A comparison between SWI and SEAWAT: the importance of dispersion, inversion and vertical anisotropy

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Abstract

SWI and SEAWAT are both computer codes designed to model variable-density systems. One of the options in SWI is to model Dupuit interface flow, where freshwater and seawater are separated by an interface. In this paper we compare seawater intrusion model results of SWI to model results of SEAWAT, which simulates full variable-density flow and transport. Results indicate that SWI is valid for many variable-density systems. For the case considered in this paper, SWI results are accurate when the simulated width of the transition zone between seawater to freshwater is 15% or less of the scale of the problem, density inversion (saltwater over freshwater) occurs over only a small part of the model domain, and the ratio of vertical to horizontal hydraulic conductivity is larger than 0.01. Results also show that the simulated interface moves further inland using SWI than for the same conditions using SEAWAT. SWI is preferable to be used in systems where run times for a fully-coupled variable-density flow and transport model would be prohibitive; for the case considered here, SWI run times were a few seconds and SEAWAT run times were almost three hours.
Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title A comparison between SWI and SEAWAT: the importance of dispersion, inversion and vertical anisotropy
Year Published 2010
Language English
Contributing office(s) Florida Water Science Center-Ft. Lauderdale
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the 21st Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Azores, Portugal, 2010
First page 271
Last page 274
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