HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Groundwater flow reversal between small water bodies and their adjoining aquifers: A numerical experiment
This recent study uses HydroGeoSphere to investigate groundwater-surface water interactions within “kettle holes” - post glacial landscape features prevalent across Northern Europe and Northern America. These kettle holes are quite similar to lakes, but their smaller size makes them prone to drying out, which results in very dynamic and variable groundwater-surface water interactions, sometimes being subject to groundwater flow reversal between a kettle hole and the adjacent aquifer.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Effect of topographic slope on the export of nitrate in humid catchments: a 3D model study
Agricultural nutrient runoff refers to the movement of excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from agricultural lands into water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. While nutrients are essential for plant growth, excessive runoff can have significant impacts on both human and ecosystem health.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Testing high resolution numerical models for analysis of contaminant storage and release from low permeability zones
This study by researchers at the University of Guelph and Colorado State University tests out different numerical groundwater flow and transport models to simulate contamination diffusing into and subsequently out of low permeability zones.
HydroGeoSphere at the EGU23 General Assembly
HydroGeoSphere is usually well represented at the annual European Geoscience Union’s General Assembly, but 2023 might be a new record with 10 presentations which relied on the integrated hydrologic modelling capabilities of HGS.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Disentangling runoff generation mechanisms: Combining isotope tracing with integrated surface/subsurface simulation
A new study co-authored by researchers at Hohai University and Aquanty Staff introduces an effective way to track runoff generation in a headwater catchment by combining isotopic tracer analysis and integrated hydrologic modelling using HydroGeoSphere.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Evaluating Domestic Well Vulnerability to Contamination From Unconventional Oil and Gas Development Sites
This study by researchers at Yale University and the Institute of Technology investigates how vulnerable groundwater wells are to contamination by the growing unconventional oil and gas development industry, which is expanding quickly and, in some cases, negatively impacting groundwater quality and posing a risk to public health by contaminating drinking water sources.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Numerical simulations of water flow and contaminants transport near mining wastes disposed in a fractured rock mass
This study uses HydroGeoSphere simulations to model unsaturated water flow and contaminant migration in a mining context, specifically the reclamation of open pits with mine waste products. Fractured rock masses are important to study as fractures present preferential flow paths that can promote contaminant transport.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Impacts of Climate Change and Different Crop Rotation Scenarios on Groundwater Nitrate Concentrations in a Sandy Aquifer
This study by researchers at the University of Guelph investigated the impacts of various crop rotation scenarios and climate change on groundwater nitrate concentrations in a 155 sq-km agricultural sub-watershed in Norfolk County, Ontario.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Evaluating backward probability model under various hydrogeologic and hydrologic conditions
A new paper uses HydroGeoSphere to evaluate the reliability of a backward-in-time solute transport probability model. HydroGeoSphere was instrumental in the research as it is one of the only modelling platforms that supports 3-dimensional solute transport under variably saturated groundwater flow conditions.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Logjam Characteristics as Drivers of Transient Storage in Headwater Streams
A new paper highlights the impacts that logjams have on the transient storage in streams and rivers. The researchers used a physical flume to test a variety of scenarios and and relied on HydroGeoSphere to elucidate the surface and subsurface flow patterns which contributed to increased transient storage, and changes to hyporheic exchange in areas affected by logjams.