Analytical Hydrogeology of Inland and Coastal Unconfined Dupuit-Type Aquifers

Analytical solutions still have a crucial role to play in hydrogeology on a global scale, and should be viewed as an equally powerful and complementary collaborator along with advanced numerical tools. In parallel with the most recent numerical modeling programs enriched by artificial intelligence learning models, analytical solutions using closed-form equations are still being developed and perfected. Analytical solutions are not only relevant for solving problems, but they can be useful for process understanding. They are still being used and perfected by hydrogeologists to solve groundwater problems and should always be considered an efficient tool available in the toolbox of hydrogeologists. This book focuses on compiling and presenting a series of analytical solutions for solving practical problems in unconfined Dupuit-type flow systems for both inland and coastal aquifers. These closed-form solutions can be used to improve knowledge of quantitative hydrogeology and to solve practical problems at an academic and professional level. Solving analytical solutions usually requires low-cost, low-tech, back-of-the-envelope calculations or a simple Excel spreadsheet. The book is composed of seven chapters providing solutions for solving groundwater flow, groundwater velocity and transit time, groundwater recharge, and groundwater volume equations in unconfined Dupuit-type aquifers. A specific application is proposed for assessing seawater intrusion and the impacts of climate change for different scenarios, specifically in Dupuit-type coastal and island aquifers. The book is intended for practitioners in hydrogeology, for undergraduate and graduate students in Earth sciences/hydrogeology or civil/environmental engineering, as well as for academic researchers.