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Animations created using IGW for Different Conductivities

The following animations show the movement of contaminants at three hydraulic conductivities. ("Hydraulic conductivity" can be roughly defined as the ability of an aquifer, or soils, to transmit water or contaminants.) Animation 1 depicts a hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10-8 centimeters per second (cm/s); Animation 2 depicts a hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10-7 cm/s; and Animation 3 depicts a hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10-6 cm/s. Stated differently, in Animation 2, contaminants move at ten times the rate as in Animation 1 and similarly, the contaminants move ten times faster in Animation 3 than in Animation 2. The animations do not depict conditions on the ESOI site overall, only the vertical distance contaminants will migrate over a given period of time. It is TOSC's conclusion that the hydraulic conductivity at ESOI is significantly greater than 10-8 cm/s, and probably greater than 10-7 cm/s. The depth of contaminants in the lower till also demonstrates that the hydraulic conductivity is greater than 10-8 cm/s.

Although the animations show geology similar to that found on the ESOI property, these animations are for illustrative purposes only and are not an attempt to model the ESOI site. The pink colored areas depict the contaminant plume.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for Animations and Mathematical Calculations at different conductivities.


Supporting Mathematical Calculations:


This image is for illustrative purposes only and is not to scale

Governing equation for the velocity in contaminant transport mechanism:

where v = velocity of the contaminants
          Ke = Effective conductivity of the soil layers
          ne = Effective porosity of the soils
          h0 = Hydraulic head of the water table
          h1 = Hydraulic head of the bedrock aquifer
          L = Average depth of the bedrock aquifer from the bottom of landfill

 

Animations and Mathematical Calculations at different conductivities

Animation 1: Effective conductivity = 10-8cm/sec Equation 1: Effective conductivity = 10-8cm/sec
   
Animation 2: Effective conductivity = 10-7cm/sec Equation 2: Effective conductivity = 10-7cm/sec
   
Animation 3: Effective conductivity = 10-6cm/sec Equation 3: Effective conductivity = 10-6cm/sec

The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, Michigan State University.
Please contact us if you have any comments or questions.