Can we simulate regional groundwater flow in a karst system using equivalent porous media models? Case study, Barton Springs Edwards aquifer, USA

Scanlon, Bridget R.; Mace, Robert E.; Barrett, Michael E.; Smith, Brian A.

doi:10.1016/s0022-1694(03)00064-7

Cited by 372 publications

(234 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Our current knowledge of the interactions between the climate system and groundwater table is limited because it is difficult to measure groundwater recharge and discharge in situ with reasonable spatial extent and resolution over multiple years (e.g., Scanlon et al 2002;Sophocleous 2004). Remote sensing techniques are only partially effective at present due to their shallow penetration into the ground (e.g., Jackson 2002) or very coarse spatial resolutions (e.g., Rodell and Famiglietti 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate–soil–vegetation control on groundwater table dynamics and its feedbacks in a climate model

et al. 2010

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Among the three dynamically linked branches of the water cycle, including atmospheric, surface, and subsurface water, groundwater is the largest reservoir and an active component of the hydrologic system. Because of the inherent slow response time, groundwater may be particularly relevant for long time-scale processes such as multi-years or decadal droughts. This study uses regional climate simulations with and without surface watergroundwater interactions for the conterminous US to assess the influence of climate, soil, and vegetation on groundwater table dynamics, and its potential feedbacks to regional climate. Analyses show that precipitation has a dominant influence on the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater table depth (GWT). The simulated GWT is found to decrease sharply with increasing precipitation. Our simulation also shows some distinct spatial variations that are related to soil porosity and hydraulic conductivity. Vegetation properties such as minimum stomatal resistance, and root depth and fraction are also found to play an important role in controlling the groundwater table.Comparing two simulations with and without groundwater table dynamics, we find that groundwater table dynamics mainly influences the partitioning of soil water between the surface (0-0.5 m) and subsurface (0.5-5 m) rather than total soil moisture. In most areas, groundwater table dynamics increases surface soil moisture at the expense of the subsurface, except in regions with very shallow groundwater table. The change in soil water partitioning between the surface and subsurface is found to strongly correlate with the partitioning of surface sensible and latent heat fluxes. The evaporative fraction (EF) is generally higher during summer when groundwater table dynamics is included. This is accompanied by increased cloudiness, reduced diurnal temperature range, cooler surface temperature, and increased cloud top height. Although both convective and non-convective precipitation are enhanced, the higher EF changes the partitioning to favor more non-convective precipitation, but this result could be sensitive to the convective parameterization used. Compared to simulations without groundwater table dynamics, the dry bias in the summer precipitation is slightly reduced over the central and eastern US Groundwater table dynamics can provide important feedbacks to atmospheric processes, and these feedbacks are stronger in regions with deeper groundwater table, because the interactions between surface and subsurface are weak when the groundwater table is deep. This increases the sensitivity of surface soil moisture to precipitation anomalies, and therefore enhances land surface feedbacks to the atmosphere through changes in soil moisture and evaporative fraction. By altering the groundwater table depth, land use change and groundwater withdrawal can alter land surface response and feedback to the climate system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate–soil–vegetation control on groundwater table dynamics and its feedbacks in a climate model

et al. 2010

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“…However, this hydraulic conductivity is artificial and describes flow through a completely theoretical 'equivalent porous medium'. The success of this approach lies not in its theoretical beauty but in the fact that it has been applied successfully to model Pierer E. Stek Grou11d11y1/er extraclio11111odeli11gfor Kuala Lumpur \\'a/er resource pla1111i11g groundwater flows in many other studies, across the world (Anderson and Woessner, 1992;Scanlon et al, 2003;Lubczynski and Gurwin, 2005). …”

Section: Model Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Extraction Modelling for Kuala Lumpur Water Resource Planning

Stek¹

2009

PMJ

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Potable water consumption in Kuala Lumpur and the su1Tounding area is expected to grow by 34% from 2005 to 2010. This increase in demand will be met by the construction of new reservoirs. However, reservoirs are dependent on rainfall and during prolonged periods of drought, as occurred in 1998, they could become empty.Therefore it is of great importance to develop alternative sources of water supply, including groundwater, to mitigate the effects of a serious water crisis. In this paper, results fron1 a preliminary study on Kuala Lumpur's groundwater resources are presented. Modelling of the city's groundwater resources is extremely difficult given the limitations imposed by data availability and the karstic nature of some aquifers.Hence, the research presented here serves as a sta11ing point for further studies rather than providing any definitive conclusions. In addition to the study results, the planning implications of groundwater extraction are discussed.

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“…Η επιλογή της μεταβι-βαστικότητας Τ έναντι της υδραυλικής αγωγιμότητας Κ που άλλοι ερευνητές έχουν χρησιμοποιήσει σε ανάλογα προβλήματα (Scanion et al, 2003), καλύπτει την έλλειψη λεπτομερών δεδομένων για το πάχος καρστικοποίησης. Η τελική κατανομή των ζωνών τιμών υδραυλικών παραμέτρων προέκυψε μέσω της μεθόδου trial & error, βασίστηκε δε στις υφιστάμενες τιμές από παλαιότερα αποτελέσματα δοκιμαστικών αντλήσεων (Παγούνης 1994α, Παγούνης 1994β) και σε βιβλιογραφικά δεδομένα (Fetter 1988, Freeze & Cherry 1979.…”

Section: κατανομή υδραυλικών παραμέτρωνunclassified

Application of the Mathematical Model Modflow on a Karstic Aquifer: The Case of Viotikos Kifisos Basin

Παναγόπουλος

Drakopoulou²,

Περλέρος³

2004

geosociety

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MODFLOW is a very well verified code of mathematical modeling for simulation of saturated groundwater flow in porous medium. Groundwater flow simulation in discontinuity media (i.e. media characterized by dominance of secondary and tertiary porosity as opposed to primary porosity), such as karstic aquifers, utilizing specialized models is problematic. Due to existing impedes the use of the conventional model MODFLOW was attempted for the simulation of the karstic system of the Viotikos Kifisos river aiming predominantly at assessing the potential, restrictions, particularities and conditions under which such a modelling code could be implemented, especially when relatively restricted volume of raw data is available. Compilation and calibration of the model suggest that MODFLOW may in general be implemented and can provide useful results. As in every mathematical model, knowledge of the assumptions made and the intrinsic restrictions involved is required, along with in-depth evaluation of its capabilities. The mathematical model of Viotikos Kifisos basin forms a valuable tool for management of its water resources and study of regional groundwater evolution.

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Can we simulate regional groundwater flow in a karst system using equivalent porous media models? Case study, Barton Springs Edwards aquifer, USA

Cited by 372 publications

References 11 publications

Climate–soil–vegetation control on groundwater table dynamics and its feedbacks in a climate model

Climate–soil–vegetation control on groundwater table dynamics and its feedbacks in a climate model

Groundwater Extraction Modelling for Kuala Lumpur Water Resource Planning

Application of the Mathematical Model Modflow on a Karstic Aquifer: The Case of Viotikos Kifisos Basin

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