Abstract
Two approaches to characterize transport by groundwater are compared: the common one in which solute movement is represented in terms of concentration as function of space and time and that of a travel-time probability distribution function (p.d.f.), defined as the probability of crossing of a compliance surface by a solute particle. First, the connection between the two representations is established: the travel-time p.d.f. is proportional to the mass of solute which has crossed the surface at time t. The implication of ergodicity of concentration upon travel-time distribution is discussed. The application of travel-time approach is illustrated for Fickian transport of an inert solute in a heterogeneous aquifer. The influence of spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity and of parameters estimation errors are examined separately. The relative merits of the two approaches are examined.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 79-91 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of Contaminant Hydrology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1989 |