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Groundwater flow modelling within a coastal alluvial plain setting using a high-resolution hydrofacies approach; Bells Creek plain, Australia

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Abstract

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has proved to be an extremely useful geophysical tool, in conjunction with direct geological data, to develop a realistic, macroscopic, subjective-based conceptual model of aquifer architecture within a shallow coastal alluvial plain. Subsequent finite-difference groundwater modelling has not only enabled determination of the dominant groundwater flow paths for the plain, but has also quantified the effects of within-facies and between-facies sedimentary heterogeneity on those flow paths. The interconnection of narrow, unconfined alluvial channels and a broad, semi-confined alluvial delta is ensuring that most fresh groundwater that enters the plain in the form of precipitation or recharge from lateral bedrock hills, is discharged into the eastern coastal wetlands via that alluvial delta aquifer.

Résumé

Le radar est un instrument géophysique très utile qui, avec les données géologiques permet les réalisations d’un modèle réaliste de la structure des aquifères alluviales côtières peu profondes. A part de la mise en évidence des directions principales d’écoulement, la modélisation par la méthode des différences finies, a permis aussi de quantifier les effets des hétérogénéités des faciès sédimentaires au long des mêmes directions d’écoulement. L’interconnectivité des canaux alluviaux libres avec une delta semi captive assure que la plupart de l’eau douce de la plaine provenant de précipitations or par la recharge du substratum qui affleure dans les collines latérales se décharge dans les marécages côtières á travers de l’aquifère deltaïque.

Resumen

El radar de penetración terrestre (RPT), ha demostrado ser una herramienta geofísica de extremada utilidad, en conjunto con datos geológicos directos, para desarrollar un modelo conceptual de bases subjetivas, macroscópico y práctico, de la arquitectura del acuífero dentro de una llanura aluvial costera somera. La etapa subsiguiente del modelamiento, por diferencias finitas del agua subterránea, no solamente ha facilitado la determinación de las redes de flujo principales del agua subterránea para la llanura, si no también cuantificó los efectos de la heterogeneidad sedimentaria en la red de flujo, denominados de “facies interna” y “entre facies”. La interconexión entre canales aluviales estrechos de tipo libre y el delta aluvial amplio de tipo semiconfinado, está asegurando que mucha del agua subterránea dulce que entra a la llanura, bien sea como precipitación, o bien como recarga lateral desde las colinas rocosas de los alrededores, sea descargada a los humedales costeros orientales por medio del acuífero deltaico aluvial.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to CSIRO Mineral Exploration and Mining Division for use of their RAMAC GPR unit, Dr. David Noon (University of Queenland) for GPR technical advice, and Lensworth (particularly Dr. Ron Black, and Peter Gust) for research funding and technical support. The authors are indebted to Dr. Daniel Lack for invaluable advice regarding sensitivity analysis and assistance in compiling the statistical code.

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  1. School of Natural Resource Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, Australia

    T. R. Ezzy, M. E. Cox, A. J. O’Rourke & G. J. Huftile

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  1. T. R. Ezzy
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  2. M. E. Cox
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  3. A. J. O’Rourke
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  4. G. J. Huftile
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Correspondence to T. R. Ezzy.

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Ezzy, T.R., Cox, M.E., O’Rourke, A.J. et al. Groundwater flow modelling within a coastal alluvial plain setting using a high-resolution hydrofacies approach; Bells Creek plain, Australia. Hydrogeol J 14, 675–688 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0470-5

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