Describing near surface, transient flow processes in unconfined aquifers below irrigated lands: A deforming finite element model for heterogeneous aquifers

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Purkey, D.
Wallender, W.
Islam, Nazrul
Fogg, G.
Sivakumar, B.
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2006
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Abstract

Hydrologic models of irrigated lands generally adopt either a basin-scale or a root-zone perspective. While basin-wide macro-scale models rely on the aggregation of important spatial and temporal data across large areas, micro-scale root-zone models depend on the definition of rigid boundaries around the zone of plant-soil-water interaction. In reality, irrigation management decisions are made on a field by field basis and can interact across field boundaries. This paper first describes a shallow water table model, based on deforming finite element (DFE) framework, to characterize the near-surface field to- field hydrologic response to various irrigation and drainage management regimes along a gently sloping alluvial fan. The model is then enhanced through changing geometry of a fluctuating water table below a series of irrigated fields. Such an enhancement also offers computational flexibility relative to the saturated-unsaturated models commonly used in micro-scale studies. The model is designed with the alluvial fan aquifers of California's western San Joaquin Valley as reference systems.

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Journal of Hydrology

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330

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3-Apr

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