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Three‐dimensional hydrofacies modeling based on soil surveys and transition probability geostatistics
Author(s) -
Weissmann Gary S.,
Carle Steven F.,
Fogg Graham E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/1999wr900048
Subject(s) - geology , facies , geostatistics , markov chain , spatial variability , spatial analysis , hydrogeology , geomorphology , soil science , geotechnical engineering , structural basin , statistics , remote sensing , mathematics
Typical hydrogeologic data sets consisting of information from boreholes provide excellent information on vertical variability of sedimentary deposits but very limited information on lateral distribution and variability. In cases where surface geomorphic features reflect processes similar to those responsible for past deposition, the soil survey offers a resource for assessing the lateral sediment variability. Facies mean length and transition probability measurements of C horizon textures from the soil maps on the Kings River alluvial fan, California, provide a basis for Markov chain models of spatial variability in the principal lateral directions and facies orientation information for the horizontal plane. Incorporation with a Markov chain model of vertical‐direction transitions based on well data yields a three‐dimensional Markov chain model of sediment variability which includes cross correlation between sediment types and representation of asymmetry (e.g., fining upward tendencies). Use of the model in geostatistical conditional simulation and simulated annealing produces a detailed, geologically plausible image of the subsurface hydrofacies distribution.