Groundwater Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

This book provides state-of-the-art guidance on groundwater modelling to meet the challenges of water management in arid and semi-arid areas.

Howard S. Wheater (Edited by), Simon A. Mathias (Edited by), Xin Li (Edited by)

9781107690110, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 February 2014

158 pages, 58 b/w illus. 16 colour illus. 12 tables
27.9 x 21.6 x 0.9 cm, 0.38 kg

Arid and semi-arid regions face major challenges in the management of scarce freshwater resources under pressures of population, economic development, climate change, pollution and over-abstraction. Groundwater is commonly the most important water resource in these areas. Groundwater models are widely used globally to understand groundwater systems and to guide decisions on management. However, the hydrology of arid and semi-arid areas is very different from that of humid regions, and there is little guidance on the special challenges of groundwater modelling for these areas. This book brings together the experience of internationally leading experts to fill a gap in the scientific and technical literature. It introduces state-of-the-art methods for modelling groundwater resources, illustrated with a wide-ranging set of illustrative examples from around the world. The book is valuable for researchers, practitioners in developed and developing countries, and graduate students in hydrology, hydrogeology, water resources management, environmental engineering and geography.

Preface H. S. Wheater, S. A. Mathias and X. Li
1. Groundwater modelling in arid and semi-arid areas: an introduction S. A. Mathias and H. S. Wheater
2. Hydrological processes, groundwater recharge and surface water-groundwater interactions in arid and semi-arid areas H. S. Wheater
3. Conceptual models for recharge sequences in arid and semi-arid regions using isotopic and geochemical methods W. M. Edmunds
4. Groundwater flow and transport J. Carrera and S. A. Mathias
5. Performing unbiased groundwater modelling: application of the theory of regionalized variables S. Ahmed, A. Nabi and S. Owais
6. Groundwater vulnerability and protection A. Butler
7. Variable density groundwater flow: from modelling to applications C. T. Simmons, P. Bauer-Gottwein, T. Graf, W. Kinzelbach, H. Kooi, L. Li, V. Post, H. Prommer, R. Therrien, C. Voss, J. Ward and A. Werner
8. Sustainable water management in arid and semi-arid regions W. Kinzelbach, P. Brunner, A. von Boetticher, L. Kgotlhang and C. Milzow
Index.

Subject Areas: Civil engineering, surveying & building [TN], Physical geography & topography [RGB], Hydrology & the hydrosphere [RBK], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB]