Author(s): B. J. Merkel; G. Schmitz; R. Haverkamp; H. J. Czirwitzky

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Abstract: Pollutant transport through the unsaturated zone highly affects water quality by e. g. chemical reactions, sorp tion and/or exchange with gas phase. This phenomenon is studied from a field experiment caried out in the gravel plain of Munich (FRG), characterized by a typical double-layer structure of carbonate gravel covered by organic material. Besides meteorological data, hydraulic head, so il temperature and pollutant-concentration are monitored continuously at seven different depths over a period of three years. Hydrodynamic soil characteristics are determined from laboratory measurements compared with field data. The numerical model describing water transport in the unsaturated zone is based on the one-dimensional RICHARD, s equation. Inpact of temperature on flow velocity is taken into account by identifying experimentally a relationship between soil conductivity and temperature for different values of suction head. A submodel calculates the tracer concentration from an extended advection-dispersion equation where influences due to diffusion between movable and i movable water, chemical interaction and sorption can be incorporated. Good accordance is obtained between experimental and numerical results, w hich makes it a promising tool for studying the impact of pollution on ground water quality.

DOI:

Year: 1985