SENSITIVITY OF CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT MODEL IN TIDALLY INFLUENCED AQUIFERS TO STORAGE COEFFICIENT

This technical note presents a sensitivity analysis for transport in a tidally influenced aquifer with a specific reference to a paper by Yim & Mohsen (Groundwater, 1992). The exit concentration in a tidally influenced aquifer is minimally sensitive to large values of the storage coefficient (e.g., values representative of an unconfined aquifer). Sensitivity increases with lower values of the storage coefficient. At values of the storage coefficient representative of confined aquifers, the exit concentration is highly sensitive. Additionally, the technical note also presents a lower bound limit for the storage coefficient below which, there is no flow reversal. Without flow reversal tidal flushing stops, and with it, the lowering of the exit concentration stops.