Progress in hydraulic methods since the beginning of MADE - Opportunities and limitations for the investigation of highly heterogeneous aquifers (Invited)

Abstract:

Field experiments such as the MAcro Dispersion Experiment (MADE) on Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi have shown that information about spatial variations in hydraulic conductivity is necessary for understanding and predicting flow and transport processes. Therefore, scientists and practitioners alike worked on the development and successful field application of hydraulic methods for the investigation of heterogeneous aquifers. For instance, we obtained over the last years a better understanding of information content of pumping test data and used this understanding for an improvement of test design and interpretation approaches. Furthermore, new technologies such as hydraulic direct push methods, diffusivity tests, and hydraulic tomography were developed and tested under different field conditions. Each of these technologies has its own strength and weakness in the application for characterization of the hydraulic conductivity distribution. To promote a better understanding of opportunities and limitations, the different methods will be discussed and case studies will be presented.