Introduction to Groundwater Modelling

Presentation Outline

Groundwater in Hydrologic Cycle

Why Groundwater Modeling is needed?
Mathematical Models
Groundwater Flow Models

Groundwater in Hydrologic Cycle

Types of Terrestrial Water

Surface
Water

Soil
Moisture

Ground water

Pores Full of Combination of Air and Water

Unsaturated Zone / Zone of Aeration / Vadose
(Soil Water)

Zone of Saturation (Ground water)

Pores Full Completely with Water

Groundwater

Important source of clean water

More abundant than SW

Baseflow

Linked to SW systems
Sustains flows
in streams

Groundwater Concerns?

pollution

groundwater mining
subsidence

Problems with groundwater

Groundwater overdraft / mining / subsidence

Waterlogging
Seawater intrusion

Groundwater pollution

Why Groundwater Modelling is needed?

Groundwater

An important component of water resource systems.

Extracted from aquifers through pumping wells and

supplied for domestic use, industry and agriculture.

With increased withdrawal of groundwater, the quality

of groundwater has been continuously deteriorating.

Water can be injected into aquifers for storage and/or

quality control purposes.

GROUND WATER MODELING

WHY MODEL?
To make predictions about a ground-water
systems response to a stress
To understand the system
To design field studies
Use as a thinking tool

Use of Groundwater models

Can be used for three general purposes:

To predict or forecast expected artificial
or natural changes in the system.
Predictive is more applied to deterministic
models since it carries higher degree of
certainty, while forecasting is used with
probabilistic (stochastic) models.

Use of Groundwater models

To describe the system in order to analyse

various assumptions
To generate a hypothetical system that
will be used to study principles of
groundwater flow associated with various
general or specific problems.

Processes we might want to model

Groundwater flow
calculate both heads and flow
Solute transport requires information
on flow (velocities)
calculate concentrations

TYPES OF MODELS
CONCEPTUAL MODEL QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
"a cartoon of the system in your mind"
MATHEMATICAL MODEL MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM
SIMPLE - ANALYTICAL (provides a continuous solution over the
model domain)
COMPLEX - NUMERICAL (provides a discrete solution - i.e. values are
calculated at only a few points)
ANALOG MODEL e.g. ELECTRICAL CURRENT FLOW through a
circuit board with resistors to represent hydraulic conductivity and
capacitors to represent storage coefficient
PHYSICAL MODEL e.g. SAND TANK which poses scaling problems

Mathematical Models

Mathematical model:
simulates ground-water flow and/or solute fate
and transport indirectly by means of a set of
governing equations thought to represent the
physical processes that occur in the system.
(Anderson and Woessner, 1992)

Components of a Mathematical Model

Governing Equation
(Darcys law + water balance equation)
with head (h) as the dependent variable
Boundary Conditions
Initial conditions (for transient problems)

Derivation of the Governing Equation

R x y

z
x

y
1. Consider flux (q) through REV
2. OUT IN = - Storage
3. Combine with: q = -K grad h

Numerical Methods
All numerical methods involve
representing the flow domain by a
limited number of discrete points called
nodes.
A set of equations are then derived to
relate the nodal values of the
dependent variable such that they
satisfy the governing PDE, either
approximately or exactly.

 Numerical Solutions
Discrete solution of head at selected nodal points.
Involves numerical solution of a set of algebraic
equations.

Finite difference models (e.g., MODFLOW)

Finite element models (e.g., SUTRA)

Finite difference models

may be solved using:
a computer program
(e.g., a FORTRAN program)
a spreadsheet (e.g., EXCEL)

Groundwater Flow Models

The Two Fundamental Equations

of Ground Water Flow

First Law of Hydrogeology

Basic Form

K dh
v
n dl

Darcys Law:

Average Linear Velocity

Second Law of Hydrogeology

Basic Form
Flow Equation:

d 2h
0
2
dx
1-D, Steady State

Darcys Law
Darcys Experiment (1856)
Darcy investigated ground water flow under controlled conditions
h1

Q h, Q 1 x , Q A

h2

A: Cross Sectional Area (Perp. to flow)

Q: Volumetric flow rate [L3/T]
K: The proportionality constant is added

Q
h
h

Slope = h/x
h1
~ dh/dx
h
h2
x
x1

x2

to form the following equation:

h : Hydraulic Gradient

Q A h
x

Q K A h
x

K units [L/T]

Darcys Law (cont.)

Volumetric Flux

Ave. Linear
Velocity

Q
A .n

Other useful forms of Darcys Law

dh Used for calculating
Q
q K
Q given A
A=
dx

q
n

K dh
=v
n dx

Assumptions: Laminar, saturated flow

Used for calculating

average velocity of
contaminant
transport

Introduction to Ground Water Flow

Modeling
Predicting heads (and flows) and
Approximating parameters

h(x,y,z,t)?

