Modeling an Aquifer: Numerical Solution to the Groundwater Flow Equation

Abstract

We present a model of groundwater dynamics under stationary flow and governed by Darcy's Law of water motion through porous media, we apply it to study a 2D aquifer with water table of constant slope comprised of an homogeneous and isotropic media, the more realistic case of an homogeneous anisotropic soil is also considered. Taking into account some geophysical parameters we develop a computational routine, in the Finite Difference Method, that solves the resulting elliptic partial equation, both in a homogeneous isotropic and homogeneous anisotropic media. After calibration of the numerical model, this routine is used to begin a study of the Ayamonte-Huelva aquifer in Spain, a modest analysis of the system is given, we compute the average discharge vector as well as its root mean square as a first predictive approximation of the flux in this system, providing us a signal of the location of best exploitation; long term goal is to develop a complete computational tool for the analysis of groundwater dynamics. * Electronic address: manuel.vazquez@correo.buap.mx † Electronic address: ana.rubio@alumno.buap.mx ‡ Electronic address: isrrael.rodriguez@correo.buap.mx § Electronic address: dolores@ifuap.buap.mx

Numerical simulation of two aquarius Horizons

“…In [10], a model of the dynamics of groundwater in a stationary flow was proposed and, guided by the law of Darcy's water movement through porous media, we use it to study a 2D aquifer with a reservoir of water with a constant slope consisting of homogeneous and isotropic media; a more realistic case of uniform anisotropic soil is also being considered. Taking into account some geophysical parameters, we develop a computational procedure in the finite difference method, which solves the obtained elliptic partial differential equation both in a homogeneous isotropic and a homogeneous anisotropic medium.…”