Conference proceeding
Simulation of spring discharge from a limestone aquifer in northeastern Iowa with an identification scheme
CALIBRATION AND RELIABILITY IN GROUNDWATER MODELLING, (237), pp.31-40
1996
Abstract
Groundwater in various aquifers is discharged at the surface or into bodies of surface writer in the form of springs. Important information about the aquifer and the subsurface environment can be obtained by studying the water quantity and quality that is discharged through a spring. The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple model that simulates the temporal variations of discharges from Big Spring from 1983 to 1994, in Iowa to study the effect of climate change on groundwater resources in the area. The simulation is carried out with a lumped-parameter model and an identification scheme in MATLAB. When precipitation is taken as the sole input, the simulated discharge rates poorly match the observed one. The match is improved significantly when the processes of evapotranspiration and infiltration are considered. The best results are obtained when snowmelt is also included in the model. Potential evapotranspiration was estimated with Thornthwaites's formula, infiltration was calculated through a water balance approach, and snowmelt was generated by a degree-day model. The results show that the groundwater in the limestone aquifer is mainly recharged by snowmelt in early spring, and by infiltration from rainfall in later spring and early summer. Simulated discharge is visually calibrated against measured discharge with strong matches supporting the validity of this approach. The model can be used to study the effects of climate change on groundwater resources and to study groundwater contamination by agricultural chemicals in that area.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Simulation of spring discharge from a limestone aquifer in northeastern Iowa with an identification scheme
- Creators
- Y K ZhangE W Bai
- Contributors
- P vanderHeijde (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- CALIBRATION AND RELIABILITY IN GROUNDWATER MODELLING, (237), pp.31-40
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 1996
- Academic Unit
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984231968302771
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