Numerical modelling of complex hydrogeosystems

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My 2018 NSERC Discovery Grant proposal focuses on development and application of numerical simulation models to gain insight into complex hydrogeosystems, within the context of protection and sustainable development of groundwater resources. The objectives are based on three complimentary research themes: 1. Advancing our understanding of cryo-hydrogeological systems in the context of climate change, specifically regarding the future potential of groundwater resources in the north, 2. Developing new insights into the behavior and remediation of organic contaminants, and 3. Improving the protection of groundwater resources under complexity and uncertainty. These themes are linked through development, testing and application of advanced physically-based coupled-process numerical models for simulating groundwater flow and transport of mass and thermal energy. A quantitative approach will be adopted for each theme. New methodologies will be tested and models calibrated using high-resolution field data obtained using state-of-the-art monitoring techniques at a variety of field sites. First, impacts of climate change and permafrost thaw on groundwater quality and on behavior of mine drainage in northern climates will be investigated by developing a numerical model which integrates groundwater flow and multi-component reactive mass transport with conductive and convective heat transport in cold- and permafrost-impacted environments. Model applications, including at a well-instrumented catchment in Nunavik, QC, and to documented cases of mine drainage, will address the potential for developing groundwater resources in northern environments, and for protecting these resources from contamination. Second, the efficiency of aggressive treatment-train remediation strategies for aquifers contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons will be investigated under complex hydrogeological conditions. By simulating multi-component reactive systems while tracking the signatures of the stable isotopes of C, H, O and S at instrumented field sites, new insights for optimizing remediation schemes will be obtained. Finally, methodologies for accounting for complexity and uncertainty in defining capture zones for water supply wells in complex porous and fractured porous media will be developed and compared. Various degrees of complexity for defining water well capture zones and protection areas at documented field sites will be tested and compared. Uncertainty will be quantitatively evaluated and strategies will be proposed for communicating this uncertainty to end-users and for incorporating uncertainty in the decision-making process. The research plan is targeted to respond to the needs of society including training of highly qualified personnel (2 PhD, 2 MSc and 2 BSc students), and transferring the knowledge gained and tools developed, to stakeholders, end-users and decision-makers at the regional, municipal and watershed management levels.