Applying fluvial depositional concepts in solute transport modelling
Many advances in the numerical modelling of three-dimensional groundwater flow and solute transport have been implemented in porous media structures that do not adequately represent deposits observed in the field. The main goal of this doctoral project is to
determine which characteristics of solute transport in heterogeneous media are lost by neglecting geological realism. This project focuses on hierarchical sedimentary deposits, units of which can be defined across multiple scales, with larger-scale units composed of assemblages of smaller-scale units. Methods and expertise from the fields of sedimentary geology and quantitative hydrogeology will be combined to achieve the research objectives.
Research objectives
Three research objectives provide a framework for this doctoral project:
Approach
To investigate how variability in geological processes affects solute transport in sedimentary aquifers, geologically plausible hierarchical facies models will be developed. The ability of these three-dimensional porous media models to replicate typically observed solute transport behaviour will be assessed by conducting groundwater flow and solute transport simulations in these media. Methods for using knowledge of geological processes to improve solute transport modelling in practice will be explored. This research project encompasses many different disciplines in geosciences, including: hydrostratigraphic modelling; groundwater flow and solute transport modelling; and the quantification of flow and transport behaviour.
Many advances in the numerical modelling of three-dimensional groundwater flow and solute transport have been implemented in porous media structures that do not adequately represent deposits observed in the field. The main goal of this doctoral project is to
determine which characteristics of solute transport in heterogeneous media are lost by neglecting geological realism. This project focuses on hierarchical sedimentary deposits, units of which can be defined across multiple scales, with larger-scale units composed of assemblages of smaller-scale units. Methods and expertise from the fields of sedimentary geology and quantitative hydrogeology will be combined to achieve the research objectives.
Research objectives
Three research objectives provide a framework for this doctoral project:
- To investigate how variability in geological processes affects solute transport in sedimentary aquifers.
- To build geologically plausible hierarchical facies models and assess their ability to replicate typically observed solute transport behaviour.
- To explore how knowledge of geological processes can be used to improve solute transport modelling in practice.
Approach
To investigate how variability in geological processes affects solute transport in sedimentary aquifers, geologically plausible hierarchical facies models will be developed. The ability of these three-dimensional porous media models to replicate typically observed solute transport behaviour will be assessed by conducting groundwater flow and solute transport simulations in these media. Methods for using knowledge of geological processes to improve solute transport modelling in practice will be explored. This research project encompasses many different disciplines in geosciences, including: hydrostratigraphic modelling; groundwater flow and solute transport modelling; and the quantification of flow and transport behaviour.
