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Groundwater-surface water interaction (hyporheic exchange) is critical in numerous hydrogeochemical processes; however, hyporheic exchange is difficult to characterize due to the various spatial (e.g., sedimentary architecture) and temporal (e.g., stage fluctuations) variables that influence it. This interdisciplinary study brings forth novel insights by integrating various methodologies including geophysical surveys, physical and chemical sediment characterization, and water chemistry analysis to explore the interplay of the numerous facets governing hyporheic zone processes within a compound bar deposit. The findings reveal distinct sedimentary facies and geochemical zones within the compound bar, driven by the sedimentary architecture. Cross-bar channel fills are identified as critical structures influencing hydrogeochemical dynamics, acting as baffles to groundwater flow and modulating nutrient transformations. Geophysical imaging and hydrogeochemical analyses highlight the complex interplay between sediment characteristics and subsurface hydraulic connectivity, emphasizing the role of sediment heterogeneity in controlling hyporheic exchange and solute mixing. The study concludes that sediment heterogeneity, particularly the presence of cross-bar channel fills, plays a pivotal role in the hydrogeochemical dynamics of the hyporheic zone. These structures significantly influence hyporheic flow paths, solute residence times, and nutrient cycling, underscoring the necessity to consider the fine-scale sedimentary architecture in models of hyporheic exchange. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of riverine ecosystem processes, offering insights that can inform management strategies for water quality and ecological integrity.
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This content will become publicly available on July 2, 2026
An open-source solver for partially-saturated flow and multicomponent reactive transport in the hyporheic zone
Numerical models have been extensively used to understand and predict flow and reactive transport processes in the hyporheic zone. However, most models focus on fully saturated riverbeds without accounting for surface water stage fluctuations related to precipitation and flooding. To capture the complete picture of hyporheic processes in riverbeds and riverbanks, we developed a fully-coupled multiphase reactive transport solver using the Open Source Field Operation And Manipulation (OpenFOAM) platform. This solver captures surface water stage fluctuations and partially-saturated flow in fluvial sediment using VoF two-phase flow and extendedDarcy’s Law two-phase flow models for surface and subsurface domains, respectively. The transport models designed for partially saturated conditions in both domains are implemented. A geochemical reaction module, PhreeqcRM, is integrated into the solver to facilitate complex geochemical reaction networks. A two-way conservative flux boundary condition is implemented at the surface-subsurface interface to realistically map fluxes. The solver’s capability is illustrated through a variety of hyporheic-related problems across spatial scales. These include laboratory experiments and reactive transport in two and three dimensions, from the bedform scale to multiscale riverbeds and riverbanks with fluctuating surface water flow. This novel solver allows for quantifying dynamics in the hyporheic zone with fewer simplifications. Based on the code structure and parallel design of OpenFOAM, the solver can simulate large, three-dimensional (3D) multiscale cases. The code, examples, and pre- and post-processing scripts are all open source, providing community access to use and modify them as desired.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2048452
- PAR ID:
- 10640610
- Publisher / Repository:
- Elsevier
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Environmental Modelling and Software
- ISSN:
- 1364-8152
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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