Coupled Surface/Subsurface Flow Systems: Numerical Modeling
Résumé
This chapter contains a summarized presentation of novel modeling approaches for coupling hydrological flows, where the “coupling” involves porous aquifers as well as open water bodies. First, basic concepts on partially saturated flow systems are presented (mostly without equations). A brief review of a fully 3D modeling approach, involving the concept of a variably saturated macroporous medium, is given. The rest of the chapter focuses on a 2D approach, based on vertically hydrostatic plane flow assumptions, for dealing with coupled aquiferstream flow in an alluvial river valley and floodplain. This approach assumes that the water tables of stream and aquifer are connected. Preliminary simulation results are shown for an actual test site. Overall, this chapter is meant to provide a quick overview on some environmental flow modeling problems requiring retroactive surface/subsurface coupling, based on some of the methods presented in the corresponding NATO-ASI lecture.