Regional Groundwater Modeling for Source-Area Delineation and Recharge Estimation From Long Term Climate Forcing
Abstract
This research is developing a 3D groundwater model of the Spring creek and Spruce creek drainage basins in central Pennsylvania. The purpose of the model is to evaluate the source-area for drinking water supplies, rates of areal and focused recharge and the long-term effect of seasonal, annual and decadal climate variations on recharge and groundwater levels. A solid body model is developed to represent the hydrostratigraphy from borehole data and geologic cross-sections. The hydrostratigraphic model allows parameterization of the 3D model using GIS (Geographical Information System) tools and the GMS groundwater modeling system. Other necessary software includes the HUF package, Modflow and Modpath. At this time we have developed a GIS data-model for climatic inputs and parameters including topography, geology, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. The data-model is fully compatible with the physical model. Preliminary results for a simple 2 layer model simulation shows the importance of terrain and hydrostratigraphy on the simulated flow field. At present the model is being used to determine the distribution of residence time or travel time from all points within the basin to the outlet using Modpath. The poster will show estimated rates of recharge over the basin. The model is used to predict the subsurface groundwater divide between the Spring creek and Spruce creek basins. In this case we show that the topographic divide and groundwater divide are not coincident.
- Publication:
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AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSM.H31C..05B
- Keywords:
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- 1829 Groundwater hydrology;
- 1833 Hydroclimatology;
- 1836 Hydrologic budget (1655);
- 1860 Runoff and streamflow