Numerical Simulation of Tracer Tests in Heterogeneous Aquifer
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 124, Issue 6
Abstract
A large-scale, natural-gradient tracer test in a heterogeneous aquifer at a site near Columbus, Miss. is simulated using three-dimensional (3D) hydraulic conductivity distributions derived from the borehole flowmeter test data. The simulated plume is more sensitive to the way the hydraulic conductivity field is interpolated from the measured data than it is to the dispersivity value. The transport model with longitudinal dispersivities in the range of 1–5 m can reasonably reproduce the observed plume to a certain concentration limit, but fails to reproduce the significant spreading of the tracer at diluted concentrations as observed in the field. This modeling study illustrates the formidable challenges in modeling and monitoring contaminant transport in very heterogeneous aquifers and points to the needs for new, innovative monitoring techniques that can be applied to characterize the spatial and temporal variabilities in the aquifer properties at scales suitable for detailed transport modeling.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 124 • Issue 6 • June 1998
Pages: 510 - 516
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1998
Published in print: Jun 1998
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