The effect of spatial statistics of hydraulic conductivity and distribution coefficient fields on solute transport.

The purpose of this research is twofold. First, a tool is developed to assist in the reproduction of field correlation scenarios for input into a flow and transport simulator. Second, this tool is used to generate random fields with several different velocity/retardation relationships typical of the Canada Forces Base Borden aquifer in order to determine the effect of this relationship on the retardation and dispersive processes, specifically on the macrodispersivity. The second section of the research investigates the effect of different types of spatial statistics on the behaviour of a contaminant travelling through saturated, heterogeneous porous media. The non-reactive plume travels significantly farther than the reactive plume, even when considering the effects of retardation. Transverse macrodispersivities are sensitive to changes to neither the correlation within fields, nor the correlation between velocity and retardation fields for both the reactive and non-reactive solute plumes. Longitudinal macrodispersivity for a reactive solute is significantly different than that for a non-reactive solute: the effect of the chemical heterogeneities is to enhance reactive solute macrodispersivities relative to non-reactive macrodispersivities for a negative cross-correlation between velocity and retardation, and to decease reactive solute macrodispersivities relative to non-reactive macrodispersivities when the cross-correlation is positive. (Abstract shortened by UMI.