Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling

Book excerpt: Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling Theory and Practice Chunmiao Zheng and Gordon D. Bennett The design of remedial systems for groundwater contamination requires a thorough understanding of how various interacting processes — advection, dispersion, and chemical reactions — influence the movement and fate of contaminants. Solute transport simulation provides an ideal vehicle to synthesize these controlling processes, evaluate their interactions, and test the effectiveness of remedial measures. Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling is the first complete resource designed to provide clear coverage of the basic principles of solute transport simulation — including the theory behind the most common numerical techniques for solving transport equations, and step-by-step guidance on the development and use of field-scale models. Written by two experts with extensive practical experience in the field, Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling clearly explains: Factors controlling the transport and fate of solutes in the subsurface —g including advective and dispersive transport and chemical reaction — and the equations governing these processes Development of mathematical models of solute transport regimes and representative analytical solutions to the transport equation Particle tracking as a practical tool for solving many types of field problems Development of Eulerian-Lagrangian methods for solving advection-dispersion-reaction equations Step-by-step development and application of solute transport models — emphasizing problem formulation, model setup, parameter selection, calibration, and sensitivity analysis Sources of uncertainty in transport simulation, and methods of evaluating and managing uncertainty Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling presents detailed case histories illustrating how hydrologists, geologists, chemists, and environmental engineers apply transport models in real-life situations, including landfills, hazardous waste sites, and contaminated aquifers. An optional diskette designed to accompany the text provides software to help the reader explore the concepts and techniques presented in the text and gain hands-on experience in transport simulation. Driven by growing concern over groundwater quality and the rapid dissemination of computer technology, solute transport simulation has become an essential means of evaluating and solving groundwater contamination and remediation problems. Applied Contaminant Transport Modeling provides you with the tools to master this significant field of study.