Academia.eduAcademia.edu

Outline

Title
Abstract
Figures
Introduction
Calibration Results
Conclusions and Recommendation
References

Inverse Modeling of Groundwater Flow of Delta Wadi El-Arish

Profile image of Ramadan AbdelazizRamadan Abdelaziz
https://doi.org/10.4236/JWARP.2012.47050
visibility

…

description

7 pages

link

1 file

Abstract

Egypt is mainly covered by desert and only 4% of total lands is arable, mainly the alluvial plain of the Nile and its delta. In order to cope with the increasing population, the government of Egypt has been pressed into the development of Si-nai Peninsula. So, it is indispensable to evaluate the potential groundwater resources for the development of the Sinai Peninsula. The key components are a conceptual model and a groundwater model with certain mathematical compo- nents. The conceptual model is a system analysis of the hydrogeological understanding of how water flows into, through and out of a groundwater system. Based on available borehole data, the study area is characterized to reach to the most representative conceptual models. Finally, a finite difference groundwater model was applied utilizing the graphic user interface GMS were used. In order to handle problems at regional scale, automated parameter estimation (PEST) was used in GMS. Moreover, recharge was parameterized using zones by defining these zones several factors were considered; for example, surface geology, density of vegetation, general land use, and LANDSAT image. How-ever, Groundwater flow model successfully calibrated. Calibrated groundwater model helped to identify the heteroge-neity in the aquifer.

Figures (14)
Figure 2. A map of the great El-Arish is located on the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast.
Figure 2. A map of the great El-Arish is located on the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast.
Figure 1. Map of Egypt.
Figure 1. Map of Egypt.
Figure 3. Computational grid overlaid on an infrared false color composition of LANDSAT image acquired on 1987. Inactive cells are shown in red lines. The Hydrogeological conceptual model is the basis for building the MODFLOW model. Since there are no di- rect field measurements that support flow in the vertical direction, it is common to adopt a 2-D modeling ap- proach where hydraulic parameters (e.g. hydraulic con- ductivity) and state variables (e.g. water level) are verti- cally averaged. Figure 4 shows the 2-D MODFLOW
Figure 3. Computational grid overlaid on an infrared false color composition of LANDSAT image acquired on 1987. Inactive cells are shown in red lines. The Hydrogeological conceptual model is the basis for building the MODFLOW model. Since there are no di- rect field measurements that support flow in the vertical direction, it is common to adopt a 2-D modeling ap- proach where hydraulic parameters (e.g. hydraulic con- ductivity) and state variables (e.g. water level) are verti- cally averaged. Figure 4 shows the 2-D MODFLOW
Figure 4. Cells of abstractions in the study area.
Figure 4. Cells of abstractions in the study area.
Figure 5. Recharge zones.
Figure 5. Recharge zones.
Table 1. Volumetric budget for the entire model at 1988 assuming steady state.
Table 1. Volumetric budget for the entire model at 1988 assuming steady state.
Figure 6. Calibration results: computed versus observer heads.
Figure 6. Calibration results: computed versus observer heads.
Figure 7. Calibration results: recharge.
Figure 7. Calibration results: recharge.
Figure 8. Log-transformed hydraulic conductivity.
Figure 8. Log-transformed hydraulic conductivity.
Table 2. Volumetric budget for entire model at end of time step 10 in stress period 18.
Table 2. Volumetric budget for entire model at end of time step 10 in stress period 18.
Figure 10. Piezometric level time series for a cell within the urban area of El-Arish city.
Figure 10. Piezometric level time series for a cell within the urban area of El-Arish city.
Figure 11. Piezometric level time series is for a cell almost middle of the study area.
Figure 11. Piezometric level time series is for a cell almost middle of the study area.
Figure 12. Simulated piezometeric levels in 2006.
Figure 12. Simulated piezometeric levels in 2006.

Related papers

Modelling of Groundwater Flow of Baquba District Area, Diyala Governorate, North-East, Iraq
Qassem Jalut

Diyala Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2020

Groundwater is one of the important water resources in the countries that have a scarcity in water resources such as surface water. Modeling of the Baquba shallow unconfined aquifer (Quaternary sediments) has been an attempt by transfer the conceptual model to GMS 10.0-MODFLOW2000 for solving the groundwater equations by the technique of finite-difference. Two types of boundary conditions have been applied (Neumann and Dirichlet conditions). The calibration of the model has been attempt based on adjusting two parameters hydraulic conductivity and recharge rate. The best matching between computed and observed head has been done. The results reflect that the sensitivity analysis shows that hydraulic conductivity and recharge rate are a more sensitive parameter, after calibration, six different scenarios have investigated to study the impact of the discharging rate on the groundwater state. In the five scenarios, the applying discharge rates in the current state and increased by (25%, ...

