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Analysis of the Cape Cod tracer data
Author(s) -
Ezzedine Souheil,
Rubin Yoram
Publication year - 1997
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 - 10.1029/96wr02586
Subject(s) - tracer , plume , groundwater recharge , spatial dependence , field (mathematics) , compendium , experimental data , mathematics , statistics , meteorology , geology , physics , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , nuclear physics , aquifer , pure mathematics , groundwater , history
An analysis of the Cape Cod test was performed using several first‐ and higher‐order theoretical models. We compare conditional and unconditional solutions of the transport equation and employ them for analysis of the experimental data. We consider spatial moments, mass breakthrough curves, and the distribution of the solute mass in space. The concentration measurements were also analyzed using theoretical models for the expected value and variance of concentration. The theoretical models we employed are based on the spatial correlation structure of the conductivity field, without any fitting of parameters to the tracer data, and hence we can test the predictive power of the theories tested. The effects of recharge on macrodispersion are investigated, and it is shown that recharge provides a reasonable explanation for the enhanced lateral spread of the Cape Cod plume. The compendium of the experimental results presented here is useful for testing of theoretical and numerical models.