Heat transport in a coastal groundwater flow system near De Panne, Belgium

Vandenbohede, Alexander; Lebbe, Luc

Heat transport in a coastal groundwater flow system near De Panne, Belgium | Transport de chaleur dans un système d’écoulement souterrain côtier près de De Panne, Belgique Transporte de calor en un sistema de flujo de agua subterránea costeras cerca De Panne, Bélgica 靠近比利时De Panne海岸地下水流动系统中的热传输 Transporte de calor num aquífero costeiro próximo de De Panne, Bélgica

2011

Vandenbohede, Alexander | Lebbe, Luc

Temperature distribution and heat transport are studied in a coastal aquifer at De Panne in the western Belgian coastal plain. Field observations include temperature profiles of groundwater in the dunes and temperature measurements at the water table in a profile on the shore. Freshwater–saltwater distribution is known from previous studies. These are used to constrain a density-dependent model simulating the freshwater–saltwater distribution and heat transport using the SEAWAT code. The yearly fluctuation of the groundwater temperature in the phreatic aquifer under the dunes, shore and sea, and the influence of a tidal inlet in the dunes are simulated. The observations show that seawater temperature variations determine the temperature variations on the shore whereas atmospheric temperature changes determine this in the dunes. Yearly temperature fluctuations imposed at the water table propagate mainly vertically in the aquifer with only limited lateral influence. Heat transport is mainly convection dominated. Thickness of the surficial zone is determined by the amplitude of the groundwater temperature at the water table and the groundwater flow. Establishment of a tidal inlet in the dunes results in asymmetric temperature profiles under and in the vicinity of it.

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