Numerical simulation of surface barriers for shrub-steppe ecoregions
Date
2005
Authors
White, Mark D., author
Ward, Andy L., author
Colorado State University, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Surface barriers, constructed of earthen materials, are a viable option for long-term management of contaminated sites within arid and semi-arid environments. Design and licensing of surface barriers will require a demonstrated understanding of the multidimensional nonisothermal geohydrologic and coupled ground surface to atmosphere water mass and energy transport processes that control water infiltration to the subsurface. A prototype barrier on a shrug-steppe site at Hanford has been monitored since 1994, providing vegetation and water balance data that includes drainage from the sideslopes. As a prelude to inverse numerical modeling to estimate critical parameters for the prototype barrier, this paper describes and demonstrates a numerical simulator for modeling the prototype barrier in shrub-steppe environments. The numerical simulator comprises a three-dimensional nonisothermal multifluid subsurface flow and transport simulator fully coupled to a modified nonlinear sparsely vegetated (are substrate to closed canopy) evapotranspiration module that mechanistically predicts evaporation.
Description
2005 annual AGU hydrology days was held at Colorado State University on March 7 - March 9, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references.
Includes bibliographical references.