Analytical model for aquifer response incorporating distributed stream leakage

An analytical model of stream/aquifer interaction is proposed that predicts drawdown in an aquifer with leakage from a finite-width stream induced by pumping from a well. The model is formulated based on the assumptions of stream partial penetration, a semipervious streambed, and distributed recharge across a finite-width stream. Advantages of the analytical solution include its simple structure, consisting of the Theis well function with integral modifications. The solution is derived for the semi-infinite domain between the stream and pumping well, which is of primary interest to hydrogeologists. Previous stream/aquifer analytical models are compared to the analytical solution based on dimensionless drawdown profiles. Drawdown in the aquifer near a wide stream was found to be less than that predicted by a solution that ignored stream width. Deviations between the proposed analytical solutions and previous solutions increase as stream width increases. For a hypothetical stream/aquifer system, the proposed analytical solution was equivalent to prior solutions when the ratio of the distance between the stream and aquifer to the stream width was greater than 25. This analytical solution may provide improved estimates of aquifer and streambed leakage parameters by curve fitting experimental field drawdown data.     

A comparative analysis of three habitat suitability models for commercial yield estimation of Tapes philippinarum in a North Adriatic coastal lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Italy)

Habitat Suitability (HS) models have been extensively used by conservation planners to estimate the spatial distribution of threatened species and of species of commercial interest. In this work we compare three HS models for the estimation of commercial yield potential and the identification of suitable sites for Tapes philippinarum rearing in the Sacca di Goro lagoon (Italy) on the basis of six environmental factors. The habitat suitability index (HSI) is based on expert opinion while the habitat suitability conditional (HSC) is calibrated on observational data. The habitat suitability mixed (HSM) model is a two-part model combining expert knowledge and regression analysis: the first component of the model uses logistic regression to identify the areas in which clams are likely to be present; the second part applies the same parameter-specific suitability functions of the HSI model only in the areas previously identified as productive by the logistic component. The HS models were validated on an independent data set and estimates of potential yield of the Goro lagoon were compared. The effectiveness of the three approaches is then discussed in terms of predicted yield and identification of suitable sites for farming.     

Grid resolution study of ground water flow and transport

Three-dimensional grids representing a heterogeneous, ground water system are generated at 10 different resolutions in support of a site-scale flow and transport modeling effort. These grids represent hydrostratigraphy near Yucca Mountain, Nevada, consisting of 18 stratigraphic units with contrasting fluid flow and transport properties. The grid generation method allows the stratigraphy to be modeled by numerical grids of different resolution so that comparison studies can be performed to test for grid quality and determine the resolution required to resolve geologic structure and physical processes such as fluid flow and solute transport. The process of generating numerical grids with appropriate property distributions from geologic conceptual models is automated, thus making the entire process easy to implement with fewer user-induced errors. The series of grids of various resolutions are used to assess the level at which increasing resolution no longer influences the flow and solute transport results. Grid resolution is found to be a critical issue for ground water flow and solute transport. The resolution required in a particular instance is a function of the feature size of the model, the intrinsic properties of materials, the specific physics of the problem, and boundary conditions. The asymptotic nature of results related to flow and transport indicate that for a hydrologic model of the heterogeneous hydrostratigraphy under Yucca Mountain, a horizontal grid spacing of 600 m and vertical grid spacing of 40 m resolve the hydrostratigraphic model with sufficient precision to accurately model the hypothetical flow and solute transport to within 5% of the value that would be obtained with much higher resolution.     

An investigation of numerical grid effects in parameter estimation

Modern ground water characterization and remediation projects routinely require calibration and inverse analysis of large three-dimensional numerical models of complex hydrogeological systems. Hydrogeologic complexity can be prompted by various aquifer characteristics including complicated spatial hydrostratigraphy and aquifer recharge from infiltration through an unsaturated zone. To keep the numerical models computationally efficient, compromises are frequently made in the model development, particularly, about resolution of the computational grid and numerical representation of the governing flow equation. The compromise is required so that the model can be used in calibration, parameter estimation, performance assessment, and analysis of sensitivity and uncertainty in model predictions. However, grid properties and resolution as well as applied computational schemes can have large effects on forward-model predictions and on inverse parameter estimates. We investigate these effects for a series of one- and two-dimensional synthetic cases representing saturated and variably saturated flow problems. We show that "conformable" grids, despite neglecting terms in the numerical formulation, can lead to accurate solutions of problems with complex hydrostratigraphy. Our analysis also demonstrates that, despite slower computer run times and higher memory requirements for a given problem size, the control volume finite-element method showed an advantage over finite-difference techniques in accuracy of parameter estimation for a given grid resolution for most of the test problems.     

