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Title Modelling Plume Development with Annual Pulses of Contaminants Released from an Airport Runway to a Layered Aquifer, Evaluation of an In Situ Monitoring System
ID_Doc 9568
Authors French, HK; Hansen, MC; Moe, KG; Stene, J
Title Modelling Plume Development with Annual Pulses of Contaminants Released from an Airport Runway to a Layered Aquifer, Evaluation of an In Situ Monitoring System
Year 2023
Published Water, 15.0, 5
DOI 10.3390/w15050985
Abstract In cold climates, the use of de-icing chemicals in the winter can lead to groundwater contamination, especially when used in large quantities, such as at airports. Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, is situated on Norway's largest rain-fed aquifer. Potassium formate is used to remove ice from runways and propylene glycol from airplanes; the organic parts are degradable. Most of the wells to monitor the spread of de-icing chemicals in the underlying aquifer have well screens near the groundwater level, while the runways and the source of de-icing chemicals are near the groundwater divides, where vertical flow is expected. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the importance of layers and time-varying recharge on the spreading of contaminant plumes in an aquifer near a groundwater divide. This is done with numerical modelling. The model results show increased vertical transport of the added tracer in the presence of horizontal layers, both continuous and discontinuous, in the aquifer. With certain distributions of hydraulic conductivity, K-s, we demonstrate that deeper monitoring wells are required. With the scenarios modelled here, time-varying recharge has a weaker effect on plume distribution. Measured concentrations of potassium and total organic carbon show the cyclic effect of seasonally varying recharge of contaminants, and an asymptotic accumulation of concentration over time, that is consistent with the model runs. In conclusion, groundwater monitoring systems near a groundwater divide should include multi-level samplers to ensure control of the vertical plume movement.
Author Keywords de-icing chemicals; monitoring wells; modflow
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000948016200001
WoS Category Environmental Sciences; Water Resources
Research Area Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Water Resources
PDF https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/5/985/pdf?version=1677915379
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