ACCELERATING THE CHARACTERIZATION OF KARST AQUIFER SYSTEMS

The ability to derive the geometry of Karst aquifer systems is highly desirable Knowing the geometric makeup of a Karst aquifer system enables quantitative characterization of the systems response to hydraulic events. However, the relationship between flow path geometry and Karst aquifer response is not well understood. To improve this understanding we have implemented a high speed modeling system to characterize Karst aquifer systems.

To obtain reference storm responses we have collected data from a series of data-loggers measuring water depth, temperature, and conductivity at locations along a cave stream with a known geometry in southeastern Minnesota. Using high speed and highly parallel General Purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPUs) we have implemented an advection-dispersion model and inversion methods. By modeling aquifer response using our advection-dispersion model and recorded hydraulic, thermal, and chemical inputs we can create a set of model responses in the model parameter space. Comparing these model responses to the recorded responses from a known cave system we use our inverse method to guide constraining the model parameter space. This combination of tools enables us to constrain a set of model geometries that are capable of producing storm responses similar to those observed. From these parameter constraints we can begin to characterize the Karst system.