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S. P. Larson

Publications and source records attributed to S. P. Larson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1982

Model modifications for simulation of flow through stratified rocks in eastern Ohio

A quasi three-dimensional groundwater flow model is being used as part of a study to determine impacts of coal-strip mining on local hydrologic systems. Modifications to the model were necessary to simulate local hydrologic conditions properly. Perched water tables required that the method of calculating vertical flow rate be changed. A head-dependent spring-discharge function and a head-dependent stream aquifer-interchange function were added to the program. Modifications were also made to allow recharge from precipitation to any layer. The modified program, data deck instructions, and sample input and output are presented. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1980

Finite-difference model to simulate the areal flow of saltwater and fresh water separated by an interface

Model documentation is presented for a two-dimensional (areal) model capable of simulating ground-water flow of salt water and fresh water separated by an interface. The partial differential equations are integrated over the thicknesses of fresh water and salt water resulting in two equations describing the flow characteristics in the areal domain. These equations are approximated using finite-difference techniques and the resulting algebraic equations are solved for the dependent variables, fresh water head and salt water head. An iterative solution method was found to be most appropriate. The program is designed to simulate time-dependent problems such as those associated with the development of coastal aquifers, and can treat water-table conditions or confined conditions with steady-state leakage of fresh water. The program will generally be most applicable to the analysis of regional aquifer problems in which the zone between salt water and fresh water can be considered a surface (sharp interface). Example problems and a listing of the computer code are included. (USGS).

Open-File Report↗
USGS1977

Solution of three-dimensional groundwater flow equations using the strongly implicit procedure

A three-dimensional numerical model has been coded to use the strongly implicit procedure for solving the finite-difference approximations to the ground-water flow equation. The model allows for: (1) the representation of each aquifer and each confining bed by several layers; and (2) the use of an anisotropic hydraulic conductivity at each finite-difference block. The model is compared with a previously developed quasi-three-dimensional model by simulating the steady-state flow in an aquifer system in the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. The aquifer system consists of two aquifers separated by a leaky confining bed. The upper aquifer receives recharge from precipitation and is hydraulically connected to streams. For this problem, in order to make a valid comparison of results, a single layer was used to represent each aquifer. Furthermore, the need for a layer to represent the confining bed was eliminated by incorporating the effects of vertical leakage into the vertical component of the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity of the adjacent aquifers. Thus, the problem was represented by only two layers in each model with a total of about 2,100 equations. This restricted the effects of flow in the confining layer to the vertical component, but simulations with a third layer in the three-dimensional model permitting horizontal flow in the confining bed show that the two-layer approach is reasonable. Convergence to a solution of this problem takes about one minute of computer time on the IBM/155. This is about 30 times faster than the time required using the quasi-three-dimensional model.

Colorado↗
USGS1977

Solution of water-table and anisotropic flow problems by using the strongly implicit procedure

The use of the strongly implicit procedure (SIP) with an additional iteration parameter, β , to scale the residual vector is advantageous to the solution of some ground-waterflow problems. For steady-state water-table problems plagued by excessive elimination of grid blocks during the iteration process, selection of β <1 can be effective in limiting the deletion of blocks to a reasonable number. Also, a linear problem characterized by large anisotropy and layers of contrasting hydraulic conductivity was solved more efficiently with β =1.5. Effective values of β are generally in the range 0< β <2 and are easily determined by trial. Use of a β parameter in the SIP algorithm provides an effective solution technique for a class of ground-water-flow problems that previously was burdened by significant computational difficulty.

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey↗
USGS1976

Documentation of finite-difference model for simulation of three-dimensional ground-water flow

User experience has indicated that the documentation of the model of three-dimensional ground-water flow (Trescott and Larson, 1975) should be expanded. This supplement is intended to fulfill that need. The original report emphasized the theory of the strongly implicit procedure, instructions for using the groundwater-flow model, and practical considerations for application. (See also W76-02962 and W76-13085) (Woodard-USGS)

Open-File Report↗
USGS1976

Finite difference model for aquifer simulation in two dimensions with results of numerical experiments

The model will simulate ground-water flow in an artesian aquifer, a water-table aquifer, or a combined artesian and water-table aquifer. The aquifer may be heterogeneous and anisotropic and have irregular boundaries. The source term in the flow equation may include well discharge, constant recharge, leakage from confining beds in which the effects of storage are considered, and evapotranspiration as a linear function of depth to water. The theoretical development includes presentation of the appropriate flow equations and derivation of the finite-difference approximations (written for a variable grid). The documentation emphasizes the numerical techniques that can be used for solving the simultaneous equations and describes the results of numerical experiments using these techniques. Of the three numerical techniques available in the model, the strongly implicit procedure, in general, requires less computer time and has fewer numerical difficulties than do the iterative alternating direction implicit procedure and line successive overrelaxation (which includes a two-dimensional correction procedure to accelerate convergence). The documentation includes a flow chart, program listing, an example simulation, and sections on designing an aquifer model and requirements for data input. It illustrates how model results can be presented on the line printer and pen plotters with a program that utilizes the graphical display software available from the Geological Survey Computer Center Division. In addition the model includes options for reading input data from a disk and writing intermediate results on a disk.

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations↗
USGS1975

Configuration of water table and distribution of downward leakage to the Prairie du Chien-Jordan Aquifer in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota

The configuration of the water table as plotted at a contour interval of 20 feet (6 metres) on quadrangle maps (scale 1:2,500) of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Control points used for mapping were water levels in wells, lakes and sloughs, and places where topographic contours cross perennial streams. A computer program, using a variation of Darcy's law, was developed to determine distribution of 1) downward leakage to the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer under steady-state conditions, using estimated vertical-hydraulic conductivity values for overlying materials; 2) calculated vertical hydraulic conductivity values, assuming uniform leakage to the aquifer; and 3) additional leakage to the aquifer resulting from increased pumpage during the summer. For data determination and data input to the computer program, the area was gridded into units of 1-minute longitude by 1-minute latitude, about 600 acres (243 hectares) per unit. Previous work estimated the increased summer pumpage (1971) of ground water to be 127 million gallons (481x106 litres) per day. Calculations, made Within the limits of governing assumptions, indicate that 10 to 20 percent of increased summer pumpage is derived from increased leakage. Most of the remainder is probably from captured natural discharge and induced recharge from major streams within the influence of summer cones of depression. Based on available data and estimates of vertical hydraulic conductivity for geologic units, major leakage to the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer is indicated to occur in formation subcrop areas, especially where these areas are. overlain by the most permeable glacial drift.

Minnesota↗
USGS1975

Digital models of a glacial outwash aquifer in the Pearl-Sallie Lakes area, west-central Minnesota

-p^e need for study of lake-ground-water interchange has been accentuated by eutrophication of lakes in the Pearl-Sallie Lakes area of west-central Minnesota. The local ground-water flow system is dominated by an outwash aquifer that is sandwiched between two till layers in the western part of the area and exposed at the land surface in the eastern part. Ground water discharges from the aquifer into lakes in the outwash area but is recharged from lakes in the till-covered area. Irregular aquifer geometry resulted in a complex ground-water flow system. Simulation of the system by areal and vertical-section models showed that the lakes significantly control groundwater flow near their boundaries. Inadequate field data and complex geology caused difficulty in obtaining solutions with the vertical-section model. The models may be used to guide collection and interpretation of field data, and quantification of the ground-water flow system. With modification, they could be used to predict aquifer response to transient stresses. They also could be incorporated into more complex models to determine the movement of solutes in the ground-water system.

Minnesota↗