Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation
The specific impact of glacial processes on groundwater flow and solute transport under ice-sheets was determined by means of numerical simulations. Groundwater flow and the transport of δ18O, TDS, and groundwater age were simulated in a generic sedimentary basin during a single glacial event follow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Geofluids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4598902 |
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| author | Arnaud Sterckx Jean-Michel Lemieux Rein Vaikmäe |
| author_facet | Arnaud Sterckx Jean-Michel Lemieux Rein Vaikmäe |
| author_sort | Arnaud Sterckx |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The specific impact of glacial processes on groundwater flow and solute transport under ice-sheets was determined by means of numerical simulations. Groundwater flow and the transport of δ18O, TDS, and groundwater age were simulated in a generic sedimentary basin during a single glacial event followed by a postglacial period. Results show that simulating subglacial recharge with a fixed flux boundary condition is relevant only for small fluxes, which could be the case under partially wet-based ice-sheets. Glacial loading decreases overpressures, which appear only in thick and low hydraulic diffusivity layers. If subglacial recharge is low, glacial loading can lead to underpressures after the retreat of the ice-sheet. Isostasy reduces considerably the infiltration of meltwater and the groundwater flow rates. Below permafrost, groundwater flow is reduced under the ice-sheet but is enhanced beyond the ice-sheet front. Accounting for salinity-dependent density reduces the infiltration of meltwater at depth. This study shows that each glacial process is potentially relevant in models of subglacial groundwater flow and solute transport. It provides a good basis for building and interpreting such models in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa8f8ca65a5a47e7ad8b88ed4afb71a9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1468-8115 1468-8123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geofluids |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa8f8ca65a5a47e7ad8b88ed4afb71a92025-08-20T03:25:57ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232017-01-01201710.1155/2017/45989024598902Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical InvestigationArnaud Sterckx0Jean-Michel Lemieux1Rein Vaikmäe2Département de Géologie et de Génie Géologique, 1065 avenue de la Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, CanadaDépartement de Géologie et de Génie Géologique, 1065 avenue de la Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology, 5 Ehitajate Tee, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaThe specific impact of glacial processes on groundwater flow and solute transport under ice-sheets was determined by means of numerical simulations. Groundwater flow and the transport of δ18O, TDS, and groundwater age were simulated in a generic sedimentary basin during a single glacial event followed by a postglacial period. Results show that simulating subglacial recharge with a fixed flux boundary condition is relevant only for small fluxes, which could be the case under partially wet-based ice-sheets. Glacial loading decreases overpressures, which appear only in thick and low hydraulic diffusivity layers. If subglacial recharge is low, glacial loading can lead to underpressures after the retreat of the ice-sheet. Isostasy reduces considerably the infiltration of meltwater and the groundwater flow rates. Below permafrost, groundwater flow is reduced under the ice-sheet but is enhanced beyond the ice-sheet front. Accounting for salinity-dependent density reduces the infiltration of meltwater at depth. This study shows that each glacial process is potentially relevant in models of subglacial groundwater flow and solute transport. It provides a good basis for building and interpreting such models in the future.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4598902 |
| spellingShingle | Arnaud Sterckx Jean-Michel Lemieux Rein Vaikmäe Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation Geofluids |
| title | Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation |
| title_full | Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation |
| title_fullStr | Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation |
| title_short | Representing Glaciations and Subglacial Processes in Hydrogeological Models: A Numerical Investigation |
| title_sort | representing glaciations and subglacial processes in hydrogeological models a numerical investigation |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/4598902 |
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