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A comparison between SWI and SEAWAT: the importance of dispersion, inversion and vertical anisotropy

January 1, 2010

SWI and SEAWAT are both computer codes designed to model variable-density systems. One of the options in SWI is to model Dupuit interface flow, where freshwater and seawater are separated by an interface. In this paper we compare seawater intrusion model results of SWI to model results of SEAWAT, which simulates full variable-density flow and transport. Results indicate that SWI is valid for many variable-density systems. For the case considered in this paper, SWI results are accurate when the simulated width of the transition zone between seawater to freshwater is 15% or less of the scale of the problem, density inversion (saltwater over freshwater) occurs over only a small part of the model domain, and the ratio of vertical to horizontal hydraulic conductivity is larger than 0.01. Results also show that the simulated interface moves further inland using SWI than for the same conditions using SEAWAT. SWI is preferable to be used in systems where run times for a fully-coupled variable-density flow and transport model would be prohibitive; for the case considered here, SWI run times were a few seconds and SEAWAT run times were almost three hours.

Publication Year 2010
Title A comparison between SWI and SEAWAT: the importance of dispersion, inversion and vertical anisotropy
Authors Alyssa M. Dausman, Christian D. Langevin, Mark Bakker, Frans Schaars
Publication Type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Index ID 70056364
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Florida Water Science Center-Ft. Lauderdale
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