scholarly journals Characterizing groundwater heat-transport in a complex lowland aquifer using paleo-temperature reconstruction, satellite data, temperature-depth profiles, and numerical models

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Alberto Casillas-Trasvina ◽  
Bart Rogiers ◽  
Koen Beerten ◽  
Laurent Wouters ◽  
Kristine Walraevens
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Temperature Measurements ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Boom Clay ◽  
State Variable ◽  
Additional State ◽  
Temperature Depth ◽  
Neogene Aquifer

Abstract. Heat is a naturally occurring widespread groundwater tracer that can be used to identify flow patterns in groundwater systems. Temperature measurements, being relatively inexpensive and effortless to gather, represent a valuable source of information which can be exploited to reduce uncertainties on groundwater flow, and e.g. support performance assessment studies on waste disposal sites. In a lowland setting, however, hydraulic gradients are typically small, and whether temperature measurements can be used to inform us about catchment-scale groundwater flow remains an open question. For the Neogene aquifer in Flanders, groundwater flow and solute transport models have been developed in the framework of safety and feasibility studies for the underlying Boom Clay Formation as potential host rock for geological disposal of radioactive waste. However, the simulated fluxes by these models are still subject to large uncertainties, as they are typically constrained by hydraulic heads only. In the current study we use a state-of-the-art 3D steady-state groundwater flow model, calibrated against hydraulic head measurements, to build a 3D transient heat-transport model, for assessing the use of heat as an additional state variable, in a lowland setting, at the catchment scale. We therefore use temperature-depth (TD) profiles as additional state variable observations for inverse conditioning. Furthermore, a Holocene paleo-temperature time curve was constructed based on paleo-temperature reconstructions in Europe from several sources in combination with land-surface temperature (LST) imagery remote sensing monthly data from 2001 to 2019 (retrieved from NASA’s MODIS). The aim of the research is to understand the mechanisms of heat transport and to characterize the temperature distribution and dynamics in the Neogene aquifer. The simulation results clearly underline advection/convection and conduction as the major heat transport mechanisms, with a reduced role of advection/convection in zones where flux magnitudes are low, which suggests temperature is a useful indicator also in a lowland setting. Furthermore, performed scenarios highlight the important roles of i) surface hydrological features and withdrawals driving local groundwater flow systems, and ii) the inclusion of subsurface features like faults in the conceptualization and development of hydrogeological investigations. These findings serve as a proxy of the influence of advective transport and barrier/conduit role of faults, particularly the Rauw Fault in this case, and suggest that solutes released from the Boom Clay might be affected in similar ways.

Past climate and the role of ocean heat transport: Model simulations for the Cretaceous

1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 785-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Barron ◽  
William H. Peterson ◽  
David Pollard ◽  
Starley Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transport ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Ocean Heat Transport ◽  
Past Climate ◽  
Model Simulations

Eco-hydrology interactions between trees, soil and water in terrestrial and wetland areas: The effect of tree planting on water flow dynamics in Wairarapa Wetlands, New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Tapuwa Marapara
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Forested Wetlands ◽  
High Water ◽  
Flood Mitigation ◽  
Forested Wetland ◽  
Soil Hydrology ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Soil And Water

<p>During the last two decades there has been increasing interest in the role of forests and wetlands as flood mitigating tools due to growing concerns regarding the sustainability of many traditional engineering flood defences such as dykes, sea walls and dams. In forests, the role is facilitated by the interaction between trees, soil and water. Specifically trees reduce surface runoff and prevent flooding through increased evapotranspiration and canopy interception and enhance physical and hydraulic properties of soil that are critical for the absorption and retention of flood waters by the soil. It is increasingly realised that the answer to flood mitigation is not a blanket recommendation to “plant trees”. This is because the role of trees varies spatially and temporally as a function of climate, topography, rainfall properties, soil type and condition, catchment scale and geology, among others. For example, where trees are present in wetlands, particularly forested wetlands, the mechanisms by which trees interact with soil and water are similar to that in forests but because of a high water table, the impact of trees may be reduced. Therefore, the mere presence of forests and forested wetlands will not necessarily deliver flood risk management.  The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of trees as flood mitigating tools under various bio-geo climatic factors in forests and forested wetland environments. Three forms of investigation were followed to fulfil this purpose.  A detailed literature review was carried out to assess the role of trees and forests as flood mitigation tools under changing climate, topography, species type, rainfall properties, soil type and condition, catchment scale and geology. A field experiment was carried out to collect data and analyse the effect of trees on soil physical and hydraulic properties that include bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil organic carbon, soil moisture content, matric potential and soil moisture retention in a previously forested wetland undergoing restoration in New Zealand. A spatially explicit decision support tool, the Land Use Capability Indicator (LUCI) was then used to determine appropriate areas where intervention can be targeted to optimise the role of trees as flood mitigating tools in previously forested wetlands undergoing restoration.  The detailed review identified a major data gap in the role of trees under hydric conditions (high water table), along with uncertainties on their effectiveness in large catchments (>˜40 km²) and in extreme rainfall events. The field experiment provided the first set of soil hydrology data from an ephemeral wetland in New Zealand showing the benefits of newly established trees in improving hydraulic conductivity of soils. The soil hydrology data is a useful baseline for continuous monitoring of the forested wetlands undergoing restoration. The use of the Land Use Capability Indicator was its first application for the optimisation of flood mitigation in a forested wetland. Its suggested target areas are not necessarily conducive for survival of some tree species, although if suitable species are established, flood risk mitigation could be maximised. Further research on what native species are best for what conditions and in what combinations is recommended, to increase survival in the proposed target areas.</p>

scholarly journals Disturbances of Temperature-Depth Profiles by Surface Warming and Groundwater Flow Convection in Kumamoto Plain, Japan

