Steady-state Groundwater Flow Model Research Articles

Mathematical modelling for groundwater management for multilayers aquifers (Erbil basin)

This study addresses the pressing issues of groundwater depletion and drought problems in the Erbil basin, a vital resource region in the Middle East. Focused on an area of strategic importance due to its large size and critical water resources, the study employs the Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) software to create a detailed 3D hydrogeological model based on extensive borehole data. With over 240 boreholes analyzed, the study strategically selects 70 accurate wells drilled by the Groundwater Directorate. The construction of the 3D stratigraphic models for the Erbil basin relies on three main historical data including boreholes, geological formations and a comprehensive approach, incorporating deep well logging data and the definition of distinct geological layers. By discerning the presence of previous and impervious layers, the model effectively categorizes the aquifer types within the Erbil basin. The aquifer system is delineated based on stratigraphic units, designating materials with high conductivity (silt, sand, and gravel) as aquifers and clay (or claystone) as aquitards. A 3D steady-state groundwater flow model is successfully executed, employing PEST pilot point for automated parameter estimation. The model, validated with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9998, reveals hydraulic conductivity values ranging from 0.000980705 to 100 m/day and a recharge value of 0.000976443 m/day. The study classifies Erbil's aquifer types as unconfined, confined, and semi-confined, providing a valuable foundation for groundwater management. The primary objective of this study is to construct a calibrated numerical groundwater model for the multi-aquifer system in the Erbil basin. The model aims to serve as a robust tool for analyzing the sustainability of diverse groundwater infrastructure development strategies within the region. The Erbil basin poses unique challenges for groundwater modeling, marked by a scarcity of critical data such as monitoring well information, pumping rates, recharge rates, and flow budgets. In response to these limitations, the study adopts an innovative approach by integrating in situ data with earth observation data. The integration of these datasets seeks to overcome data constraints and enhance the accuracy of the groundwater model. By achieving calibration and validation of the numerical model, this research strives to provide a valuable resource for decision-makers, planners, and stakeholders involved in groundwater management in the Erbil basin. Ultimately, the study aims to contribute to the development of sustainable and effective strategies for the utilization and preservation of groundwater resources in this vital region and also to enhance practical management strategies for the Erbil groundwater basin, ensuring sustainable utilization of the crucial sub-surface water resources, an objective successfully achieved through this research.

Groundwater Flow Modeling of A Microwatershed using Visual Modflow Flex

The present study attempts to make a simulation of groundwater flow modeling in Chikkodi micro-watershed Belagavi (District), Karnataka. A two-layer conceptualization and the three-dimensional groundwater flow model are primarily underlain by weathered basalt and fractured basalt. The first layer weathered zone is 30m from the ground surface and the second layer fractured zone is 80m below the ground surface spread over 20 rows and 20 columns. The cell height is 674m and the cell width is 440m. The work described here built a groundwater flow model in the micro-watershed using Visual MODFLOW Flex. The steady-state groundwater flow model was then numerically projected in April 2020 using seventeen observation wells using the present stress levels. The model aims to quantify input and output stresses and pinpoint the basin's overstressed regions. The water budget analysis estimates that evapotranspiration loss makes up 56.54% of the basin's total groundwater recharge while overall groundwater leaks from river systems are 28.72%. The findings indicated that the southern section of the basin is undergoing severe aquifer stress as a result of river overflow and evapotranspiration. To improve groundwater levels, it is suggested that artificial recharge structures should be developed in and near Chikkodi village at appropriate sites. The trial-and-error approach was used to assess the sensitivity of the calibrated model, and it was discovered that the model is extremely sensitive to changes in hydraulic conductivity and recharge levels. Model performance is excellent, with R2, RMSE, and NRMSE values of 0.97, 5.34, and 13.23% of the assessing criteria.

