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Simulating piecewise-linear surface water and ground water interactions with MODFLOW
1Royal Haskoning, Water & Ecology Group-Spatial Development Division, 3009 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands. wj.zaadnoordijk@royalhaskoning.com
Ground Water
|May 29, 2009
Summary
Standard MODFLOW struggles with complex groundwater-surface water interactions. This study shows how to simulate piecewise-linear Cauchy boundaries using existing packages, avoiding custom code.
Area of Science:
- Hydrogeology
- Numerical Modeling
Background:
- Standard MODFLOW packages have limitations in modeling complex groundwater-surface water interactions.
- Accurate representation of Cauchy-type boundaries with varying recharge/discharge resistances is crucial for simulating surface water bodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a method for simulating piecewise-linear boundary conditions in MODFLOW without developing new code.
- To enable more sophisticated modeling of groundwater-surface water exchange.
Main Methods:
- Combining the general head boundary package with the drain package within a single MODFLOW cell.
- Utilizing standard USGS MODFLOW version without modifications.
Main Results:
- Achieved piecewise-linear behavior for Cauchy-type boundaries by integrating existing MODFLOW packages.
- Demonstrated that a modified Cauchy boundary can be simulated effectively.
Conclusions:
- The integration of standard MODFLOW packages offers a viable solution for complex boundary conditions.
- This approach enhances MODFLOW's utility for groundwater-surface water interaction studies with minimal computational overhead.
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