Simulation of spatial and temporal trends in nitrate concentrations at the regional scale in the Upper Dyle basin, Belgium

peer reviewed ; Models are the only tools capable of predicting the evolution of groundwater systems at a regional scale in taking into account a large amount of information. This study presents the association of a water balance model (WetSpass) with a groundwater flow and solute transport model (SUFT3D, « Saturated and Unsaturated Flow and Transport in 3D ») in order to simulate the present and future groundwater quality in terms of nitrate in the Upper Dyle basin (439 km², Belgium). The HFEMC (« Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell ») method implemented in the SUFT3D code is used to model grou... Mehr ...

Verfasser: César, Emilie
Wildemeersch, Samuel
Orban, Philippe
Carriere, Simon
Brouyère, Serge
Dassargues, Alain
Dokumenttyp: journal article
Erscheinungsdatum: 2014
Verlag/Hrsg.: Springer Science & Business Media B.V.
Schlagwörter: groundwater modelling / spatially-distributed recharge / WetSpass / nitrate / Engineering / computing & technology / Geological / petroleum & mining engineering / Ingénierie / informatique & technologie / Géologie / ingénierie du pétrole & des mines
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28949573
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
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Link(s) : https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/170606

peer reviewed ; Models are the only tools capable of predicting the evolution of groundwater systems at a regional scale in taking into account a large amount of information. This study presents the association of a water balance model (WetSpass) with a groundwater flow and solute transport model (SUFT3D, « Saturated and Unsaturated Flow and Transport in 3D ») in order to simulate the present and future groundwater quality in terms of nitrate in the Upper Dyle basin (439 km², Belgium). The HFEMC (« Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell ») method implemented in the SUFT3D code is used to model groundwater flow and nitrate transport. A spatially-distributed recharge modelled with WetSpass is considered for prescribing the recharge to the groundwater flow model. The feasibility of linking WetSpass model with the finite-elements SUFT3D code is demonstrated. Time evolution and distribution of nitrate concentration are then simulated using the calibrated model. Nitrate inputs are spatially-distributed according to land use. The spatial simulations and temporal trends are compared with previously published data on this aquifer and show good results.