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Using solver to determine vertical groundwater velocities by temperature variations, Purdue University, Indiana, USA

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Abstract

Vertical groundwater velocities can be estimated based on directions of groundwater thermal gradients. Temperature-depth profiles were obtained from 12 monitoring wells at 3 different times of the year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) in West Lafayette, Indiana (USA) mainly on the Purdue University campus. Microsoft Excel Solver was used to match plots of groundwater temperature distribution in the wells with published type curves in order to find a dimensionless parameter β, from which vertical groundwater velocities were obtained. The vertical groundwater velocities found in the monitoring wells ranged from 0.92 to 4.53 cm/yr. Clay-rich aquitards presented greater vertical groundwater velocities than outwash aquifers. The highest groundwater velocities occurred in the Spring while the lowest were during the Winter. This method was found to be especially useful in glacially-derived materials with varying hydraulic conductivities for estimating vertical groundwater velocities in-situ.

Résumé

Les vitesses verticales des eaux souterraines peuvent être estimées d’après les directions du gradient thermique. On a mesuré la variation de la température avec la profondeur dans douze forages de monitoring dont la plupart se trouvent dans le campus de l’Université de Purdue-Indiana, États -Unies. Les mesures ont été effectuées pendant trois périodes différentes: l’automne, l’hiver et le printemps. Le Solver de Microsoft Excel a été utilisé pour caler les graphiques de la température mesurés dans les forages sur les abaques publiées affin d’obtenir un paramètre non dimensionnel, soit ?Ò?z?n d’où on peut obtenir les vitesses verticales de l’eau. Les valeurs des vitesses verticales se rangent entre 0.92 cm/an et 4.53 cm/an. Dans les aquidard argileux les vitesses verticales présentent des valeurs plus grandes par rapport aux ceux obtenues dans les aquifères cantonnés dans des dépôts glaciaires. Les plus grandes vitesses ont été mesurées pendant le printemps tendis que les valeurs les plus basses apparaissent pendant l’hiver. Cete méthode est surtout utile pour déterminer in situ les vitesses verticales dans les matériaux glaciaires avec des conductivités hydrauliques variables.

Resumen

Las velocidades verticales de aguas subterráneas pueden ser calculadas en base a direcciones de gradientes térmicos de aguas subterráneas. Perfiles de profundidades y temperaturas de aguas subterráneas fueron obtenidos de doce pozos de monitoreo durante diferentes épocas del año (otoño, invierno, y primavera) en la ciudad de West Lafayette, Indiana (Estados Unidos de América), principalmente en el campus de la Universidad de Purdue. Microsoft Excel Solver fue usado para igualar la distribución de las temperaturas de aguas subterráneas de los pozos con un conjunto de curvas ya existentes para encontrar un parámetro β sin ninguna dimensión, del cual se generaron velocidades verticales de aguas subterráneas. Las velocidades verticales de aguas subterráneas obtenidas en los pozos de monitoreo variaron de 0.92 cm/yr a 4.53 cm/yr. Los acuitardos arcillosos presentaron velocidades verticales de aguas subterráneas más altas que los acuiferos compuestos de arenas y gravas. Las velocidades de aguas subterráneas más altas ocurrieron durante la primavera, mientras que las más bajas se presentaron en el invierno. El método usado en esta investigación resultó útil para determinar velocidades verticales de aguas subterráneas in-situ, particularmente en materiales glaciales de distintas conductividades hidráulicas.

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Acknowledgements

It is acknowledged the generous cooperation of the Physical Facilities Utilities Crew of Purdue University who offered its assistance in order to have access to the monitoring wells. The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences provided funding for the purchase of the groundwater temperature monitoring instrumentation. Special thanks to Dr. Shirley Wade and Anatol Zingg for their contribution and help in taking the temperature measurements in the field as well as to Jose Garcia for drawing some of the figures.

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  1. Miguel A. Arriaga

    Present address: ENSR Corporation, 27755 Diehl Road, Suite 100, Warrenville, Illinois , 60555, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN , 47907, USA

    Miguel A. Arriaga & Darrell I. Leap

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  1. Miguel A. Arriaga
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  2. Darrell I. Leap
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Correspondence to Miguel A. Arriaga.

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Arriaga, M.A., Leap, D.I. Using solver to determine vertical groundwater velocities by temperature variations, Purdue University, Indiana, USA. Hydrogeol J 14, 253–263 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0381-x

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