Mathematical Modeling of the Movement of Heat, Water, and Solutes in Two-Dimensional, Saturated-Unsaturated, Surface Water - Groundwater Flow Systems

The objective of this research is to develop better quantitative methods for estimating recharge and discharge between streams and alluvial aquifers, and for studying the behavior of pollutants during infiltration of polluted surface water to groundwater. A two-dimensional, cross-sectional, saturated-unsaturated, finite difference model for simulating the movement of water, heat, and solutes in surface water-groundwater flow systems was developed. The model has been verified by comparison with analytical solutions and field results. The model was also used to study two generalized, but hypothetical situations; the first was a regional stream-aquifer system, and the second, an unsaturated flow system. Several sensitivity analyses were conducted, but the influence of many more parameters needs to be examined in future. The model results show that temperature fluctuations, streambed properties, geology, and several other factors significantly affect the movement of water and solute in surface water-groundwater flow systems; that the aquifer yield is much higher during the warmer months of the year when warm water infiltrates the aquifer, and much less during the colder months when cold water infiltrates the aquifer. Also, the results show that if a stream is continuously polluted by persistent organics, large groundwater areas may be contaminated when part of the groundwater is derived from infiltrating stream water.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Stephanatos, Basilis Nikolaos

Contributors dc:contributor

• Valocchi, Albert J.

• Engineering, Civil

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8803212

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/69973