Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Groundwater modelling involves simulation of aquifer and its response to
various input/output systems. Groundwater models have been applied to
investigate a wide variety of hydrogeologic conditions. More recently,
groundwater models are being applied to predict the fate and transport of
contaminants for risk evaluation. Groundwater models represent or
approximate a real system and are tools that help in the organization and
understanding of hydrogeologic data or the prediction of future hydrogeologic
events. Models are not substitute for field investigations, but should be used
as supplementary tools.
Model Classification
Groundwater modelling helps in the analysis of many groundwater problems.
In general, models are classified as Predictive, Interpretive and Generic
types. Predictive model is used to understand the future availability of
resources as well as aquifer responses under varied scenario and stress
situation. Interpretive models are used to understand a system under different
existing domain element such as how a system responds to different fracture
densities and how a system would respond to recharge from a flood event?
Generic type model helps in hypothesizing the situation. No calibration is
required in case of such models.
Figure 3.
Types of groundwater models and typical applications
Further, on the basis of applications, four general types of groundwater
models are identified (Fig. 3). The problem of water supply is normally
described by one equation, usually in terms of hydraulic head. The resulting
model providing a solution for this equation is referred to as
groundwater
flow model
. If the problem involves water quality, then an additional equation
to the groundwater flow equation must be solved for concentration of the
chemical species. Such model is referred to as a
solute transport model
.
