Groundwater Recharge Modeling of the Nete Catchment (Belgium) Using the HYDRUS-1D – MODFLOW Package

Bertrand Leterme, Matej Gedeon, Diederik Jacques

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    The HYDRUS-1D and MODFLOW software packages were coupled to produce a groundwater model of the Nete catchment (northern Belgium) that would improve simulations of near-surface hydrological processes, including temporal and spatial variabilities in groundwater recharge rates. The present paper reports the practical implementation of the HYDRUS package for MODFLOW. Several issues are discussed: the choice and design of MODFLOW zones for coupling to one-dimensional HYDRUS profiles; time discretization of the MODFLOW and HYDRUS components, numerical oscillations and related warm-up periods; and the presence of seepage water in zones of shallow groundwater. In this study we delineated MODFLOW zones on the basis of groundwater depths as obtained with a calibrated steady-state version of the model. Transient simulations are then compared with observed groundwater depths derived from a piezometer network. We summarize a number of priorities and issues that need to be addressed in order to improve the model and achieve sound coupling of the two parts at the catchment scale, while keeping computation times reasonable.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 4th International Conference HYDRUS Software Applications to Subsurface Flow and Contaminant Transport Problems
    Place of PublicationPrague, Czech Republic
    Pages235-243
    StatePublished - Mar 2013
    EventHydrus Software Applications to Subsurface Flow and Contaminant Transport Problems - Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, and PC Progress, Ltd, Prague
    Duration: 18 Mar 201322 Mar 2013

    Conference

    ConferenceHydrus Software Applications to Subsurface Flow and Contaminant Transport Problems
    Country/TerritoryCzech Republic
    CityPrague
    Period2013-03-182013-03-22

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