of the Platte River show periodicity of spatial correlation, which likely result from periodic variation of water depth across the channels. The sandy to gravelly streambed contains very local silt and clay layers; spatially continuous low-permeability streambed was not observed in the river channels. The horizontal hydraulic conductivities were larger than the vertical hydraulic conductivities for the same test locations.

Determining in-situ unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity at a fine depth scale with heat pulse and water potential sensors

Hydraulic conductivity, is the ability of water to flow through a soil, should be consideredwhen designing roads. Hydraulic conductivity should be employed when designing roads that will providegood drainage as well. Fly ash and bottom ash were utilized as partial substitutes to conventional road basematerials in road base construction. The study aimed to prove that employing fly ash and bottom ash wouldincrease the hydraulic conductivity characteristics of road base while also decreasing the disposal costs of thesaid coal by-products. Series of experiments were conducted to test the horizontal and vertical hydraulicconductivity of pure fly ash, pure bottom ash, pure conventional road base materials, and blends comprisingof the said soil components. It was also established that horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity had asignificant difference wherein the flow of water at the horizontal-direction is greater compared to thevertical-direction.

Spatial variation in saturated hydraulic conductivity of sediments at a crude-oil spill site near Bemidji, Minnesota

Oriented soil horizons and macropore features may preferentially deflect water flow into horizontal or vertical paths that could short circuit the conventionally modeled matrix flow process and lead to an underestimation of water flow velocities and discharge rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anisotropy of soil physical and hydraulic properties of an Ultisol polypedon with respect to landscape position and horizonation in the dissected piedmont of the southeastern USA. Vertical and horizontal saturated soil hydraulic conductivity ( K V and K H, respectively) were measured using undisturbed cores (76 mm long by 76 mm diam.) taken within soil horizons and at horizon boundaries in profiles at the interfluve, shoulder, linear, and footslope landscape positions. The field was mapped as Cecil (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult). The observed decreases in both K V and K H with soil depth at all landscape positions were associated with increases in bulk density, total porosity, and clay content and decreases in macroporosity, sand content, and percent soil solids >2 mm diam. Macroporosity had a strong direct effect on K V and K H in all multiple regression equations, but the influence of all soil properties on K V and K H varied with soil core orientation and landscape position. Maximum reductions in K V and K H, with respect to K V and K H of the horizon immediately above it, occurred in the soil profile where the most abrupt changes in soil physical properties occurred. The K V/ K H ratio was <1.0 at the A horizon boundary at the interfluve and for all horizons at the linear slope position, indicating the potential for water flow in the horizontal direction when the soil is saturated. Models of water movement in complex landscapes must account for lateral flow due to differences in vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivity.

Hydrologic connections of a stream–aquifer-vegetation zone in south-central Platte River valley, Nebraska

Groundwater Circulation Wells (GCW) can be an effective in-situ remediation option allowing high mass recovery of contaminants in cases where contamination hotspots are located in saturated soil having low hydraulic conductivity. Traditional treatment options such as Pump&Treat, Air Sparging (AS)/Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) and Multi Phase Extraction (MPE) typically require long operation times and significant costs for long-term plume management. GCWs induce meaningful changes in the groundwater flow introducing vertical flows both downward and upward, generating a “circulation cell”, which facilitates contaminant desorption from the soil. This study aims to understand the effects of a GCW on an aquifer in terms of both groundwater flow directions and water balance. A groundwater numerical model was built using MODFLOW-2005 to simulate the effect of the hydraulic parameters of the aquifer on the hydraulic circulation pattern of the GCW. The use of particle tracking simulated by MODPATH 7 showed the circulation cells and the impact on groundwater directions induced by different configurations of hydraulic parameters. The water flowing into the cell comes from both the injection well and the surrounding aquifer and the model shows how the hydraulic parameters of the aquifer, in particular the horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity, have a paramount influence in determining the shape and dimension of the circulation cell. A water mass balance analysis was carried out. It allowed to predict the groundwater flows exchanges between the GCW system and the surrounding aquifer, and to verify the sensitivity of the water budget to specific aquifer parameters. The results of this study are useful for further understanding the hydraulics of a GCW remediation system in order to support the design and to predict its performance.