Design and application of a direct-push vadose zone gravel permeameter

A borehole permeameter is well suited for testing saturated hydraulic conductivity (K(sat)) at specific depths in the vadose zone. Most applications of the method involve fine-grained soils that allow hand auguring of test holes and require a small water reservoir to maintain a constant head. In non-cohesive gravels, hand-dug test holes are difficult to excavate, holes are prone to collapse, and large volumes of water are necessary to maintain a constant head for the duration of the test. For coarse alluvial gravels, a direct-push steel permeameter was designed to place a slotted pipe at a specific sampling depth. Measurements can be made at successive depths at the same location. A 3790 L (1000 gallons) trailer-mounted water tank maintained a constant head in the permeameter. Head in the portable tank was measured with a pressure transducer and flow was calculated based on a volumetric rating curve. A U.S. Bureau of Reclamation analytical method was utilized to calculate K(sat). Measurements with the permeameter at a field site were similar to those reported from falling-head tests.     

一条Rodinia山脉——震旦纪的喜马拉雅山

笔者首次将海拔高度的概念及现代冰川理论 ,并结合古地磁资料 ,提出罗圈冰期时古天山 -秦岭山脉是一条大约位于赤道 -北回归线之间、由众多高山组成的 ,且许多山峰至少在 4 0 0 0m以上 ,已形成冰川、或许局部地区存在冰原的山脉 ,总的地理特征类似于今天的喜马拉雅山脉。而华北地块和库鲁克塔格地块是高原或平原 ,此二地块的南边是海域。古秦岭的南坡是现代秦岭的北坡。冰川融化时冰水携带的冰碛物向南流入海 ,所以华北地块上无冰碛物存在大地构造上 ,晋宁期以前 ,上述各地块相互独立。震旦纪时它们开始发生作用 ,秦岭地块和阿克苏—乌什地块分别向华北地块与库鲁克塔格地块汇聚 ,引起后者上升 ,逐渐发展成为山脉。至震旦纪末期 ,山脉上升到 4 0 0 0m以上 ,形成冰川。此后 ,山脉被剥蚀夷平 ,至寒武纪初 ,华北、库鲁克塔格两地块又降到海平面之下接受沉积 ,该山脉消亡。由此我们恢复了新元古代超大陆一条造山带 ,并推测新元古宙末期华北、华南、塔里木三大地块曾经汇聚在一起     

燕山中段大红峪组火山岩的古风化特征

燕山中段 (主要是指北京市平谷县内 )大红峪组火山岩 ,在火山活动的间歇期 ,存在古风化现象。古风化使火山岩的成分、结构遭受改变 ,以致影响对岩石岩性的确定及同位素年龄的测定等。不同的地质环境 ,其风化情景不同。文中论述了火山岩的三种风化带及其不同的风化环境特征 ,并与现代风化带进行了对比。研究大红峪组的古风化现象 ,有利于更好地认识当时的地质环境。     

对燕山辽西地区构造格局的认识和讨论

燕山辽西地区的盖层可分两个构造层,由燕辽复向斜和秦皇岛背形相互叠加,并相应发育两期推覆构造。复向斜范围包括内蒙地轴和燕山沉降带,是由长条形的三个背斜和二个向斜相间,及配套的EW向纵断裂、SN向横断裂和NE向、NW向的共轭断裂组成。著名的尚义-宽城-凌源-朝阳-北票断裂是复向斜及其次级背斜的轴部纵断裂,以南大岭组、窑坡组和北票组作为其裂隙充填物。燕山EW向断裂南北对冲现象是复向斜纵断裂放射状排列并向核部推覆的反映。复向斜的形成机制完全符合纵弯褶皱作用下岩石的变形原理,是西伯利亚板块和华北板块碰撞的结果;秦皇岛背形的形成是后期太平洋板块俯冲在欧亚板块之下所致。