Alain Dupuy

Vertical heterogeneities of hydraulic aquitard parameters: preliminary results from laboratory and in situ monitoring

Abstract A borehole is developed in a shallow multi-layered aquifer and used to derive the porosity, specific storage and hydraulic conductivity of the aquitard. Local values of hydrodynamical parameters are estimated from petrophysical analysis of core samples, and the empirical relationship between porosity and permeability. Vertical diffusivity is determined from the response of the aquitard to a loading cyclic signal using pressure records at different depths. Hydraulic conductivities deduced from the petrophysical analysis ranged from 10−8 to 10−10 m s−1 and are comparable with those of facies of marine/lacustrine clay observed in samples. The permeability values calculated based on diffusivity are within the range 10−9 to 10−11 m s−1 with a quasi-systematic bias of one order of magnitude. These values are average for a larger part of the aquitard and correspond to an integrated value. The methodology retained for the aquitard characterization is discussed with emphasis on the implications for the management of a complex aquifer system. Citation Larroque, F., Cabaret, O., Atteia, O., Dupuy, A., and Franceschi, M., 2013. Vertical heterogeneities of hydraulic aquitard parameters: preliminary results from laboratory and in situ monitoring. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (4), 912–929.

Estimating River Conductance from Prior Information to Improve Surface-Subsurface Model Calibration

Most groundwater models simulate stream-aquifer interactions with a head-dependent flux boundary condition based on a river conductance (CRIV). CRIV is usually calibrated with other parameters by history matching. However, the inverse problem of groundwater models is often ill-posed and individual model parameters are likely to be poorly constrained. Ill-posedness can be addressed by Tikhonov regularization with prior knowledge on parameter values. The difficulty with a lumped parameter like CRIV, which cannot be measured in the field, is to find suitable initial and regularization values. Several formulations have been proposed for the estimation of CRIV from physical parameters. However, these methods are either too simple to provide a reliable estimate of CRIV, or too complex to be easily implemented by groundwater modelers. This paper addresses the issue with a flexible and operational tool based on a 2D numerical model in a local vertical cross section, where the river conductance is computed from selected geometric and hydrodynamic parameters. Contrary to other approaches, the grid size of the regional model and the anisotropy of the aquifer hydraulic conductivity are also taken into account. A global sensitivity analysis indicates the strong sensitivity of CRIV to these parameters. This enhancement for the prior estimation of CRIV is a step forward for the calibration and uncertainty analysis of surface-subsurface models. It is especially useful for modeling objectives that require CRIV to be well known such as conjunctive surface water-groundwater use.

Origin and recharge mechanisms of groundwater in the upper part of the Awaj River (Syria) based on hydrochemistry and environmental isotope techniques

The Barada and Awaj basin is the most important and extensively used water basin in Syria. Chemical and isotopic data of groundwater have been used to determine the spatial distribution of hydrogeological features in the upper part of Awaj River catchment area located southwest of this basin. Hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater reveals the domination of dissolution/precipitation mechanisms in these very complex stratigraphic sequences. The dissolution of carbonate rocks as well as reverse cation exchange processes seem to be the main factors controlling groundwater mineralization. The isotopic composition of precipitation and groundwater indicate that the modern-day atmospheric precipitation is the main source of groundwater recharge before an important evaporation occurred. The isotopic data also imply an existence of hydraulic connection between the different aquifers system. The results obtained allowed us to delineate two main spatial groundwater zones within the study area with different flow components. The south, central and eastern parts are considered to be one zone which is characterised by a shallow horizontal flow associated with active interaction between groundwater and hosting rocks. The nitrate concentrations in this zone are attributed to anthropogenic sources. The second zone consists in south-western, western and north-western parts where the karstic features are well developed mainly in the Jurassic strata. This zone is characterized by a high vulnerability to pollution confirmed by high values of nitrate coming from sewage water. The deep vertical groundwater flow component seems to be dominant in this zone and is controlled by fractures and geological structures.

Hydrochemistry to delineate groundwater flow conditions in the Mogher Al Mer area (Damascus Basin, Southwestern Syria)

The hydrochemistry of groundwater from the Mogher Al Mer area, located in southwestern Syria, has been used as a tool to identify and assess the hydrogeological systems and associated conditions. In this arid region of Syria, groundwater is considered as the main source of water supply for both drinking and irrigation purposes. The detailed description of hydrogeochemical conditions, including major ions, physico-chemical and in situ field parameters, has underlined the very complex variability of the stratigraphic sequences and hence the numerous hydrogeological units within the study area. On the one hand, groundwater chemical signature is found to be mainly controlled by the water–rock interaction processes in the mountainous western part of the study area. On the other hand, anthropogenic influences are observed in the eastern plain. In terms of recharge mechanisms, the region can be considered as a part of a main intermediate or even regional flow system instead of a local one.

Characterizing Stream-Aquifer Exchanges with Self-Potential Measurements

Characterizing the interactions between streams and aquifers is a major challenge in hydrology. Electrical self-potential (SP) is sensitive to groundwater flow through the electrokinetic effect, which is proportional to Darcy velocity. SP surveys have been extensively used for the characterization of seepage flow in a variety of contexts. But to our knowledge, a model coupling SP and groundwater flow has never been implemented for the study of stream-aquifer interactions. To address the issue, we first implemented a two-dimensional model to a synthetic stream-aquifer cross section. Results underline the very distinct nature of SP profiles in gaining or losing stream conditions. Second, we presented a field application in a transect crossing a stream in losing conditions. The coupled model successfully reproduced the observed SP profile. This inverse modeling of the SP signal provides quantitative data on hydrodynamic parameters (hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic heads) and geophysical parameters (coupling coefficient). Nevertheless, all relevant parameters cannot be uniquely estimated without precise prior information on at least some of these parameters. Our results confirm the potential of SP surveys on the characterization of stream-aquifer exchanges. Recommendations on the collection of high-quality data are also provided, along with a description of the contexts in which the methodology is likely to perform well.