Assessing Vulnerability of Regional-Scale Aquifer-Aquitard Systems in East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama by Developing Groundwater Flow and Transport Models

Groundwater vulnerability assessment helps subsurface water resources management by providing scientific information for decision-makers. Rigorous, quantitative assessment of groundwater vulnerability usually requires process-based approaches such as groundwater flow and transport modeling, which have seldom been used for large aquifer-aquitard systems due to limited data and high model uncertainty. To quantify the vulnerability of regional-scale aquifer-aquitard systems in the East Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama, a three-dimensional (3D) steady-state groundwater flow model was developed using MODFLOW, after applying detailed hydrogeologic information to characterize seven main aquifers bounded by aquitards. The velocity field calibrated by observed groundwater heads was then applied to calculate groundwater age and residence time for this 3D aquifer-aquitard system via backward/forward particle tracking. Radioactive isotope data (14C and 36Cl) were used to calibrate the backward particle tracking model. Results showed that shallow groundwater (<300 ft below the groundwater table) in southern Alabama is mainly the Anthropocene age (25–75 years) and hence susceptible to surface contamination, while the deep aquifer-aquitard systems (700 ft or deeper below the groundwater table) contain “fossil” waters and may be safe from modern contamination if there is no artificial recharge/discharge. Variable horizontal and vertical vulnerability maps for southern Alabama aquifer-aquitard systems reflect hydrologic conditions and intermediate-scale aquifer-aquitard architectures in the regional-scale models. These large-scale flow/transport models with coarse resolutions reasonably characterize the broad distribution and vertical fluctuation of groundwater ages, probably due to aquifer-aquitard structures being captured reliably in the geology model. Parameter sensitivity analysis, vadose zone percolation time, wavelet analysis, and a preliminary extension to transient flow were also discussed to support the aquifer vulnerability assessment indexed by groundwater ages for southern Alabama.

Hydrogeological modeling of the Roussillon coastal aquifer (France): stochastic inversion and analysis of future stresses

Global climate change-induced stresses on coastal water resources include water use restrictions, saline intrusions, and permanently modifying or damaging regional resources. Groundwater in coastal regions is often the only freshwater resource available, so an in-depth understanding of the aquifer, and the aquifer’s response to climate change, is essential for decision-makers. In this study, we focus on the coastal aquifer of Roussillon (southern France) by developing and investigating a steady-state groundwater flow model (MODFLOW 6) and calibrated with PEST++ on a Python interface (FloPy and PyEmu). Model input and boundary conditions are constrained by various scenarios of climate projections by 2080, with model results predicting the aquifer’s response (and associated uncertainty) to these external forcings. Using simple assumptions of intrusion estimates, model results highlight both strong climatic and anthropogenic impacts on the water table. These include aquifer drawdowns reaching several meters locally, and the seawater interface advancing locally several hundred meters inland and rising by several meters. Intrusions of this magnitude risk endangering exploited water wells and their sustainability. Our results demonstrate the critical importance of properly characterizing the geology and its heterogeneity for understanding aquifers at risk because poor predictions may lead to inappropriate decisions, putting critical resources at risk, particularly in coastal environments.

Quantifying Groundwater Infiltrations into Subway Lines and Underground Car Parks Using MODFLOW-USG

Urbanization is a worldwide process that recently has culminated in wider use of the subsurface, determining a significant interaction between groundwater and underground infrastructures. This can result in infiltrations, corrosion, and stability issues for the subsurface elements. Numerical models are the most applied tools to manage these situations. Using MODFLOW-USG and combining the use of Wall (HFB) and DRN packages, this study aimed at simulating underground infrastructures (i.e., subway lines and public car parks) and quantifying their infiltrations. This issue has been deeply investigated to evaluate water inrush during tunnel construction, but problems also occur with regard to the operation of tunnels. The methodology has involved developing a steady-state groundwater flow model, calibrated against a maximum groundwater condition, for the western portion of Milan city (Northern Italy, Lombardy Region). Overall findings pointed out that the most impacted areas are sections of subway tunnels already identified as submerged. This spatial coherence with historical information could act both as validation of the model and a step forward, as infiltrations resulting from an interaction with the water table were quantified. The methodology allowed for the improvement of the urban conceptual model and could support the stakeholders in adopting proper measures to manage the interactions between groundwater and the underground infrastructures.

