Speaker
Description
Characterizing how water moves through variably saturated soil layers is essential not only for hydrological modeling but also for interpreting gravity signals recorded at surface or subsurface stations. Even small variations in subsurface water content can modify the local mass distribution and lead to measurable gravity changes. Because of this sensitivity, linking hydrological processes to gravity responses is becoming increasingly important for groundwater monitoring, climate-related soil-water studies, and geophysical interpretation.
In this work, we use the TRACES (Transport of Reactive and Conservative Elements in Soils) finite-element framework to simulate water flow in both unsaturated and saturated zones and to compute the corresponding water content distribution within the model domain. Being able to estimate water content at the element level is a key step toward translating hydrological states into expected gravity changes. To make this possible, we focused on improving and validating the mesh-connectivity routines in TRACES, including the construction of element-to-node, face-to-node, and element-to-face relationships for unstructured triangular meshes generated. These developments ensure consistent geometric representation and more reliable calculation of water volumes in variably saturated conditions.
TRACES uses an implicit formulation of Richards’ equation, together with nonlinear hydraulic relationships such as the van Genuchten–Mualem model. When combined with accurate mesh connectivity, this framework becomes well suited for exploring how different hydrological scenarios, such as infiltration, drainage, or water table fluctuations, may influence gravity measurements. This provides a useful tool for researchers interested in how water mass redistribution affects geophysical observations.
After computing changes in water content for each finite element, we convert these values into water mass variations using the element geometry and corresponding saturation state. These mass changes are then used to estimate gravity variations at observation points. By approximating each finite element as an equivalent prism, we can assess how local changes in subsurface water storage contribute to the total gravity signal. This creates a direct link between hydrological modeling outputs and potential measurements at gravimetric stations.
| Country | france |
|---|---|
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