A critical review of laboratory and in-situ hydraulic conductivity measurements for the Boom Clay in Belgium

Field and laboratory methods have been used to determine the hydraulic properties in a multiple-layer aquifer–aquitard system that is hydrologically connected to a river. First, hypothetical pumping tests in aquifer–aquitard systems were performed to evaluate the feasibility of MODFLOW-PEST in determining these parameters. Sensitivity analyses showed that: the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in the aquifer has the highest composite sensitivity; the vertical hydraulic conductivity has higher composite sensitivity than the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in the aquitard; and a partial penetration pumping well in an aquifer layer can improve the quality of the estimated parameters. This inverse approach was then used to analyze a pumping-recovery test conducted near the Platte River in southeastern Nebraska, USA. The hydraulic conductivities and specific yield were calculated for the aquitard and aquifer. The direct-push technique was used to generate sediment columns; permeameter tests on these columns produced the vertical hydraulic conductivities that are compatible with those obtained from the pumping-recovery test. Thus, the combination of the direct-push technique with permeameter tests provides a new method for estimation of vertical hydraulic conductivity. The hydraulic conductivity, determined from grain-size analysis, is smaller than the horizontal one but larger than the vertical one determined by the pumping-recovery test.

This report describes a three-dimensional, finite difference, ground-water-flow model of the Santa Fe Group aquifer system within the Middle Rio Grande Basin between Cochiti and San Acacia, New Mexico. The aquifer system is composed of the Santa Fe Group of middle Tertiary to Quaternary age and post-Santa Fe Group valley and basin-fill deposits of Quaternary age. Population increases in the basin since the 1940's have caused dramatic increases in ground-water withdrawals from the aquifer system, resulting in large ground-water-level declines. Because the Rio Grande is hydraulically connected to the aquifer system, these ground-water withdrawals have also decreased flow in the Rio Grande. Concern about water resources in the basin led to the development of a research plan for the basin focused on the hydrologic interaction of ground water and surface water (McAda, D.P., 1996, Plan of study to quantify the hydrologic relation between the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe Group aquifer system near Albuquerque, central New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4006, 58 p.). A multiyear research effort followed, funded and conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies (Bartolino, J.R., and Cole, J.C., 2002, Ground-water resources of the Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1222, 132 p.). The modeling work described in this report incorporates the results of much of this work and is the culmination of this multiyear study. The purpose of the model is (1) to integrate the components of the ground-water-flow system, including the hydrologic interaction between the surface-water systems in the basin, to better understand the geohydrology of the basin and (2) to provide a tool to help water managers plan for and administer the use of basin water resources. The aquifer system is represented by nine model layers extending from the water table to the preSanta Fe Group basement rocks, as much as 9,000 feet below the NGVD 29. The horizontal grid contains 156 rows and 80 columns, each spaced 3,281 feet (1 kilometer) apart. The model simulates predevelopment steady-state conditions and historical transient conditions from 1900 to March 2000 in 1 steady-state and 52 historical stress periods. Average annual conditions are simulated prior to 1990, and seasonal (winter and irrigation season) conditions are simulated from 1990 to March 2000. The model simulates mountain-front, tributary, and subsurface recharge; canal, irrigation, and septicfield seepage; and ground-water withdrawal as specified-flow boundaries. The model simulates the Rio Grande, riverside drains, Jemez River, Jemez Canyon Reservoir, Cochiti Lake, riparian evapotranspiration, and interior drains as head-dependent flow boundaries. Hydrologic properties representing the Santa Fe Group aquifer system in the groundwater-flow model are horizontal hydraulic conductivity, vertical hydraulic conductivity, specific storage, and specific yield. Variable horizontal anisotropy is applied to the model so that hydraulic conductivity in the north-south direction (along model columns) is greater than hydraulic conductivity in the east-west direction (along model rows) over much of the model. This pattern of horizontal anisotropy was simulated to reflect the generally north-south orientation of faulting over much of the modeled area. With variable horizontal anisotropy, horizontal hydraulic conductivities in the model range from 0.05 to 60 feet per day. Vertical hydraulic conductivity is specified in the model as a horizontal to vertical anisotropy ratio (calculated to be 150:1 in the model) multiplied by the horizontal hydraulic conductivity along rows. Specific storage was estimated to be 2 x 10-6 per foot in the model. Specific yield was estimated to be 0.2 (dimensionless). A ground-water-flow model is a tool that can integrate the complex interactions of hydrologic boundary conditions, aquifer materials, aquifer stresses, and aquifer-system responses. This groundwater-flow model provides a reasonable representation of the geohydrologic processes of the basin and simulates many historically measured trends in flow and water levels. By simulating these complex interactions, the ground-waterflowmodel described in this report can provide a tool to help water managers plan for and administer the use of basin water resources. Nevertheless, no ground-water model is unique, and numerous sources of uncertainty remain. When using results from this model for any specific problem, those uncertainties should be taken into consideration. Source: McAda, D.P. and Peggy Barroll. Simulation of Ground-water Flow in the Middle Rio Grande Between Cochiti and San Acacia, New Mexico. U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 02-4200, 2002.