Characterizing groundwater heat transport in a complex lowland aquifer using paleo-temperature reconstruction, satellite data, temperature–depth profiles, and numerical models

Abstract. Heat is a naturally occurring, widespread groundwater tracer that can be used to identify flow patterns in groundwater systems. Temperature measurements, being relatively inexpensive and effortless to gather, represent a valuable source of information which can be exploited to reduce uncertainties on groundwater flow, and, for example, support performance assessment studies on waste disposal sites. In a lowland setting, however, hydraulic gradients are typically small, and whether temperature measurements can be used to inform us about catchment-scale groundwater flow remains an open question. For the Neogene Aquifer in Flanders, groundwater flow and solute transport models have been developed in the framework of safety and feasibility studies for the underlying Boom Clay formation as a potential host rock for geological disposal of radioactive waste. However, the simulated fluxes by these models are still subject to large uncertainties as they are typically constrained by hydraulic heads only. In the current study, we use a state-of-the-art 3D steady-state groundwater flow model, calibrated against hydraulic head measurements, to build a 3D transient heat transport model, for assessing the use of heat as an additional state variable, in a lowland setting and at the catchment scale. We therefore use temperature–depth (TD) profiles as additional state variable observations for inverse conditioning. Furthermore, a Holocene paleo-temperature time curve was constructed based on paleo-temperature reconstructions in Europe from several sources in combination with land surface temperature (LST) remotely sensed monthly data from 2001 to 2019 (retrieved from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS). The aim of the research is to understand the mechanisms of heat transport and to characterize the temperature distribution and dynamics in the Neogene Aquifer. The simulation results clearly underline advection/convection and conduction as the major heat transport mechanisms, with a reduced role of advection/convection in zones where flux magnitudes are low, which suggests that temperature is also a useful indicator in a lowland setting. Furthermore, the performed scenarios highlight the important roles of (i) surface hydrological features and withdrawals driving local groundwater flow systems and (ii) the inclusion of subsurface features like faults in the conceptualization and development of hydrogeological investigations. These findings serve as a proxy of the influence of advective transport and barrier/conduit role of faults, particularly for the Rauw fault in this case, and suggest that solutes released from the Boom Clay might be affected in similar ways.

Combining the Morris method and multiple error metrics to assess aquifer characteristics and recharge in the lower Ticino Basin, in Italy

Groundwater flow model accuracy is often limited by the uncertainty in model parameters that characterize aquifer properties and aquifer recharge. Aquifer properties such as hydraulic conductivity can have an uncertainty spanning orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, parameters used to configure model boundary conditions can introduce additional uncertainty. In this study, the Morris method of sensitivity analysis is performed on multiple quantities of interest to assess the sensitivity of a steady-state groundwater flow model to uncertain input parameters. The Morris method determines which of these parameters are less influential on model outputs. Uninfluential parameters can be set constant during subsequent parameter optimization to reduce computational expense. Combining multiple quantities of interest (e.g., RMSE, groundwater fluxes) when performing both the Morris method and parameter optimization offers a more complete assessment of groundwater models, providing a more reliable and physically consistent estimate of uncertain parameters. The parameter optimization procedure also provides an estimate of the residual uncertainty in the parameter values, resulting in a more complete estimate of the remaining uncertainty. By employing such techniques, the current study was able to estimate the aquifer hydraulic conductivity and recharge rate due to rice field irrigation in a groundwater basin in Northern Italy, revealing that a significant proportion of surficial aquifer recharge (approximately 81–94%) during late summer is due to the flood irrigation practices applied to these fields.

Aquifer-Peatland Hydrological Connectivity and Controlling Factors in Boreal Peatlands

The conditions in which groundwater inflow occurs in boreal peatlands and its contribution to peatland water balance are still poorly understood. The objectives of this research were to quantify the hydrological connectivity between a surficial aquifer and a peatland, and to identify the controlling factors in boreal peatlands of north-central Quebec (Canada). The peatlands were instrumented with piezometers and groundwater levels were monitored during two growing seasons. Hydraulic conductivities were measured on peat cores and in situ, groundwater inflows and outflows were calculated using the Darcy equation. The peatland water budgets were simulated for the two peatlands with a steady-state groundwater flow model to verify flow hypotheses, to quantify unmeasured flows and to explore recharge scenarios leading to changes in connectivity. The two peatlands have contrasted water budgets, with recharge representing the largest inflow (78%) and subsurface runoff representing the largest outflow (85%) the peatland with the smallest catchment area (Misask). The peatland with the largest catchment area (Cheinu) is also located downgradient within the regional watershed. Its inflows are dominated by groundwater (56%) and its outflows are mostly towards subsurface runoff (74%). The two peatlands are in conditions of precipitation excess and a recharge reduction would not affect their peatland heads markedly (<10 cm). However, recharge changes could induce larger modifications in groundwater inflows and outflows for the peatland with a larger catchment area. The dominating peatland hydrological functions are thus contrasted at the two sites, and it is hypothesized that the water table depths thresholds triggering changes between storage, transmission and runoff functions are also different. Although further studies remain to be done to understand how hydrological conditions change through time, and ultimately what are the long-term impacts of a changing climate on hydrology, vegetation and carbon accumulation, this work shows that understanding peatland hydrology requires to consider hydrological conditions beyond the peatland limits.

