1. Home
  2. Items
  3. Sensitivity analysis of a numerical model of ground water flow...
PDF

Sensitivity analysis of a numerical model of ground water flow in the Pullman-Moscow area, Washington and Idaho Item Info

Continued ground water level decline in the Grande Ronde Basalt near Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho demonstrates a need for ground water management policies to be established; the Grande Ronde Basalt is the primary source of water in the region. Previous researchers have constructed a numerical ground water flow model to simulate future water level trends under various municipal pumping stress conditions. The approximation of a ground water flow system with a numerical model incorporates many simplifications. Accuracy of the model results is dependent on model construction and the validity of the input values that characterize the system. A sensitivity analysis is conducted on model responses to variations in: a) areal recharge to the ground water basin, b) seepage discharge from the face of the Snake River Canyon, and c) constant head versus constant flux boundary conditions. Sensitivity studies demonstrate that simulated water levels in the Grande Ronde Basalt near Pullman and Moscow are relatively insensitive to changes in areal recharge, Snake River Canyon seepage, and model boundary conditions. This is believed to result from model construction and may not be conceptually correct. Modifying the representation of the Grande Ronde Basalt with several model layers and simulating the Snake River Canyon seepage face with drains may enhance the confidence of using this ground water flow model as a management tool. Also presented as a Masters thesis in Hydrology, University of Idaho, February, 1991.

View on Timeline View on Map Download PDF
Title:
Sensitivity analysis of a numerical model of ground water flow in the Pullman-Moscow area, Washington and Idaho
Authors:
Brown, William Garrett
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1991-06
Description:
Continued ground water level decline in the Grande Ronde Basalt near Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho demonstrates a need for ground water management policies to be established; the Grande Ronde Basalt is the primary source of water in the region. Previous researchers have constructed a numerical ground water flow model to simulate future water level trends under various municipal pumping stress conditions. The approximation of a ground water flow system with a numerical model incorporates many simplifications. Accuracy of the model results is dependent on model construction and the validity of the input values that characterize the system. A sensitivity analysis is conducted on model responses to variations in: a) areal recharge to the ground water basin, b) seepage discharge from the face of the Snake River Canyon, and c) constant head versus constant flux boundary conditions. Sensitivity studies demonstrate that simulated water levels in the Grande Ronde Basalt near Pullman and Moscow are relatively insensitive to changes in areal recharge, Snake River Canyon seepage, and model boundary conditions. This is believed to result from model construction and may not be conceptually correct. Modifying the representation of the Grande Ronde Basalt with several model layers and simulating the Snake River Canyon seepage face with drains may enhance the confidence of using this ground water flow model as a management tool. Also presented as a Masters thesis in Hydrology, University of Idaho, February, 1991.
Subjects:
Groundwater flow Groundwater management Computer models
Location:
Pullman; Moscow; Northern Idaho
Latitude:
46.74
Longitude:
-117.17
Collection:
Palouse Basin
Series:
Water for Idaho
IWRRI number:
199106
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute; University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
KIT
Date Digitized:
2017-09-14

Contact us about this record

Source
Preferred Citation:
"Sensitivity analysis of a numerical model of ground water flow in the Pullman-Moscow area, Washington and Idaho", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-199106.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
« Previous Back to Browse Next »