Geofluids ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linyao Dong ◽  
Congsheng Fu ◽  
Jigen Liu ◽  
Yifeng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Subsurface Temperature ◽  
Flow Perturbation ◽  
Surface Warming ◽  
Heat Flows ◽  
Depth Profiles ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Thermal Regimes ◽  
Temperature Depth

Subsurface temperatures depend on climate and groundwater flow. A lack of observations of subsurface temperature collected over decades limits interpretation of the combined influences of surface warming and groundwater flow on subsurface thermal regimes. Subsurface temperature-depth profile data acquired for Kumamoto Plain, Japan, between 1987 and 2012 were collected and analyzed to elucidate regional groundwater and heat flows. The observed and simulated temperature-depth profiles showed the following: subsurface water flows from northeast to southwest in the study area; the combined influence of surface warming and water flow perturbation produces different temporal changes in thermal profiles in recharge, intermediate, and discharge areas; and aquifer thermal properties contribute more than hydraulic parameters to the perturbation of temperature-depth profiles. Spatial and temporal evolution features of subsurface thermal regimes may be utilized to investigate the influence of surface warming events on subsurface water and heat flows at the basin scale.

scholarly journals Groundwater flow and heat transport for systems undergoing freeze-thaw: Intercomparison of numerical simulators for 2D test cases

2018 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 196-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Grenier ◽  
Hauke Anbergen ◽  
Victor Bense ◽  
Quentin Chanzy ◽  
Ethan Coon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Test Cases ◽  
Freeze Thaw

scholarly journals On the role of filaments in perpendicular heat transport at the scrape-off layer

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 096015 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Carralero ◽  
S. Artene ◽  
M. Bernert ◽  
G. Birkenmeier ◽  
M. Faitsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transport

scholarly journals Oceanic Overturning and Heat Transport: The Role of Background Diffusivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 701-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Hieronymus ◽  
Jonas Nycander ◽  
Johan Nilsson ◽  
Kristofer Döös ◽  
Robert Hallberg
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transport ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Meridional Heat Transport ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
Antarctic Sea Ice ◽  
Meridional Overturning

The role of oceanic background diapycnal diffusion for the equilibrium climate state is investigated in the global coupled climate model CM2G. Special emphasis is put on the oceanic meridional overturning and heat transport. Six runs with the model, differing only by their value of the background diffusivity, are run to steady state and the statistically steady integrations are compared. The diffusivity changes have large-scale impacts on many aspects of the climate system. Two examples are the volume-mean potential temperature, which increases by 3.6°C between the least and most diffusive runs, and the Antarctic sea ice extent, which decreases rapidly as the diffusivity increases. The overturning scaling with diffusivity is found to agree rather well with classical theoretical results for the upper but not for the lower cell. An alternative empirical scaling with the mixing energy is found to give good results for both cells. The oceanic meridional heat transport increases strongly with the diffusivity, an increase that can only partly be explained by increases in the meridional overturning. The increasing poleward oceanic heat transport is accompanied by a decrease in its atmospheric counterpart, which keeps the increase in the planetary energy transport small compared to that in the ocean.

scholarly journals Numerical Modeling of the Interference of Thermally Unbalanced Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Systems in Brussels (Belgium)

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6241
Author(s):  
Manon Bulté ◽  
Thierry Duren ◽  
Olivier Bouhon ◽  
Estelle Petitclerc ◽  
Mathieu Agniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Joint Operation ◽  
Groundwater Temperature ◽  
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

A numerical model was built using FEFLOW® to simulate groundwater flow and heat transport in a confined aquifer in Brussels where two Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems were installed. These systems are operating in adjacent buildings and exploit the same aquifer made up of mixed sandy and silty sublayers. The model was calibrated for groundwater flow and partially for heat transport. Several scenarios were considered to determine if the two ATES systems were interfering. The results showed that a significant imbalance between the injection of warm and cold water in the first installed ATES system led to the occurrence of a heat plume spreading more and more over the years. This plume eventually reached the cold wells of the same installation. The temperature, therefore, increased in warm and cold wells and the efficiency of the building’s cooling system decreased. When the second ATES system began to be operational, the simulated results showed that, even if the heat plumes of the two systems had come into contact, the influence of the second system on the first one was negligible during the first two years of joint operation. For a longer modeled period, simulated results pointed out that the joint operation of the two ATES systems was not adapted to balance, in the long term, the quantity of warm and cold water injected in the aquifer. The groundwater temperature would rise inexorably in the warm and cold wells of both systems. The heat plumes would spread more and more over the years at the expense of the efficiency of both systems, especially concerning building’s cooling with stored cold groundwater.

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