Analytical Study of Groundwater Flow in a Vertical Plane at the Interface Of Permafrost

Paturi, Sairavichand; Paturi, Sairavichand

Analytical Study of Groundwater Flow in a Vertical Plane at the Interface Of Permafrost

Monday, December 4, 2017: 1:30 p.m.

102 B (Music City Center)

Sairavichand Paturi , Water and Environmental Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks

David Barnes, Ph.D., PE , Water and Environmental Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

Groundwater dynamics in discontinuous permafrost aquifers is complex. The topography of permafrost redirects flow in difficult to predict directions that can be tens of degrees off from the regional flow direction. Large zones of permafrost vertically separate aquifers into supra and subpermafrost portions. The flow dynamics in each portion of the aquifer may be dissimilar due to different controlling boundary conditions. In areas of discontinuities in permafrost, known as open taliks, groundwater in the two portions of the aquifer may mix. These areas of mixing are the focus of this study, in particular the groundwater dynamics in taliks located in the floodplain of losing reaches of rivers. The study hypothesizes that groundwater flow in floodplain taliks of losing reaches of rivers will bifurcate between the supra and subpermafrost portions of a discontinuous permafrost aquifer. To test this hypothesis gradient magnitudes and flow directions were determined at several depths ranging from the water table to 150 ft. below ground surface using a linear interpolation scheme in various locations in a floodplain talik. Errors in water level measurements due to instrument errors as well as vertically moving wells were propagated into the gradient calculations by Monte Carlo analysis. Results from this research show a vertical divide in groundwater flow forms a short distance below the top of permafrost. Groundwater flow above the divide routes into the unconfined suprapermafrost portion of the aquifer. Water below the divide flows into the confined portion of the aquifer below permafrost. The position of the vertical groundwater divide may adjust in relation to the water table position. Additionally, methodology is presented for stochastically propagating measurement errors into gradient analyses by Monte Carlo analysis. Understanding the flow dynamics in discontinuous permafrost aquifers is key to the understanding of contaminant transport, aquifer recharge, and resource development in subarctic environments.

Slides in PDF

Sairavichand Paturi, Water and Environmental Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Sairavichand Paturi is a Masters student in Environmental Engineering at UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS. Research concentration is Groundwater dynamics and presently working on groundwater flow pattern in permafrost zones like Alaska.

David Barnes, Ph.D., PE, Water and Environmental Research Center, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

David Barnes is a Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Water and Environmental Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He teaches and performs research in the area of environmental engineering specifically as the topic pertains to contaminated soil and groundwater. Over the last 14 years Barnes has focused his research on protection of human health and environmental quality in cold regions.