Numerical groundwater flow and nitrate transport assessment in alluvial aquifer of Varaždin region, NW Croatia

Study regionThe Varaždin alluvial aquifer located in the Drava River valley. Study focusThe study area is characterized by agricultural activity, which raised concerns due to the high nitrate concentration in groundwater. The present study aims to evaluate future nitrate concentrations in groundwater using the numerical groundwater flow and transport modeling. The regional model was generated in GMS software, using the MODFLOW code for steady-state groundwater flow model, and MT3DMS code for nitrate transport model. Advective-dispersive transport was simulated, without a chemical retardation process. The calibrated model was used to investigate the evolution of groundwater nitrate concentrations for the next 20 years under four scenarios: a) current nitrate input; b) zero input from wastewater; c) agricultural input reduced by 50%; d) input from natural vegetation and surface water New hydrological insights for the regionThe scenario analysis demonstrated that reducing the nitrate input from agricultural areas yields a considerable reduction of nitrate in groundwater, while the impact of wastewater is negligible. Neither of the scenarios reached concentrations below threshold value of 50 mg/L for the entire aquifer in the next 20 years. The nitrate concentration in the northern part of the aquifer will remain low, mainly due to the dilution from river. The central part of the aquifer is highly dependent on changing the on-ground nitrate concentration, showing inertia regarding the nitrate attenuation in groundwater.

A Stochastic Framework to Optimize Monitoring Strategies for Delineating Groundwater Divides

Surface-water divides can be delineated by analyzing digital elevation models. They might, however, significantly differ from groundwater divides because the groundwater surface does not necessarily follow the surface topography. Thus, in order to delineate a groundwater divide, hydraulic-head measurements are needed. Because installing piezometers is cost- and labor-intensive, it is vital to optimize their placement. In this work, we introduce an optimal design analysis that can identify the best spatial configuration of piezometers. The method is based on formal minimization of the expected posterior uncertainty in localizing the groundwater divide. It is based on the preposterior data impact assessor, a Bayesian framework that uses a random sample of models (here: steady-state groundwater flow models) in a fully non-linear analysis. For each realization, we compute virtual hydraulic-head measurements at all potential well installation points and delineate the groundwater divide by particle tracking. Then, for each set of virtual measurements and their possible measurement values, we assess the uncertainty of the groundwater-divide location after Bayesian updating, and finally marginalize over all possible measurement values. We test the method mimicking an aquifer in South-West Germany. Previous works in this aquifer indicated a groundwater divide that substantially differs from the surface-water divide. Our analysis shows that the uncertainty in the localization of the groundwater divide can be reduced with each additional monitoring well. In our case study, the optimal configuration of three monitoring points involves the first well being close to the topographic surface water divide, the second one on the hillslope toward the valley, and the third one in between.

Scenarios analysis using water-sensitive urban design principles: a case study of the Cape Flats Aquifer in South Africa

A feasibility assessment was undertaken on the application of water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) for the Cape Flats Aquifer in Cape Town, South Africa, at the local scale. The study contributes towards the planning of water-sensitive cities in the future. A three-dimensional steady-state groundwater flow model was applied to the Cape Flats Aquifer to predict WSUD scenarios by incorporating managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Analysis of the scenarios of varying recharge estimates and groundwater abstraction rates, predicted using the model, indicated that the water-table distribution and outflows from identified groundwater balance components show direct proportionality to the varying recharge scenarios. A notable increase in these outflows was observed when the recharge rate was increased by 50%. Varying groundwater abstraction scenarios indicated that with increasing abstraction rates, water levels and outflows from groundwater balance components also decreased accordingly. A notable decline in water levels and outflows was established at an abstraction rate of 2.5 and 5 L/s, respectively. Similar to the previous regional studies in the area, the results from the predicted scenarios show that there is a potential for applying WSUD, particularly MAR, at site-specific scale within the Cape Flats Aquifer. However, shallow groundwater levels during wet seasons limit the opportunities for application of WSUD in the area. This finding would provide an important reference to the ongoing debate on the Cape Town water crisis and similar environmental conditions where WSUD is considered.

