Abstract
Using a three-dimensional finite element model, this study characterizes groundwater flow in a costal plain of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The model characterization involved taking field data describing the aquifer system and translating this information into input variables that the model code uses to solve governing equations of flow. Geological geometry and the number of aquifers have been analyzed based on a large amount of geological, hydrogeological and topographical data. Results of study demonstrate a high correlation between the ground surface elevation and the groundwater level in the shallow coastal aquifer. For calibrating the numerical groundwater model, the groundwater flow was simulated in steady state. In addition, the groundwater level and trend in the transient state has also been elucidated. The numerical result provides excellent visual representations of groundwater flow, presenting resource managers and decision makers with a clear understanding of the nature of the types of groundwater flow pathways. Results build a base for further analysis under different future scenarios.
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Acknowledgments
The research was financially supported by the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society. The authors are grateful for their supports. Dr. J. Takahashi and Dr. H. Cheng in Ehime University are also thanked for their help with the GIS software and digital data. The authors wish to extend the acknowledgement to the support and technical guidance given by the laboratory of hydrology for environmental engineering in Ehime University for undertaking this research. We would also like to thank anonymous reviewers for the valuable and helpful comments to the early drafts of this paper.
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He, B., Takase, K. & Wang, Y. Numerical simulation of groundwater flow for a coastal plain in Japan: data collection and model calibration. Environ Geol 55, 1745–1753 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1125-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1125-8