Modeling groundwater flow and mass transport in heterogeneous media: Issues and challenges

摘要

The need for predictions of groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the subsurface - over large distances and long time periods-has imposed extraordinary demands on the field of hydrogeology. Such a need arises in assessing the safety of a geologic nuclear waste repository and in evaluating groundwater contamination and remediation designs. One of the main difficulties in modelling groundwater flow and mass transport is the heterogeneity of the flow system, both in terms of its characterization through in situ measurements and its conceptualization and simulation. This paper reviews some important issues and challenges in modeling flow and transport in heterogeneous media, and discusses approaches to address certain aspects of the problem. Topics discussed include dynamic flow channeling, tracer breakthrough curves, multiple scales for flow in fractured rocks, different scales in measurement, modeling, prediction and heterogeneity, and system characterization and analysis for predictive modeling.