Themes and Topics of GwFR2012 conference
The themes of the GwFR2012 conference relate to the structure and geohydrological functioning of various geological environments with fracture permeability, including:
• Plutonic and metamorphic hard rocks, with the exception of marbles;
• Volcanic rocks;
• Non karstified (or just partially karstified) limestones (marbles included);
• Other fracture permeability hard rocks, for example sandstones.
It is convenient to distinguish between two hydrogeological settings:
• Fractured rock aquifers (both shallow, ~0-100 m depth, and deeper associated structures)
• Fractured rock low permeability environments (deep and shallow, from hundred to thousands of metres deep).
The topics within a THEME are not meant as restrictive, limitative list of topics. They are meant as EXAMPLES of point of attention that would fit within a THEME. The topics listed give an idea of the type of work that would fit into a THEME.
THEME 1 – HYDROGEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF FRACTURED ROCKS
• Definition of fractured rock aquifers (both shallow – the first 100 m – and deeper associated structures)
• Definition of fractured rock low permeability environments (deep and shallow)
• Genetics of fractures and fractured rock aquifers permeability
• Geometry and connectivity of fractured rock hydrogeological bodies (joints, fractures, discontinuities, aquicludes, aquitards, etc.),
• Relationships with other geological bodies: unconsolidated weathering profiles, other lithologies, etc.
• Values and spatial distribution of hydraulic parameters, high and low hydraulic conductivity media
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 2 – GROUNDWATER FLOW IN FRACTURED ROCKS
• Natural groundwater recharge (quantification)
• Flow in fractured rock aquifers: flow in fractures, exchanges between the various compartments of fractured rock hydrosystems
• Relationships between surface water and groundwater in fractured rock environments
• Groundwater runoff, base flow
• Flow heterogeneity in fractured rock environments
• Influence of deepness in the productivity of fractured rock aquifers
• Influence of topography in the weathering and productivity of fractured rock aquifers
• Water flow in the unsaturated zone
• Importance on vegetation in groundwater evaporation
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 3 – CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL AND ISOTOPE PROPERTIES OF GROUNDWATER IN FRACTURED ROCKS
• Hydrochemical properties of shallow and deep groundwater
• Saline waters, brines, salinisation process
• Thermal and mineral waters
• Spatial and temporal changes of groundwater composition
• Groundwater quality in mining environments
• Use of isotopes in fractured rock environments
• Remote sensing in the evaluation of groundwater quality
• Regional and local hydrochemical studies, case studies
THEME 4 – GROUNDWATER PROSPECTING, DRIILLING AND WELL CONSTRUCTION IN FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENTS
• Remote sensing in hydrogeology prospecting (well siting)
• Use of geological and geophysical methods for defining borehole locations (well siting)
• Drilling techniques in fractured rock environments
• Well design, well construction, well equipment
• Borehole geophysics
• Clean-up and recovery of wells
• Case studies in groundwater prospecting
THEME 5 – INVESTIGATION AND INTERPRETATION METHODS IN FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENT
• Location and characterisation of fractured rock aquifers
• Field and laboratory methods, data interpretation
• Location and characterisation of low permeability environments
• Hydrogeological mapping and data processing
• Realisation and interpretation of flow tests in fractured rock aquifers
• Realisation and interpretation of tracer tests in fractured rock aquifers
• Hydrogeochemical and isotopic tools to study structure and functioning of fractured rock aquifers
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 6 – MODELLING IN FRACTURED ROCK AQUIFERS
• Use of geophysical and geochemical measurements and monitoring
• Comprehensive use of field information
• Use of a priori geological and hydrogeological knowledge
• Representative parameters as input data
• Modelling concepts: mechanistic and black-box, deterministic and stochastic, discrete fractures and continuum (porous equivalent medium), global (spatially homogeneous) and spatially distributed, etc.
• Numerical modelling (finite-differences, finite elements, etc.)
• Modelling of groundwater flow (groundwater levels, fluxes, groundwater pathlines, etc.)
• Modelling of groundwater flow and solute/contaminant transport
• Nonlinear and coupled flow and transport modelling (density flow, multiphase flow, reactive transport modelling)
• Modelling of well capture zones (groundwater pathlines and travel times)
• Parameter estimation and model calibration, parameter uncertainty
• Predictive capability of modelling in fractured rock aquifers
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 7 – VALORISATION OF FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENT
• Exploitation and management of water resources in fractured rock aquifers (including sustainable groundwater abstraction rates, overexploitation, etc.)
• Artificial recharge
• Artificial fracturing (hydraulic fracturing, use of explosives, etc.)
• Geothermal energy in fractured rock environments
• Tunnelling, tunnel drainage in fractured rock, impact on surface and groundwater
• Artificial cavities and storage in fractured rock environments
• Waste storage in fractured rock
• Mining, mines dewatering in fractured rock, impact on surface and groundwater
• Shallow and deep waste disposal sites
• Linear works (highways, railroads, canals, buried electric lines, etc.) in fractured rock environments
• Maintenance of groundwater dependent nature / ecological systems
• Quantification and definition of ecologic flow in fractured rock environments
• Thermal and mineral waters
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
PS: VALORISATION is "creation of surplus-value" or "increase in value" by making use of fractured rock environment.
THEME 8 – ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENT
• ACTOR: impacts of urbanisation and industrialisation (via use of water, via contamination, etc.)
• ACTOR: impacts of water resources (via groundwater abstraction, etc.)
• ACTOR: impacts of agriculture (via use of water, via pollution by pesticides, etc.)
• ACTOR: impacts of linear works (via pollution by highways and railroads, etc.)
• ACTOR: impacts of global change (human-induced changes, climate change)
• ACTOR: impacts of point source pollution (via waste sites) and non-point (diffuse) source pollutions (via agriculture and urban areas, etc.)
• ACTOR: impacts of other features/actors in fractured rock environment
• Stresses on groundwater levels (including drawdowns) and fluxes (availability of groundwater and surface water)
• Stresses on quality (deterioration) of groundwater and surface water
• Stresses on water resources (decrease of water volume in time and space, etc.)
• Stresses on groundwater dependent nature / ecological systems (wetlands, etc.)
• Stresses on other features/components of fractured rock environment
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 9 – GROUNDWATER PROTECTION IN FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENT
• Quantitative and qualitative groundwater protection in fractured rock environment
• Groundwater protection zones in fractured rock environment
• Wellhead protection areas around well abstraction sites
• Aquifer protection, such as by cooperation of water supply companies with farmers
• Remediation techniques in fractured rock aquifers
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
THEME 10 – LEGAL AND REGULATORY ISSUES IN FRACTURED ROCK ENVIRONMENT
• Water Framework Directive implementation
• Application of water legislation to fractured rock aquifers
• Consequences of changes in water legislation on water supply systems
• The economics of groundwater systems (importance to agriculture, industry, water supply and ecosystems)
• Regional studies, local studies, synthetic studies, case studies
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