View PDFchevron_right
Development of Groundwater Model for the Arid and Semiarid Area:The Wadi Kafrein Catchment/Jordan
William Alkhoury

2010

Summary. In this work, a high precision groundwater flow model integrating all important geological features of the hydrogeological system is developed to investigate the hydrological processes in the Wadi Kafrein area. The object-oriented software OpenGeoSys (OGS) is applied and then updated in order to meet the challenges of complex geological features of the study area. The comparisons between the simulation results and the observation data show that the flow model is capable of reproducing historical groundwater level changes to a satisfactory degree. Since the Wadi Kafrein area is one of the arid and semiarid regions in the Lower Jordan Valley, the models developed in this study can be a useful tool for analyzing the hydrological processes and improving groundwater management practices elsewhere affected by similar geological and hydrogeological conditions.

View PDFchevron_right
Groundwater Management in the Esna City, Upper Egypt: An Application of Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling
Esam Ismail

Natural Resources, 2014

The major issues concerning water development and management include water conservation and the efficiency of water use, cost recovery, social and environmental factors. So continuous monitoring is essential to evaluate the reclamation impacts on the groundwater potentiality such as Esna Area. The main objective of this work is to determine the new development areas in Esna during the period from 1984 to 2011 using remote sensing technique. The impacts of the present and future development have been evaluated by using the two-dimensional numerical groundwater flow Simulation Package (visual modflow 4.2). The package is used to construct and calibrate a numerical model that can be used to simulate the response of the aquifer in the study area under implementing different management alternatives in the form of changes in piezometric levels and salinity. From land use maps of the study area in the year 2011, a lot of changes in development areas especially out the border of the old land were observed. The change in land reclaimed area was estimated with 44% in the period from year 1984 to 2011. This development accompanied with draw down about 2.5 meters through this period of time. The authors recommend applying different kinds of change detection technique on the study area. Comparing between results, continuous monitoring of the development area is highly recommended.

View PDFchevron_right
Numerical Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Vulnerability in Wadi El-Natrun Depression and Vicinities, West Nile Delta, Egypt
Maged El Osta

Journal of the Geological Society of India, 2018

During the last 25 years, rapid and unplanned land reclamation activity has been carried out in the areas located in both south and east of Wadi El-Natrun Depression of Egypt. Accordingly, negative effects on groundwater levels and vulnerability are frequently caused by localized high levels of abstraction and the return-flow of polluted irrigation water respectively. A groundwater model is a computational method that presents an approximation of an underground water system. In this study the groundwater system is simulated both in quantity and quality by using Mass Balance Transfer Model (NETPATH), Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) and DRASTIC Model to investigate the water-rock interactions, groundwater levels drawdown and vulnerability respectively. Three main geochemical processes namely dedolomitisation, dissolution of halite and silicate weathering were estimated during the flow path. The present over-abstraction of groundwater (105.84 million m 3 /year) has induced a general head drawdown from 3 to 40 m in years 2015 and 2050 respectively. Best estimate using a 3D GMS hydraulic model was (157000 m 3 / day) a strategy proposed for the management of groundwater without critical depletion (second scenario). The results document the extent to which a high drawdown can greatly reach 4 m by the end of simulation year 2050. The vulnerability maps of groundwater were constructed using the DRASTIC index method. The results indicated that, the southeastern and central portions of the study area are having high vulnerability rate (> 110). Modified DRASTIC map showed many more dominant high risk areas in the eastern parts of the study area that were low risk, which may be attributed to return flow of polluted irrigation water.

View PDFchevron_right
Assessment of the renewable groundwater resources of Wadi El-Arish, Sinai, Egypt: modelling, remote sensing and GIS applications
mohamed sultan

IAHS PUBLICATION, 2001

Recharge of the alluvial aquifers flooring Wadi El-Arish in central and northern Sinai, Egypt was investigated. A hydrological model that combined the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, suitable infiltration parameters, and appropriate sub-basin unit ...