Hydrological and economic feasibility of mitigating a stressed coastal aquifer using managed aquifer recharge: a case study of Jamma aquifer, Oman

This study explored the hydrological and economic feasibility of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) using tertiary treated wastewater (TWW) to mitigate salinity in the coastal aquifer of Jamma, Oman. A steady-state groundwater flow and transport model, using MODFLOW software, was developed and calibrated. Different managerial scenarios were simulated and the results reveal that the Jamma aquifer will be further deteriorated in the next 20 a if it remains unmanaged. The groundwater table will decline further by more than 3 m on average; and the iso-concentration salinity line of 1500 mg/L will advance 2.7 km inland, which will severely affect the farming activities in the area. However, MAR using TWW when integrated with the management of groundwater abstraction (e.g., using modern irrigation systems to reduce the abstraction rate) becomes hydrologically feasible to augment the aquifer storage and control seawater intrusion, and hence improves the farming activities. The results indicate that: (1) injecting TWW in the vicinity of irrigation wells (Scenario A2); (2) investing in smart water meters and online control of pumping from the wells to reduce the abstraction rate by 25% (Scenario B); and (3) a combination of both (Scenario B2) are feasible scenarios with positive net present values. Recharge in upstream areas is found not economically feasible because of the very high investment cost of the installation of pipes to transport the TWW over a distance of 12.5 km. Because of securing funds are challenging, Scenario B would be the best option and the second-best option is Scenario A2. Scenario B2 has the lowest net benefit investment ratio and is very attractive because it entails integrated demand and supply management of groundwater. It is required to reduce pumping and to invest in injecting TWW to improve groundwater quality in the vicinity of irrigation wells and to form a hydrological barrier to control seawater intrusion in the long run.

Groundwater–lakewater interactions: an evaluation of the impacts of climate change and increased abstractions on groundwater contribution to the Volta Lake, Ghana

A 3D steady state groundwater flow model has been calibrated for the Afram Plains portion of the Southern Voltaian Sedimentary Basin. The model was based on data of hydraulic parameters of the aquifer in the area, and regional groundwater recharge estimates conducted by various researchers using a variety of methods. Model calibration was conducted using hydraulic head data of 43 boreholes in the area. Although the groundwater system in the area appears to receive some amount of recharge from the Volta Lake, the net groundwater outflow into the lake currently outstrips the volumes received from the Lake. The net effect, as suggested by the calibrated model is that groundwater outflows into the Volta Lake amount to approximately 465 m3/day (169,725 m3/year). However, with increasing groundwater abstractions at a rate of 2.5%, consistent with annual population projections, a reversal of flow is predicted by 2030 if groundwater recharge remains at the 2015 rates. This would lead to a net lake discharge of approximately 9755 m3/day into the aquifer system to sustain abstraction rates by 2050. This is predicted to increase further if there is a reduction in groundwater recharge as suggested by regional hydroclimatological data. A 25% reduction in groundwater recharge rate by 2050 will induce a net lake discharge of approximately 11,000 m3/day into the aquifer system to sustain abstractions for domestic consumption. Lateral outward/environmental flows will reduce from 5200 m3/day to 2700 m3/day under the 2015 recharge conditions, and 1300 m3/day under conditions of reduced recharge by 2050. Groundwater in the area does not appear to hold promise for commercial abstraction for irrigation purposes, especially under climate change conditions.

