Hydrogeological Insights into Complex Fractured-Porous Media and Karst Systems: Innovative Methods for Modeling, Characterization, and Environmental Assessment

by Jannes Kordilla
Habilitation
Date of Examination:2024-07-03
Date of issue:2025-03-07
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Referee:
Referee:
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-11016

 

 

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Abstract

English

This thesis provides an in-depth, multi-scale exploration of partially saturated flow and transport dynamics in complex porous-fractured systems and fracture networks. Focusing on the complexities of gravity-driven flows, it integrates laboratory experiments, analytical modeling, and advanced computational techniques, including three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), catchment-scale numerical modeling, and neural network applications. At the micro-scale, the study examines the impact of surface roughness on droplet flow, using sophisticated SPH codes to analyze flow dynamics on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. It extends to investigating the influence of roughness on infiltration dynamics and fluid flow behaviors in single fractures, where surface topology controls the formation of instabilities and hence fracture-specific dispersion properties. Progressing to macro-scale, the research employs dual-porosity models and analytical methods to analyze flow in fracture-matrix systems, enhancing the understanding of preferential flow paths and matrix interactions. Key to this scale transition is the development of transfer functions and a multi-scale SPH model, which bridge micro-scale dynamics with larger-scale phenomena. The larger-scale aspect of this research focuses on surface-subsurface interactions in complex aquifers, specifically the Mediterranean Western Mountain karst aquifer. A dual-permeability model is developed to address the challenges of high contrasts in permeabilities, complex topography and vadose zone processes, aiming to quantify vadose-phreatic storage dynamics and assess climate change impacts on groundwater recharge. The thesis also introduces a novel approach for analyzing karst systems using hydro-thermo-chemo-graphs and leverages self-organizing maps to decode hydrochemical data, offering new insights into the distributive surface-subsurface coupling in complex aquifer systems. Overall, this habilitation contributes to the field by linking detailed small-scale investigations with larger scale processes up to catchment-scale assessments, thereby enhancing the predictive understanding of aquifer dynamics for sustainable groundwater management in the context of global environmental changes.
Keywords: Karst and fractured porous media; Vadose zone; Climate change; Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics; Numerical modeling; Water resources management; Flow and transport dynamics
 
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