View PDFchevron_right
Integrated Management of Water Resources in Western Nile Delta 1-BUILDING and Calibrating the Groundwater Model
Mohamed Dawoud

mzwail.kau.edu.sa

Western Nile delta is an important agricultural and industrial area in Egypt, in which the government has later established new reclamation projects, and irrigation and drainage networks. The increased in the reclaimed land area together with decrease in surface water discharge specially in the 1980's lead to shortage of surface water. Knowing that most of the reclaimed area lies over the Nile delta aquifer, increase in abstraction took place which might cause great damages for the ground water aquifer. The damage in the aquifer results in water level depression in most of wells, increase salinity and increase the salt water intrusion coming from the northern boundary (the Mediterranean). The objective of this study is to carry out an integrated management of water resources at Western Delta. As a first stage towards the integrated management, a complete data base for the existing discharge and water levels in the canals and drain networks is to be collected. Then a three dimensional numerical groundwater flow model should be established. The model should take into consideration the interconnection between the surface water flows in the canals and drains networks and the groundwater levels in the area. The model should simulate the Delta aquifer in order to help estimate groundwater availability and water levels in response to pumping and potential future droughts. The model was calibrated by matching observed and simulated groundwater levels for steady state condition. The model performed well in representing the water level contours of the aquifer in response to the amount of recharge from irrigation, waterways and abstraction of wells at the steady state. Sensitivity analyses for several parameters were carried out.

View PDFchevron_right
Groundwater investigation and modeling-western desert of Iraq Sameh Wisam Al-Muqdadi Groundwater investigation and modelling-Western desert of Iraq Dedication Sameh Groundwater investigation and modelling-Western desert of Iraq
SHIMELIS BERHANU
View PDFchevron_right
Groundwater investigation and modeling - western desert of Iraq
Hussein Jassas

2012

View PDFchevron_right
Numerical modelling of groundwater resource management options in the East Oweinat area, southwest Egypt
Hassan Garamoon

2003

Southwest Egypt is an arid area with no surface water, but reasonable resources of useable groundwater in the well-known Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System. Currently, these groundwater reserves are being heavily exploited. A calibrated regional numerical model with grids refined on the major pumping centres has been used to investigate the hydrodynamic impacts of different groundwater management options on the potentiometry of the aquifers. The results indicate that there is a real threat of either dewatering the shallow aquifer in some areas (e.g. Kliarga Oasis), or lowering of the water level to uneconomic lifting depths. It also indicates that although the planned extraction rates in Dakhla, Faraffa, and Bahariya oases are feasible for at least the coming hundred years, the present extraction rate at Kharga Oasis, and the planned rate for the East Oweinat area have to be reduced substantially.

View PDFchevron_right
Numerical modeling of groundwater resource management options in the East Oweinat area, SW Egypt
A. Ebraheem, Peter Wycisk

Environmental Geology, 2003

Southwest Egypt is an arid area with no surface water and limited resources of useable groundwater in the well-known Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System. These groundwater reserves have been heavily exploited since the 1960s, which has led to substantial decline in the potentiometric surface of the aquifer. A calibrated regional numerical model with refined grids on the pumping centers has been used to investigate the hydrodynamic impacts of different groundwater management options on the potentiometry of the aquifers. The results indicate that there is a real danger of either dewatering the shallow aquifer in some areas (e.g., Kharga Oasis), or increasing the water depth to uneconomic lifting depth. They also indicate that, although the planned extraction rates in Dakhla, Farafra, and Bahariya oases are feasible for at least the coming 100 years, the present rate for Kharga Oasis and the planned rate for the East Oweinat area have to be reduced substantially.

View PDFchevron_right

References (12)

