CE 533 Groundwater Flow & Contaminant Transport Introduction and terminology

What is hydrology? Scientific study of water in terms of occurrence, distribution, circulation, physical and chemical properties, reaction with the environment. Scientific study of water in terms of occurrence, distribution, circulation, physical and chemical properties, reaction with the environment.

What is Groundwater hydrology? The science that deals with occurrence, distribution, movement of water below the ground surface including quality and quantity aspects The science that deals with occurrence, distribution, movement of water below the ground surface including quality and quantity aspects

Where does Groundwater exist? It occupies and flows through It occupies and flows through Porous media (interconnected small openings within the solid matrix) Fractured media (relatively large openings in plane of fracture) Karst or Large Passages (dissolution cavities or caves)

1,400,000,000,000,000,000 m 3

1,400,000,000,000,000,000 m % 37,500,000,000,000,000 m 3

1,400,000,000,000,000,000 m % 37,500,000,000,000,000 m 3 23% 8,300,000,000,000,000 m 3

1,400,000,000,000,000,000 m % 37,500,000,000,000,000 m 3 23% 8,300,000,000,000,000 m 3 1.5% 126,250,000,000,000 m 3

Distance to sun 150,000,000 km

5 million

Properties of interest for porous media are: 1) Soil water retainment 2) Allowing fluid flow These properties will depend on range of particle sizes and pore space openings

Soil classification Particle size distribution Particle size distribution Soil texture Soil texture

Components of porous media Voids Voids Water Water Solids Solids Porosity & Saturation