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Search strategy for groundwater contaminant plume delineation
Author(s) -
McGrath William A.,
Pinder George F.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1029/2002wr001636
Subject(s) - plume , boundary (topology) , groundwater , environmental science , reduction (mathematics) , field (mathematics) , identification (biology) , computer science , geology , geotechnical engineering , mathematics , meteorology , geography , geometry , mathematical analysis , botany , pure mathematics , biology
The definition of the boundary of a groundwater contaminant plume can be best viewed as a search strategy objective. To this end, a new approach to plume boundary identification based upon the goal of a stepwise reduction in the overall uncertainty in the location and geometry of the boundary can be used. Through the sequential selection of investigatory well locations based on the criteria of maximizing plume boundary uncertainty reduction and on updated field information, a least cost plume boundary investigation can be realized. The effectiveness of this approach can be investigated using a realistic hypothetical example and demonstrated via a field application.