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, "Groundwater Management Study in El-Arish Rafaa Plain Area," Phase 1, Main Report, Vol. 1, Water Resources Research Insti- tute, Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources, 1989.
  2. Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, "Geological Sounding Survey in El-Arish, Sheikh Zuwyied, Rafah Area," Main Report, Vol. 1, Water Resources Research Institute, Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources, 1989.
  3. A. W. Harbaugh, E. R. Banta, M. C. Hill and M. G. McDonald, "MODFLOW-2000, the US Geological Sur- vey Modular Ground-Water Model-User Guide to Mo- dularization Concepts and the Ground-Water Flow Proc- ess," US Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-92, 2000. Figure 12. Simulated piezometeric levels in 2006.
  4. JICA, North Sinai, "Groundwater Resources Study in the Arab Republic of Egypt," Final Report, 1992, The main conclusions are as follows:
  5. A. Shata, "Groundwater and Geomorphology of the Northen Sector of Wadi El Arish Basin," Bulletin Society Geograph Egypt, Vol. 32, 1959.
  6.  The model matches the available data quite well.  Inverse modeling with a PEST provides to be a uni- que tool to calibrate groundwater modeling.
  7. J. J. Seguin and M. Bakr, "Sinai Water Resources Study, Modelling of Three Aquifers: El Arish, Rafah, and El Qaa," WRRI, NWRC, Egypt, 1992.
  8.  The density driven model should be carried out in the future to get a better understanding about the saltwa- ter intrusion. The main recommendations are as follows:
  9. J. Doherty, "PEST: Model-Independent Parameter Esti- mation," Watermark Computing, 1994.
  10.  The option to desalinate water from seawater and the existing wells should be considered as an economic solution in the future. It is recommended due to its medium cost which between 5 to 10 Egyptian pounds.
  11. J. Doherty, "Manual and Addendum for PEST: Model Independent Parameter Estimation," Watermark Numeri- cal Computing, Brisbane, 2008.
  12. J. Doherty, "Ground Water Model Calibration Using Pilot Points and Regularization," Ground Water, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2003, pp. 170-177. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2003.tb02580.x

Related papers

Numerical modeling for groundwater resource management in the area southeast of Sohag Governorate, Egypt
Ahmed Masoud

Frontiers in Scientific Research and Technology

The desert area southeast of Sohag is a target area for development and agricultural expansion, where the Quaternary aquifer is the main water resource. In this study, a groundwater flow model was developed for groundwater management and forecasting groundwater levels and flow under different conditions. This model was calibrated under transient conditions for the period 2017-2021. The calibrated model was used to predict the groundwater conditions in this area through three different scenarios. The first scenario assumes that the groundwater extraction rates remain the same for 20 years, while the second scenario suggests that extraction rates were doubled. The third scenario considers the role of surface water in groundwater recharge. It supposes the decrease in the River Nile and the Eastern Nag Hammadi Canal levels by 1 and 0.5 m, respectively. The results of these scenarios indicated that the most drawdown is always in the southeastern part of the study area where the majority of wells were drilled, while the minimum drawdown is in the western side close to the Nile floodplain area where feeding from both surface water and adjacent aquifer unit is predominant. Moreover, the maximum drawdown of 10.5 m was observed in the second scenario in the eastern and southeastern parts. In contrast, the western part is expected to be significantly affected by the third scenario, where the flux from surface water to groundwater decrease. It is necessary to rationalize irrigated water consumption by using the appropriate irrigation method.

View PDFchevron_right
Numerical modeling technique for groundwater management in Samalut city, Minia Governorate, Egypt
Esam Ismail

The demand for freshwater supplies is progressively ascending owing to the increase of the population expansion and economic growth. Available water resources have been reduced by pollution and over-pumping. Groundwater modeling is a powerful tool for water resources management, groundwater protection, and remediation. The aim of this study is to develop a numerical groundwater flow model for the Quaternary aquifer in Samalut city, Minia Governorate, Egypt. The model is used to determine the hydrogeological conditions of the aquifer, the flow directions as well as calculating the rates of recharge and discharge between surface water and groundwater in the study area. Furthermore, scenarios were designed in the model to assess the response of the aquifer to increase the groundwater extraction in the future. The model was calibrated by trial and error; simulated results were compared to the observed head and contour maps, which were generally in good agreement. No typical steady-state condition is prevailed in the aquifer and groundwater flow directions are toward northeast direction. The River Nile acts as a drain in the study area, while El-Ibrahimiya Canal and Bahr Yusef act as a source of aquifer recharge. The proposed scenarios showed that surface water plays an important role in recharging the aquifer during increasing groundwater extraction. The results showed that the change in the aquifer storage will be decreased from + 48,125 m 3 /day in the current state (2013) to + 27,134 m 3 /day and − 869 m 3 /day when the groundwater extraction is increased by 25% and 50%, respectively.

