Abstract
In this paper, the restrictions of three-dimensional (3D) modelling of salt water intrusion in large-scale coastal (homogeneous) aquifers are discussed. Computer codes, of which the solution of the advection-dispersion equation is based on standard finite element or finite difference techniques, cannot yet be applied to model large-scale coastal aquifers. The reason is that these codes must satisfy a condition of spatial discretization, characterized by the so-called grid Peclet number. This number imposes that the dimension of the grid block should be not greater than a few times the magnitude of the longitudinal dispersivity, as otherwise numerical dispersion will occur. In addition, stand-alone personal computers are not yet fast enough to execute models with several hundreds of thousands of grid blocks. Finally, reliable and sufficient groundwater data, required for calibration and verification, are not available in most cases. In conclusion, 3D-modelling of salt water intrusion in large-scale coastal aquifers is technically possible within some years, though the availability of data will always restrict practical applications to a certain extent.
| Translated title of the contribution | Problems with large-scale 3D modeling of salt water intrusion |
|---|---|
| Original language | Spanish |
| Pages (from-to) | 87-104 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Boletin Geologico y Minero |
| Volume | 109 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Coastal aquifer
- Density dependent flow
- Modelling
- Numerical simulation
- Seawater intrusion