Groundwater flow modelling of a micro-watershed in the upland area of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India

In view of the progressive decline of groundwater levels in the majority of non-command upland area in the East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh state, India, there is an urgency to augment groundwater in the non-command upland areas. Groundwater flow model is constructed for a micro-watershed of 50 km2 namely ‘Konda Kalava watershed’ of ‘Suddegedda river basin’ located in the non-command upland area of East Godavari district. The steady state groundwater flow model simulated to seven observation wells and calibrated for the month of April, 2018. The objective of the model is to assess input and output stresses and to identify the over-stressed areas within the basin. The water budget analysis has revealed that the total groundwater extraction by pumping wells is 83.3% and evapotranspiration loss is 5.7% of the total groundwater recharge in the basin. The groundwater flow following the topography and is towards the mainstream with a maximum velocity of 0.4 m/day. The results revealed that the southern part of the basin is experiencing huge aquifer stress due to over-dependence on deep bore wells. It is recommended that, for at least one season, the most affected dry areas which are under paddy cultivation are to be promoted irrigated dry crops such as maize and jowar. It is also suggested that, due to local high salinity in and around Vannepudi village at the central part of the basin, the horticulture cultivation is to be promoted by increasing the surface water resources. The artificial recharge structures have to be constructed at suitable areas in and around Vannepudi village in order to improve the groundwater quality in terms of high salinity and also to rise the groundwater table in the southern part of the basin.

Zone-Integrated Double-Constraint Methodology for Calibration of Hydraulic Conductivities in Grid Cell Clusters of Groundwater Flow Models

This paper deals with the double-constraint methodology for calibration of steady-state groundwater flow models. The methodology is based on updating the hydraulic conductivity of the model domain by comparing the results of two forward groundwater flow models: a model in which known fluxes are specified as boundary conditions and a model in which known heads are specified as boundary conditions. A new zone-integrated double-constraint approach is presented by partitioning the model domain in zones with presumed constant hydraulic conductivity (soft data), and the double-constraint methodology is reformulated accordingly. The feasibility of the method is illustrated by a practical case study involving a numerical steady-state groundwater flow model with about 3 million grid blocks, subdivided into four zones corresponding to the major hydrogeological formations. The results of the zone-integrated double-constraint method for estimating the horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivities of the zones compare favourably with a classical model calibration based on minimisation of the differences between calculated and measured heads, while the double-constraint method proves to be more robust and computationally less cumbersome.

Estimation of spatial distribution of groundwater recharge from stream baseflow and groundwater chloride

In this study groundwater chloride concentration and baseflow are used to estimate the spatial variability of recharge. Total recharge over the entire watershed is estimated using the baseflow method, and then the spatial variability of recharge is approximated using groundwater chloride concentration. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated using data from a rural watershed in Alberta, Canada. By using the combination of two well established methods of estimating recharge, baseflow and chloride mass balance, there is no need to estimate wet and dry deposition rate of chloride. The presented method is tested by using a steady-state groundwater flow model. The groundwater model showed higher agreement between modeled vs observed heads when spatially variable recharge forced the upper boundary of the model (root mean square error reduced from 13.5m to 8m). In addition, we demonstrate a unique method for parameterizing hydraulic conductivity of a fluvial aquifer using a sand fraction transfer function. This new method reduces the dimensionality of the parameter estimation problem and provides a consistency check on the spatially varying recharge estimates.

Integrated approach of geospatial visualization and modeling for groundwater management in hard rock terrains in Nagpur Urban Area, India

Groundwater management requires complete visualization of aquifer characteristics to understand scientific aspects and hence remains a challenge, especially in hard rock terrains. In the present research paper, a comprehensive approach using 3D stratigraphic model, fence diagrams and numerical modeling has been proposed to understand the groundwater status for effective recharge. The stratigraphy, groundwater flow, and groundwater fluctuations for the period 1999–2010 were analyzed. The total volume of formations, volume of voids, storage capacity, and quantities of recharge of unconfined aquifer system in the Nagpur urban area were estimated. The steady state groundwater flow model of Basalt formation was calibrated to evaluate the subsurface system using Processing Modflow (PMWIN 5.3.2). The calibrated hydraulic head is compared with field observed head. The comparative spatial analysis presents a simple integrated approach in identifying zones with falling groundwater trends suitable for groundwater recharge in hard rock terrain in Nagpur urban area.