View PDFchevron_right
Groundwater Management at West El-Minia Desert Area, Egypt Using Numerical Modeling
Elsayed M Abu El Ella

Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2016

Water shortage is the main problem facing any development in Egypt especially in the desert lands. River Nile is considered the main source of water in Egypt but its water covers only the area of flood plain where its tributaries do not reach to the desert. The desert fringes, west of El-Minia governorate, Egypt, are areas of natural expansion for agricultural, industrial, and civil activities. This implies an increasing demand for groundwater. A numerical groundwater model is one of the main tools used for assessment of the resource potential and prediction of future impact under different circumstances and stresses. In this paper, a transient groundwater flow model in the desert district west of El-Minia, Egypt, was developed. The conceptual model was built by analyzing the hydrogeological data and previous work. Steady state model of year 1990 was used to investigate and calibrate the parameters such as hydraulic conductivities, recharge and conductance of the surface water streams. The storage coefficients are calibrated by the transient model based on the available data observed from 1990 to 2013, which provides insights to understand the behavior of groundwater system in Quaternary Aquifer and to predict spatial-temporal distributions of groundwater levels and groundwater flow in responding to extraction of water. The calibrated transient model will be used to predict the impacts of desert development schemes and water resources management schemes on groundwater in the study area.

View PDFchevron_right
Groundwater Management in the Esna Area, Upper Egypt: An Application of Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling
Esam Ismail

The major issues concerning water development and management include water conservation and the efficiency of water use; cost recovery, social and environmental factors. So continuous monitoring was essential to evaluate the reclamation impacts on the groundwater potentiality such as Esna Area, Luxor Governorate, Egypt. The main objective of this work is to determine the new development areas in Esna during the period from 1984 to 2011 using remote sensing technique, the impacts of the present and future development have been evaluated by using the two-dimensional numerical groundwater flow Simulation Package (visual modflow 4.2). The package was used to construct and calibrate a numerical model that can be used to simulate the response of the aquifer in the study area under implementing different management alternatives in the form of changes in piezometric levels and salinity. From land use maps of the study area for year 2011, it was observed a lot of changes in development areas especially on the border of the old land. The change in land reclaimed area was estimated with 44% in the period from year 1984 to 2011. This development accompanied with draw down about 2.5 meters through this period of time. The authors recommended applying different kinds of change detection technique on the study area. Compare between results, continuous monitoring of the development area is highly recommended.

View PDFchevron_right
GIS-based numerical modeling for the groundwater assessment: a case study in the Quaternary aquifer, Assiut Governorate, Egypt
awad omran

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2019

The Quaternary aquifer in Assiut Governorate is the most important water resource necessary for irrigation and development in Assiut Governorate. The study area is located between latitudes 26°47′-27°37′ N and longitudes 30°37′-31°3 4′ E, covering about 2500 km 2. This study is an integrated GIS-supported approach proposed to create and develop a transient three-dimensional groundwater flow model for the Quaternary aquifer in Assiut Governorate. Based on the prevailing climatic, environmental, developmental, and water demand conditions, the model was designed to investigate the most feasible groundwater management option. In this context, a great focus was given to the impact of the construction of the Assiut new barrages on the groundwater situation in the study area. According to the actual and supposed extraction rates of the Quaternary aquifer, six scenarios were suggested; however, only four of them are presented here. For the construction of rigid potentiometric isolines, the available records of water levels in more than 540 wells were used. The model was calibrated under the steady state and transient conditions using the trial and error method. The period 2007-2010 was chosen as a calibration period based on the availability and temporal distribution of the data. The simulation of the actual extraction rates (scenario 1, 767 × 10 6 m 3 /y) indicated that by 2050, the biggest drawdown is happening at the northwestern part with an average value of 8 m. In contrast, the groundwater is rising by about 6 m by 2050 in the same scenario. The simulation of the full capacity, proposed extraction rates (scenario 3, 1534 × 10 6 m 3 /y) resulted in severe changes of the hydraulic head patterns within almost all of the study area of the Quaternary aquifer during the simulation period. This scenario showed clearly a 12-m drawdown which occurs at the northeast part of the study area. Scenario 4 supposed a decrease in the water level of the River Nile by 1 m, a general increase in the groundwater level was detected by the end of the simulation. In scenario 5, the new location of the Assiut new barrage was simulated; the upstream water level has been considered the same as the old one and, however, is displaced 500 m downstream. By 2025, the impact of this scenario was observed by the increase in the hydraulic head in Assiut city by about 0.1 to 0.2 m. During the calibration process, it has been learned that there should be a groundwater recharge from the western and eastern plateau; however, this conclusion still needs further studies to confirm it.

View PDFchevron_right
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
© 2025 Academia. All rights reserved