Recent Advances in Modeling Groundwater Dynamics

Prof. Chunmiao Zheng @ EIT / SUSTech

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Ningbo, China

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China

Video Recording

Slides

Abstract

Groundwater refers to the water beneath the Earth's surface, occurring in the pores, fractures, and karstified channels within soil and rock formations. It is essential for sustaining life on Earth, storing 99% of the planet's liquid freshwater, providing primary drinking water for about half of the global population, supplying over 40% of irrigation water for agricultural food production worldwide, and sustaining the majority (>50%) of global river flows. Groundwater is becoming an increasingly dynamic and complex component of the global water cycle, driven by climate change and human activities. Numerical modeling is a powerful tool for understanding the complexities of groundwater flow systems and supporting sustainable water management practices.


This presentation will highlight recent advances in groundwater modeling through two case studies. The first explores the groundwater dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau, often called "Asia’s Water Tower". This region presents unique challenges due to its high-altitude mountain hydrology, cold-region permafrost, and limited data availability. The second case study integrates surface water, groundwater, soil erosion, and nutrientdynamics to enhance our understanding of nutrient sources and behaviors in the Pearl River Basin in southern China. Tackling these complex issues necessitates the use of big data, AI, and an interdisciplinary approach. The presentation will conclude by discussing future trends in groundwater modeling, focusing on large-scale applications ranging from continental to global scales.


Bio: 

Chunmiao Zheng is a distinguished professor of hydrologic and environmental science at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Ningbo, China, and the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. His research interests include groundwater hydrology, ecohydrology, and environmental health. He has previously served as the George Lindahl Endowed Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Alabama and held a chair professorship at Peking University in Beijing. Prof. Zheng is the developer of the MT3D/MT3DMS contaminant transport model, a standard tool used in over 100 countries. He has authored over 400 peer-reviewed journal papers and 6 books, with his work cited over 28,000 times (Google Scholar). Prof. Zheng has received several prestigious awards, including the O.E. Meinzer Award from the Geological Society of America, the M. King Hubbert Award from the National Ground Water Association, and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW). In 2019, he was elected as a fellow of the American Geophysical Union.

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