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Groundwater occurrence in the Sakumo wetland catchment, Ghana: model–setting–scenario approach

Occurrence des eaux souterraines dans le bassin versant de zones humides de Sakumo, Ghana: approche par modèle, ajustement et scénario

Presencia de aguas subterráneas en la cuenca del humedal de Sakumo, Ghana: enfoque acerca de su configuración, modelos y escenarios

加纳Sakumo湿地流域的地下水赋存:模型情景设定方法

Ocorrência de águas subterrâneas na bacia hidrográfica de área úmida Sakumo, Gana: abordagem modelo-ajuste-cenário

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Abstract

Water flow is required for the health and integrity of any wetland environment. Based on field investigation, flow simulation and hydrogeological data, a conceptual flow model representing the physical characteristics of the Sakumo wetland (Ghana) was developed. Two major flow systems were identified: interflow (local topsoil water) in the alluvium and shallow groundwater flow in the unconfined unit. A simple two-dimensional finite-difference numerical model was applied to analyse the groundwater flow system in the Sakumo wetland catchment using ModelMuse. The purpose of the model was to explain the groundwater flow system and quantify the water fluxes contributing to the wetland water storage. The main source of groundwater for use in the catchment is the shallow unconfined Quaternary aquifer. The modelling results indicate that changes in recharge significantly affect the wetland water balance. The water table declines during the dry season as there is high evapotranspiration with little rain. The modelling results also confirm that the Sakumo wetland water fluxes are predominately associated with local shallow flows; the calibrated model simulation showed no hydraulic link between the wetland and the underlying deep basement aquifer. This study thus provides valuable hydrogeological information on the Sakumo wetland basin and lays the foundation for development of detailed future predictive models in this under-researched area of hydrogeology in the humid tropics.

Résumé

Un écoulement d’eau est. nécessaire pour le bon état et l’intégrité de tout environnement de zones humides. A partir d’études de terrain, de simulations d’écoulements et de données hydrogéologiques, un modèle conceptuel d’écoulement décrivant les caractéristiques physiques de la zone humide de Sakumo (Ghana) a été développé. Deux systèmes majeurs d’écoulement ont été identifiés: un écoulement hypodermique dans les alluvions et un écoulement souterrain peu profond dans l’unité captive. Afin d’analyser les modalités d’écoulement dans le bassin versant de la zone humide de Sakumo, un modèle numérique bidimensionnel en différences finies a été développé sous ModelMuse. L’objectif du modèle était d’expliquer les modalités d’écoulement souterrain et de quantifier les flux d’eau qui contribuent à la rétention d’eau dans la zone humide. La principale source d’eau souterraine dans le bassin versant est. l’aquifère libre peu profond du Quaternaire. Les résultats de la modélisation indiquent que les modifications de la recharge affectent significativement le bilan en eau de la zone humide. Les niveaux piézométriques baissent durant la saison sèche du fait de l’évaporation élevée conjuguée aux faibles précipitations. Les résultats de la modélisation confirment également que les écoulements d’eau sont majoritairement associés à des écoulements locaux peu profonds dans la zone humide de Sakumo; la simulation sur le modèle calibré ne montre aucune relation hydraulique entre la zone humide et l’aquifère profond sous-jacent du socle. La présente étude fournit ainsi de précieuses informations hydrogéologiques sur le bassin versant de la zone humide de Sakumo, et établit la base de développement pour de futurs modèles prédictifs détaillés sur ce sujet insuffisamment étudié de l’hydrogéologie dans les tropiques humides.

