HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Numerical simulation of geothermal energy transfer beneath exothermic waste rock piles
This publication, co-authored by Jasmin Raymond, René Therrien, Louis Gosselin, and René Lefebvre, which investigates how geothermal energy can be harnessed beneath exothermic waste rock piles to improve the performance of ground-coupled heat pump systems. This study leverages HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate coupled subsurface fluid flow and heat transfer, addressing long-standing challenges in quantifying how enhanced subsurface temperatures generated by sulfide mineral oxidation can reduce the required length and number of ground heat exchangers.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Saltwater Circulation Driven by Shoreline Curvature in Coastal Aquifers
This publication co-authored by Xuan Yu, Lanxuan He, Rongjiang Yao, Zexuan Xu, George Kourakos, Jie Yang, and Franklin W. Schwartz, which investigates how shoreline curvature influences saltwater circulation, freshwater–saltwater mixing, and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in coastal aquifers. This study leverages HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to perform fully three-dimensional, variable-density groundwater flow and salt transport simulations, addressing long-standing limitations of two-dimensional coastal aquifer models that neglect along-shore and lateral flow processes.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Modeling the water use associated with energy consumption changes on saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River estuary, China
This research investigates how increased energy consumption and associated changes in water use impact saltwater intrusion in the Pearl River Estuary— one of China's most economically vital and environmentally vulnerable regions.
Staff Research Highlight - Steady-state density-driven flow and transport: Pseudo-transient parameter continuation
Co-authored by Aquanty’s senior scientist, Hyoun-Tae Hwang, this research presents a new numerical approach for efficiently solving steady-state density-driven flow and transport equations— an important challenge in groundwater modelling, particularly for coastal aquifers affected by seawater intrusion. The research introduces a hybrid technique called pseudo-transient parameter continuation (PTPC), which combines the robustness of pseudo-transient continuation (PTC) methods with the computational efficiency of parameter continuation (PC) strategies.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – A Comparison of Sea-level Rise and Storm-Surge Overwash Effects on Groundwater Salinity of a Barrier Island
In this research highlight, researchers explored the impacts of storm surge overwash and sea-level rise on groundwater salinization at Assateague Island, a low-lying barrier island on the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. The study used HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate the coupled surface and subsurface flow processes that influence the island’s aquifer system. By modelling future sea-level rise and storm-surge events, the researchers aimed to better understand the long-term effects of climate change on groundwater resources, particularly the vulnerability of freshwater lenses to salinization.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – The effects of land subsidence and its mitigating measures on shallow groundwater salinization in the low-lying coastal plain of East Japan
The research investigates how land subsidence and mitigation measures, specifically pumping stations and ditch systems in Shirako Town, Japan's lower Nabaki River region, interact. Land subsidence, caused by natural and human factors, heightens flood risks in coastal areas, challenging infrastructure stability and environmental sustainability. While pumping stations and ditches aim to manage surface water levels and reduce floods, their impact on groundwater salinity near tidal rivers is unclear. Using a coupled surface-subsurface model, the study reveals potential risks like saline water intrusion into groundwater.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Heat Tracing in a Fractured Aquifer with Injection of Hot and Cold Water
In this comprehensive study, researchers explore the application of heat as a tracer in fractured porous aquifers, offering new perspectives on groundwater flow and transport dynamics. The research paper investigates the use of hot (50 °C) and cold (10 °C) water injections in a weathered and fractured granite aquifer, where the natural background temperature is 30 °C. This study relies on a number of advanced HGS capabilities including density-dependent geothermal energy transport, fracture flow and time-varying material properties.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – The coastal aquifer recovery subject to storm surge: Effects of connected heterogeneity, physical barrier and surge frequency
This research analyzes the combined effects of connected heterogeneity, physical barriers, and surge frequency on coastal aquifer recovery. Using HydroGeoSphere (HGS), Aquanty’s sophisticated modeling platform known for its ability to simulate coupled surface water-groundwater interactions, the team investigated a series of modeling cases in heterogeneous and equivalent homogeneous aquifers.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Saltwater Intrusion Into a Confined Island Aquifer Driven by Erosion, Changing Recharge, Sea-Level Rise, and Coastal Flooding
This research sheds light on the complex interactions between storm surges, reduced recharge, high erosion rates, and sea-level rise on the hydrological balance of Prince Edward Island. By leveraging the advanced capabilities of HGS, the researchers were able to test impact that climate change and future trends in coastal hydrology will have on the islands groundwater quality and the movement on the saltwater wedge underlying PEI.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT - Mega-Tidal and Surface Flooding Controls on Coastal Groundwater and Saltwater Intrusion Within Agricultural Dikelands
The study highlighted here makes full use of the density dependent flow modelling capabilities of HydroGeoSphere to investigate the impacts of climate change on groundwater-ocean interactions, and how sea-level rise, tides and storm-surges impact the long-term position of an upper saline plume in a coastal agricultural dikeland in Nova Scotia, Canada.