A finite volume simulation model for saturated-unsaturated flow and application to Gooburrum, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

In this paper, a two-dimensional control volume finite-element computational model is developed for simulating saltwater intrusion in a heterogeneous coastal alluvial aquifer system at Gooburrum located near Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia. The model consists of a coupled system of two non-linear partial differential equations. The first equation describes the flow of a variable-density fluid, and the second equation describes the transport of dissolved salt via a form of the Fokker-Planck equation. The outcomes of the work demonstrate that transport simulation techniques provide excellent tools for hydraulic investigations even when complex transition zones are involved. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.