[en] Centimetre-scale saturated hydraulic conductivities (K) are derived from air permeability measurements on a selection of outcrops of the Neogene aquifer in the Campine area, Belgium. Outcrop sediments are of Miocene to Quaternary age and have a marine to continental origin. Grain size analyses for the same outcrops and corresponding K predictions using previously developed models are also presented. We discuss outcrop hydrogeological properties and quantify the heterogeneity within the outcrops in detail using geostatistical variography. Moreover, outcrop-scale K values, their anisotropy and dispersivities are numerically calculated as a means to upscale such small-scale measurements to a larger scale commensurate with the scale of flow and transport modelling. By studying the small-scale variability as observed in outcrops, we gain crucial understanding of the larger-scale behaviour of the corresponding hydrogeological units within the Neogene aquifer, the most important groundwater reservoir of Flanders. The results of this study will equally improve conceptual hydrogeological model building and parameterization.
Research center :
Aquapôle - ULiège
Disciplines :
Geological, petroleum & mining engineering
Author, co-author :
Rogiers, Bart; Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) > Institute for Environment > Health and Safety
Beerten, K.; Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) > Institute for Environment > Health and Safety
Smeekens, T.; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL > Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Mallants, Dirk; CSIRO Australia > Land and Water > Groundwater Hydrology Program
Gedeon, Matej; Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) > Institute for Environment > Health and Safety
Huysmans, Marijke; Vrije Universiteit Brussel - VUB > Dept. of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering
Batelaan, Okke; Flinders University Australia > School of the Environment
Dassargues, Alain ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Hydrogéologie & Géologie de l'environnement
Language :
English
Title :
Derivation of flow and transport parameters from outcropping sediments of the Neogene aquifer, Belgium
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