Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco
Numerical models constitute a powerful tool for groundwater resources management, as they can provide information about flow path, water balance, and effects of future actions. In karst aquifers, groundwater modelling may be challenging because of the heterogeneity of the system. Indeed, karst aquif...
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EDP Sciences
2025-01-01
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| Series: | E3S Web of Conferences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/07/e3sconf_errachidia2024_02002.pdf |
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| author | Ammari Zakaria Oumou Abdellah Essahlaoui Narjisse El Fakir Rabia Mili El Mostafa Essahlaoui Ali Kassou Amina Van Rompaey Anton |
| author_facet | Ammari Zakaria Oumou Abdellah Essahlaoui Narjisse El Fakir Rabia Mili El Mostafa Essahlaoui Ali Kassou Amina Van Rompaey Anton |
| author_sort | Ammari Zakaria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerical models constitute a powerful tool for groundwater resources management, as they can provide information about flow path, water balance, and effects of future actions. In karst aquifers, groundwater modelling may be challenging because of the heterogeneity of the system. Indeed, karst aquifers have concentrated recharge in sinkholes and preferential flow patterns through fractures and conduits. Modellers used several approaches to simulate karst aquifers. The equivalent porous media approach was used by many researchers and showed an acceptable performance of the application of MODFLOW in regional and sub-regional aquifers. The objective of this study is to simulate the sub-regional aquifer of Elhajeb-Ifrane. The groundwater flow model was constructed using a Python package and was calibrated using the parameter estimation code. The results show a good fit between simulated and observed heads. The model reduced RMSE values to 0.49, 0.56, and 0.58 for piezometers 1098/22, 1448/22, and 1830/22, respectively. The annual water balance results show that the aquifer meanly discharges to the springs with 71.8% and 80.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, followed by streams with 5.9% AND 5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, then discharges to Sais aquifers with 2.6% and 3.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4012ad57196a4a2ca006e5b3d9270256 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2267-1242 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | E3S Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4012ad57196a4a2ca006e5b3d92702562025-02-05T10:49:23ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422025-01-016070200210.1051/e3sconf/202560702002e3sconf_errachidia2024_02002Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, MoroccoAmmari Zakaria0Oumou Abdellah1Essahlaoui Narjisse2El Fakir Rabia3Mili El Mostafa4Essahlaoui Ali5Kassou Amina6Van Rompaey Anton7Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityLaboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityLaboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityLaboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityLaboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityLaboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail UniversityGeo-Resource, Geo-Environment and Oasis Geological Heritage Research Group, Engineering Sciences and Techniques Laboratory, Geosciences Department, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University, PresidencyGeography and Tourism Research Group, Department Earth and Environmental ScienceNumerical models constitute a powerful tool for groundwater resources management, as they can provide information about flow path, water balance, and effects of future actions. In karst aquifers, groundwater modelling may be challenging because of the heterogeneity of the system. Indeed, karst aquifers have concentrated recharge in sinkholes and preferential flow patterns through fractures and conduits. Modellers used several approaches to simulate karst aquifers. The equivalent porous media approach was used by many researchers and showed an acceptable performance of the application of MODFLOW in regional and sub-regional aquifers. The objective of this study is to simulate the sub-regional aquifer of Elhajeb-Ifrane. The groundwater flow model was constructed using a Python package and was calibrated using the parameter estimation code. The results show a good fit between simulated and observed heads. The model reduced RMSE values to 0.49, 0.56, and 0.58 for piezometers 1098/22, 1448/22, and 1830/22, respectively. The annual water balance results show that the aquifer meanly discharges to the springs with 71.8% and 80.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, followed by streams with 5.9% AND 5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, then discharges to Sais aquifers with 2.6% and 3.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively.https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/07/e3sconf_errachidia2024_02002.pdfnumerical modelingparameter estimationwater balanceelhajeb-ifrane aquifer |
| spellingShingle | Ammari Zakaria Oumou Abdellah Essahlaoui Narjisse El Fakir Rabia Mili El Mostafa Essahlaoui Ali Kassou Amina Van Rompaey Anton Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco E3S Web of Conferences numerical modeling parameter estimation water balance elhajeb-ifrane aquifer |
| title | Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco |
| title_full | Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco |
| title_short | Calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using EPM approach: Case of Elhajeb-Ifrane aquifer, Morocco |
| title_sort | calibration of a groundwater flow model in a karst aquifer using epm approach case of elhajeb ifrane aquifer morocco |
| topic | numerical modeling parameter estimation water balance elhajeb-ifrane aquifer |
| url | https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/07/e3sconf_errachidia2024_02002.pdf |
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