Impacts of rainfall changes on groundwater balance of coastal aquifers: a case study of the Thermaikos Gulf, North Greece

<div> <p>Groundwater is one of the major parameters in maintaining ecology in many regions. As climate is one of the main factors which affects groundwater resources, the main objective of the present study is to assess the impact of rainfall changes on the groundwater system by projecting the future changes in the 21<sup>st</sup> century (2021-2050 and 2071-2100). For this reason, the RegCM3 climate model precipitation data, which showed a reduction in rainfall, was entered in the steady-state groundwater flow model MODFLOW for the case study of a coastal aquifer in the eastern part of the Thermaikos Gulf (North Greece). The uprising urbanization in combination with the intensive cultivation have led to the overexploitation of the coastal aquifer and seawater intrusion. The groundwater flow simulation by using the MODFLOW code indicates a negative water budget and estimates the quantities of the seawater intrusion. According to the RegCM3 climate model, the precipitation reduction is estimated to be 4% during the period of 2021-2050, while the precipitation decrease is expected to be 22% during the period of 2071-2100. Furthermore, the natural recharge of the coastal aquifer is expected to be influenced by the precipitation reduction. Finally, the seawater intrusion amounts are expected to increase during these future periods and more specifically during the second period of 2071-2100.</p> </div> <p> </p>

Simulation of Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions under Different Land Use Scenarios in the Bulang Catchment, Northwest China

Groundwater is the most important resource for local society and the ecosystem in the semi-arid Hailiutu River catchment. The catchment water balance was analyzed by considering vegetation types with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), determining evapotranspiration rates by combining sap flow measurements and NDVI values, recorded precipitation, measured river discharge and groundwater levels from November 2010 to October 2011. A simple water balance computation, a steady state groundwater flow model, and a transient groundwater flow model were used to assess water balance changes under different land use scenarios. It was shown that 91% of the precipitation is consumed by the crops, bushes and trees; only 9% of the annual precipitation becomes net groundwater recharge which maintains a stable stream discharge in observed year. Four land use scenarios were formulated for assessing the impacts of land use changes on the catchment water balance, the river discharge, and groundwater storage in the Bulang catchment. The scenarios are: (1) the quasi natural state of the vegetation covered by desert grasses; (2) the current land use/vegetation types; (3) the change of crop types to dry resistant crops; and (4) the ideal land use covered by dry resistant crops and desert grasses, These four scenarios were simulated and compared with measured data from 2011, which was a dry year. Furthermore, the scenarios (2) and (4) were evaluated under normal and wet conditions for years in 2009 and 2014, respectively. The simulation results show that replacing current vegetation and crop types with dry resistant types can significantly increase net groundwater recharge which leads to the increase of groundwater storage and river discharges. The depleted groundwater storage during the dry year could be restored during the normal and wet years so that groundwater provides a reliable resource to sustain river discharge and the dependent vegetations in the area.

A preliminary analysis of the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow in some parts of a crystalline aquifer system: Afigya Sekyere South District, Ghana

A steady state groundwater flow model was calibrated to simulate the complex groundwater flow pattern in some crystalline aquifer systems in north-central Ghana. The objective was to develop the general geometry of the groundwater system and also estimate spatial variations in the hydraulic conductivity field as part of efforts to thoroughly investigate the general hydrogeology and groundwater conditions of aquifers in the area. The calibrated model was used in a limited fashion to simulate some scenarios of groundwater development in the terrain. The results suggest the dominance of local groundwater flow systems resulting from local variabilities in the hydraulic conductivity field and the topography. Estimated horizontal hydraulic conductivities range between 1.04m/d and 15.25m/d, although most of the areas consist of hydraulic conductivities in the range of 1.04m/d and 5.5m/d. Groundwater flow is apparently controlled by discrete entities with limited spatial interconnectivities. Recharge rates estimated at calibration range between 4.3% and 13% of the annual rainfall in the terrain. The analysis suggests that under the current recharge rates, the system can sustain increasing groundwater abstraction rates by up to 50% with minimal drawdown in the hydraulic head for the entire terrain. However, with decreasing groundwater recharge as would be expected in the wake of climate change/variability in the area, increased groundwater abstraction by up to 50% can lead to drastic drawdowns by more than 25% if recharge reduces by up to 50% of the current levels. This study strongly recommend the protection of some of the local groundwater recharge areas identified in this study and the promotion of local recharge through the development of dugouts and other conduits to encourage recharge.