Abstract
Analytical solutions for calculating groundwater travel times within unconfined island aquifers are given for cases of both a freshwater-bounded island (island located in a fresh water lake) and an oceanic island (freshwater contained above intrusive saltwater). The solutions apply for homogenous aquifers recharged by surface infiltration and discharged by a down-gradient, fixed-head boundary, under steady-state conditions. The solutions are given for two simple island geometries: circular islands and strip islands. A technique is also provided for comparing travel times in inland islands and oceanic islands. Travel times in oceanic islands are found to be shorter than travel times in inland islands, and travel times in circular islands are found to be longer than travel times in strip islands.
Résumé
Des solutions analytiques au calcul des temps de transit des eaux souterraines en aquifère insulaire libre sont données dans deux cas différents : une île bordée d’eau douce (localisée dans un lac d’eau douce), et une île océanique (l’eau douce est contenue au-dessus de l’eau salée intrusive). Les solutions s’appliquent dans le cas d’aquifères homogènes alimentés par les infiltrations superficielles, dont l’exutoire est constitué par une limite au potentiel imposé à l’aval hydraulique, en régime permanent. Les solutions sont données pour deux géométries insulaires simples : circulaire et en bande. Une technique est également donnée pour comparer les temps de transit dans les îles intracontinentales et océaniques. Les temps de transit dans les îles océaniques apparaissent plus courts que dans les îles intracontinentales ; ils sont en outre plus longs pour les îles circulaires que pour les îles en bande.
Resumen
Soluciones analíticas para calcular tiempos de viaje de agua subterránea dentro de acuíferos libres en islas son presentadas para los casos de una isla rodeada de agua dulce (isla situada en un lago de agua dulce) y una isla oceánica (agua dulce contenida sobre intrusión salina). Las soluciones son válidas para acuíferos homogéneos recargados por infiltración superficial y descargados por un gradiente-abajo, límite de carga-fija, bajo condiciones de equilibrio. Las soluciones son dadas para dos geometrías de isla simples: islas circulares e islas estrechas. Se proporciona una técnica para comparar los tiempos de viaje en islas tierra adentro y en islas oceánicas. Los tiempos de viaje en islas oceánicas se presentan más cortos que los tiempos de viaje en las islas tierra adentro, y los tiempos de viaje en islas circulares se presentan más largos que los tiempos de viaje en las islas estrechas.
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The authors acknowledge the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.
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Chesnaux, R., Allen, D.M. Groundwater travel times for unconfined island aquifers bounded by freshwater or seawater. Hydrogeol J 16, 437–445 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0241-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0241-6