Resumen

El flujo de agua es necesario para la salud e integridad de cualquier ambiente en un humedal. Sobre la base de investigaciones de campo, simulación de flujos y datos hidrogeológicos, se elaboró un modelo conceptual de flujos que representa las características físicas del humedal de Sakumo (Ghana). Se identificaron dos sistemas de flujo principales: el flujo intermedio (agua de la capa superficial del suelo) en el aluvión y el flujo de agua subterránea poco profunda en la unidad no confinada. Se aplicó un modelo numérico bidimensional simple de diferencias finitas para analizar el sistema de flujo de agua subterránea en la cuenca del humedal de Sakumo utilizando ModelMuse. El propósito del modelo era explicar el sistema de flujo de agua subterránea y cuantificar los flujos de agua que contribuyen al almacenamiento del agua en el humedal. La principal fuente de agua subterránea para su uso en la cuenca es un acuífero cuaternario no confinado y poco profundo. Los resultados del modelado indican que los cambios en la recarga afectan significativamente el balance hídrico del humedal. El nivel freático disminuye durante la estación seca, ya que hay una alta evapotranspiración con poca lluvia. Los resultados del modelado también confirman que los flujos de agua del humedal de Sakumo están predominantemente asociados con flujos locales poco profundos; la simulación del modelo calibrado no mostró ningún vínculo hidráulico entre el humedal y el acuífero subterráneo profundo subyacente. Por lo tanto, este estudio proporciona información hidrogeológica valiosa sobre la cuenca del humedal de Sakumo y sienta las bases para el desarrollo de modelos predictivos futuros detallados en esta área poco investigada de la hidrogeología en los trópicos húmedos.

摘要

任何湿地环境的健康和完整性都需要水流。基于现场调查,流动模拟和水文地质数据,开发了具有Sakumo湿地(加纳)物理特征的水流概念模型。确定了两个主要的流动系统:冲积层中的壤中流(局部表土水)和潜水含水单元中的浅层地下水流。采用ModelMuse建立了简化的二维有限差分数值模型以分析Sakumo湿地流域的地下水流动系统。该模型的目的是解释地下水流动系统并量化贡献湿地水储量的水通量。流域中主要地下水水源是浅层第四系潜水含水层。模拟结果表明,补给的变化显著影响湿地的水平衡。在旱季,因为蒸发蒸腾量很大,雨量很少,地下水位下降。模拟结果还证实,Sakumo湿地水通量主要与局部浅水流有关;经过识别的模型模拟表明湿地与下覆深部基岩含水层之间没有水力联系。该研究为Sakumo湿地盆地提供了有价值的水文地质信息,并为湿热带地区水文地质研究领域中详细的预测模型开发奠定了基础。

Resumo

O fluxo de água é necessário para a saúde e integridade de qualquer ambiente de zonas úmidas. Com base na investigação de campo, na simulação de fluxo e nos dados hidrogeológicos, foi desenvolvido um modelo de fluxo conceitual que representa as características físicas da área úmida de Sakumo (Gana). Dois grandes sistemas de fluxo foram identificados: interfluxo (água superficial local) no aluvião e fluxo subterrâneo superficial na unidade não confinada. Um modelo numérico bidimensional de diferenças finitas simples foi aplicado para analisar o sistema de fluxo de água subterrânea na bacia hidrográfica de Sakumo, usando ModelMuse. O objetivo do modelo foi explicar o sistema de fluxo de águas subterrâneas e quantificar os fluxos de água que contribuem para o armazenamento de água das áreas úmidas. A principal fonte de água subterrânea para uso na bacia é o aquífero quaternário livre. Os resultados da modelagem indicam que mudanças na recarga afetam significativamente o balanço hídrico da área úmida. O lençol freático declina durante a estação seca, pois há alta evapotranspiração com pouca chuva. Os resultados da modelagem também confirmam que os fluxos de água de zonas úmidas de Sakumo estão predominantemente associados a fluxos rasos locais; a simulação do modelo calibrado não mostrou nenhuma ligação hidráulica entre a zona úmida e o aquífero subterrâneo profundo subjacente. Este estudo, portanto, fornece informações hidrogeológicas valiosas sobre a bacia da área úmida Sakumo e estabelece as bases para o desenvolvimento de modelos preditivos futuros detalhados nesta área de hidrogeologia sob pesquisa nos trópicos úmidos.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World (OWSD) and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for the intellectual and material contribution towards this research. Special thanks to Dr. Richard Winston for the software availability and Mr. Siyamthanda Gxokwe for ModelMuse introduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, P’ Bag X 17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa

    Cynthia Nonterah & Yongxin Xu

  2. National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Legon, Ghana

    Cynthia Nonterah & Shiloh Osae

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  1. Cynthia Nonterah
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  2. Yongxin Xu
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  3. Shiloh Osae
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Correspondence to Yongxin Xu.

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Nonterah, C., Xu, Y. & Osae, S. Groundwater occurrence in the Sakumo wetland catchment, Ghana: model–setting–scenario approach. Hydrogeol J 27, 983–996 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01959-4

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