Transient Hydraulic Tomography and Tracer Tomography

Detailed spatial distributions of hydraulic
parameters are imperative to improve our ability to
predict water and solute movement in the subsurface.
Transient hydraulic tomography (THT) is a
cost-effective technique for characterizing the
heterogeneity of hydraulic parameters in the
subsurface. In this study we developed an efficient
sequential successive linear estimator (SSLE) for
interpreting head data from transient hydraulic
tomography to estimate three dimensional hydraulic
conductivity and specific storage fields. We first
analyzed the cross correlation between transient head
data and hydraulic parameters and covariance of
transient heads using a hypothetical one dimensional
aquifer. This analysis led to an efficient way to
interpret transient heads. To more efficiently
interpret the transient head data, we developed an
estimation approach that utilizes the zeroth and
first temporal moments of well hydrographs, instead
of drawdown itself. We further extended the
hydraulic tomography concept to tracer tomography and
combine hydraulic/tracer tomography for
characterizing NAPL (Non-aqueous phase liquid) source
zones.

Autorentext

Junfeng Zhu received his BS and MS in Hydrogeology from Nanjing
University. He worked for Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute
before obtaining his PhD in Hydrology from the University of
Arizona. He then worked for ARCADIS and later for the University
of Arizona. Zhu now works for Kentucky Geological Survey at the
University of Kentucky.

Klappentext

Detailed spatial distributions of hydraulic
parameters are imperative to improve our ability to
predict water and solute movement in the subsurface.
Transient hydraulic tomography (THT) is a
cost-effective technique for characterizing the
heterogeneity of hydraulic parameters in the
subsurface. In this study we developed an efficient
sequential successive linear estimator (SSLE) for
interpreting head data from transient hydraulic
tomography to estimate three dimensional hydraulic
conductivity and specific storage fields. We first
analyzed the cross correlation between transient head
data and hydraulic parameters and covariance of
transient heads using a hypothetical one dimensional
aquifer. This analysis led to an efficient way to
interpret transient heads. To more efficiently
interpret the transient head data, we developed an
estimation approach that utilizes the zeroth and
first temporal moments of well hydrographs, instead
of drawdown itself. We further extended the
hydraulic tomography concept to tracer tomography and
combine hydraulic/tracer tomography for
characterizing NAPL (Non-aqueous phase liquid) source
zones.