Particle Tracking Using Dynamic Water-Level Data

• Main Author: Yuan Gao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Water
• Subjects: particle tracking; groundwater; dynamic water level; gradient
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/7/2063

The movement of fluid particles about historic subsurface releases is often governed by dynamic subsurface water levels. Motivations for tracking the movement of fluid particles include tracking the fate of subsurface contaminants and resolving the fate of water stored in subsurface aquifers. This study provides a novel method for predicting the movement of subsurface particles relying on dynamic water-level data derived from continuously recording pressure transducers. At least three wells are needed to measure water levels which are used to determine the plain of the water table. Based on Darcy’s law, particle flow pathlines at the study site are obtained using the slope of the water table. The results show that hydrologic conditions, e.g., seasonal transpiration and precipitation, influence local groundwater flow. The changes of water level in short periods caused by the hydrologic variations made the hydraulic gradient diversify considerably, thus altering the direction of groundwater flow. Although a range of groundwater flow direction and gradient with time can be observed by an initial review of water levels in rose charts, the net groundwater flow at all field sites is largely constant in one direction which is driven by the gradients with higher magnitude.