Solutions to the flow equations

Most ground water flow models are
solutions of some form of the ground
water flow equation
The partial differential equation needs
to be solved to calculate head as a
function of position and time,
i.e., h=f(x,y,z,t)
e.g., unidirectional, steady-state flow
within a confined aquifer
Darcys Law

dh
q

dx
K

q
K
ho x

Integrated

h0

dh

q
K

dx h h0

qx
K

x h(x)

h( x ) h0

qx
K

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Analytical models (a.k.a., closed form models)

The previous model is an example of an analytical model

i.e., the second derivative
q x is a solution to the d 2 h
h( x ) h0
0
of h(x) is zero
K 1-D Laplace equation dx 2

With this analytical model, head can be calculated at any position (x)
Analytical solutions to the 3-D transient flow equation would give head at any
position and at any time, i.e., the continuous function h(x,y,z,t)
Examples of analytical models:
1-D solutions to steady state and transient flow equations
Thiem Equation: Steady state flow to a well in a confined aquifer
The Theis Equation: Transient flow to a well in a confined aquifer
Slug test solutions: Transient response of head within a well to a
pressure pulse

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Common Analytical Models

Thiem Equation: steady state flow to a well within a confined aquifer

Analytic solution to the radial (1-D), steady-state, homogeneous K

flow equation
Gives head as a function of radial distance

2 h 1 h

0
2
r
r r

r
Q
h( r ) hw
ln
2T rw

Theis Equation: Transient flow to a well within a confined aquifer

Analytic solution of radial, transient, homogeneous K flow equation
Gives head as a function of radial distance and time

2 h 1 h S h

2
r
r r T t

S r2
Q
h( r , t ) ho
W

4T T 4t

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Forward Modeling: Prediction

Models can be used to predict h(x,y,z,t) if the parameters are known,

K, T, Ss, S, n, b
Thiem
Theis
1-D, SS
qx
h( x ) h0
K

S r2
Q
h( r , t ) h
W

4T T 4t

Heads are used to predict flow rates,velocity distributions, flow paths,

travel times. For example:

r
Q
h( r ) hw
ln
2T rw

Velocities for average contaminant transport

Capture zones for ground water contaminant plume capture
Travel time zones for wellhead protection

Velocity distributions and flow paths are then used in contaminant

transport modeling

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Inverse Modeling: Aquifer Characterization

Use of forward modeling requires estimates of aquifer

parameters
Simple models can be solved for these parameters

h( x ) h0

e.g., 1-D Steady State:

h1

Q
x
wb h1 h0

ho

ho

Clay

qx
K

h1

This inverse model can be used to characterize K

This estimate of K can then be used in a forward model to
predict what will happen when other variables are changed

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Inverse Modeling: Aquifer Characterization

The Thiem Equation can also be solved for K

h2 h1

r
Q
ln 2
2Kb r1

r
Q
ln 2
2bh2 h1 r1

Pump Test: This inverse model allows measurement of K

using a steady state pump test
A

pumping well is pumped at a constant rate of Q

until heads come to steady state, i.e.,
The steady-state heads, h1 and h2, are measured
in two observation wells at different radial
distances from the pumping well r1 and r2
The values are plugged into the inverse model to
calculate K (a bulk measure of K over the area stressed by
pumping)

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Inverse Modeling: Aquifer Characterization

Indirect solution of flow models

More complex analytical flow models cannot be solved for the

parameters

S r2
Q
h( r , t ) h
W

4T T 4t

Curve Matching

or Iteration

This calls for curve matching or iteration in order to calculate the

aquifer parameters
Advantages over steady state solution
gives storage parameters S (or Ss) as well as T (or K)
Pump test does not have to be continued to steady state
Modifications allow the calculation of many other parameters
e.g., Specific yield, aquitard leakage, anisotropy

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Limitations of Analytical Models

Closed form models are well suited to the

characterization of bulk parameters
However, the flexibility of forward modeling
is limited due to simplifying assumptions:

Homogeneity, Isotropy, simple geometry,

simple initial conditions

Geology is inherently complex:

Heterogeneous, anisotropic, complex

geometry, complex conditions

This complexity calls for a more

powerful solution to the flow equation Numerical modeling

Flow Modeling (cont.)

Numerical Modeling in a Nutshell

A

solution of flow equation is approximated on a

discrete grid (or mesh) of points, cells or elements

The parameters and variables are specified over

the boundary of the domain (region) being modeled
Within this discretized domain:
1) Aquifer parameters can be set at each cell
within the grid
2) Complex aquifer geometry can be modeled
3) Complex boundary conditions can be
accounted for

Requires detailed knowledge of 1), 2) , and 3)

As compared to analytical modeling, numerical
modeling is:
Well suited to prediction but
More difficult to use for aquifer characterization

An Introduction to Finite Difference

Modeling
Approximate Solutions to the
Flow Equation
The Finite Difference Approximation of Derivatives

Partial derivatives of head represent the

change in head with respect to a
coordinate direction (or time) at a point.e.g.,
These derivatives can be approximated as
the change in head (h) over a finite
distance in the coordinate direction (y)
that traverses the point

h y or h t
h
h1

i.e., The component of the hydraulic

h2
gradient in the y direction can be
approximated by the finite difference h/y

h h
y y
h
y
y1

y2 y

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Approximation of the second derivative

The second derivative of head with respect to x represents the change

of the first derivative with respect to x
The second derivative can be approximated using two finite differences
centered around x2
This is known as a central difference

h ha ho
y
x h ho hb

y
x

h
ha-ho
ho-hb

ha
ho

hb
xa

xo

xb x

ha ho ho hb

2
h x
x
x
x 2
h 2ho hb
a
x 2

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Finite Difference Approximation of

1-D, Steady State Flow Equation
d 2h 0
dx 2

ha 2ho hb
0 ha 2ho hb 0
2
x

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Physical basis for finite difference approximation

h ha ho
x
x h ho hb

x
x

ha
ha-ho h
o
ha-hbh

x
xa

Qi y z q i
z

ha ho
y z K oa
x Ka

Qi Qo 0
V

K oa K o K a 2
K ob K o K b 2

x
xo

xb

x
Ko
x

Ka

Qo y z qo
h hb
y z K ob o
x

K ao ha K ao K bo ho K bo hb 0

Kab: average K of cell and K of cell to the left; Kab: average K of cell and K of cell to the left

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Discretization of the Domain

Specified
Head

Divide the 1-D domain into equal cells

of heterogeneous K

Ko

K1

K2

K3

ho h1 h2 h3
x

Ki1

Ki

hi-1 hi

hi+1

Specified
Head

K i -1/2 K i K i -1 2
K i 1/2 K i K i 1 2
x Constant
ho and hn 1 : specified head
Ki1

hn hn+1
x

K i -1/2 hi -1 K i -1/2 K i 1/2 hi K i 1/2 hi 1 0

Solve for the head at each node gives n
equations and n unknowns
The head at each node is an average of
the head at adjacent cells weighted by
the Ks

hi

K i -1/2 hi 1 K i 1/2 hi 1
K i -1/2 K i 1/2

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

2-D, Steady State, Uniform Grid Spacing, Finite

Difference Scheme

K oa K o K a 2
K ob K o K b 2
K oc K o K c 2
K od K o K d 2

Divide the 2-D domain into equally

spaced rows and columns of
heterogeneous K
Kc

x
x

hc
Ka

Kd

Kb

ha ho hb
Kd

hd
x

K ao ha K bo hb K co hc K do hd
K ao K bo K co K do ho 0
Solve for ho

ho

K ao ha K bo hb K co hc K do hd
K ao K bo K co K do

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Incorporate Transmissivity: Confined Aquifers

multiply by b (aquifer thickness)Toa To Ta 2 K o bo K a ba 2
Tob To Tb 2 K o bo K b bb 2
Toc To Tc 2 K o bo K c bc 2
Kc
Tod To Td 2 K o bo K d bd 2
hc
Ka

Kd

Kb

Tao ha Tbo hb Tco hc Tdo hd

Tao Tbo Tco Tdo ho 0

ha ho hb

Solve for ho

Ka
x

ba

Ko

bo

Kb

bb

ho
x

Tao ha Tbo hb Tco hc Tdo hd

Tao Tbo Tco Tdo

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

Incorporate Transmissivity: Unconfined Aquifers

b depends on saturated thickness which is head

measured relative to the aquifer bottom hoa ho ha 2
hob ho hb 2
Kc
hoc ho hc 2
hc
hod ho hd 2
Ka

Kd

Kb

ha ho hb

K ao hao ha K bo hbo hb K co hco hc K do hdo hd

K ao hao K bo hao K co hao K do hao ho 0
Solve for ho

Ka
x

ha

Ko

ho

Kb

hb

K ao hao ha K bo hbo hb K co hco hc K do hdo hd

ho
K ao hao K bo hao K co hao K do hao
x

Finite Difference Modeling (cont.)

2-D, Steady State, Isotropic, Homogeneous

Finite Difference Scheme
Tha Thb T hc Thd
T T T T ho 0

hc

ha ho hb

x
x

ha hb hc hd 4ho 0

hd

Solve for ho

ho

ha hb hc hd
4

Basic Finite
Difference Design
Discretization and Boundary
Conditions
Grids should be oriented and spaced to maximize the
efficiency of the model
Boundary conditions should represent reality as
closely as possible

Basic Finite Difference Design (cont.)

Discretization: Grid orientation

Grid rows and columns should line up with as many rivers,

shorelines, valley walls and other major boundaries as much
as possible

Basic Finite Difference Design (cont.)

Discretization: Variable Grid Spacing

Rules of Thumb
Refine grid around areas
of interest
Adjacent rows or columns
should be no more than
twice (or less than half)
as wide as each other
Expand spacing smoothly
Many implementations of
Numerical models allow
Onscreen manipulation of
Grids relative to an imported
Base map

Basic Finite Difference Design (cont.)

Boundary Conditions
Any numerical model must be
bounded on all sides of the domain
(including bottom and top)
The types of boundaries and
mathematical representation
depends on your conceptual model
Types of Boundary Conditions

Specified

Head Boundaries
Specified Flux Boundaries
Head Dependant Flux Boundaries