Using Aquifer Pathways

An Aquifer pathway A transport pathway element that is intended to represent a feature that essentially behaves as a fluid conduit. Internally, an Aquifer pathway actually performs its computations by creating a temporary set of linked Cell elements during the simulation. is intended to represent a feature that essentially behaves as a fluid conduit. It provides a way to simulate processes such as vertical transport through an unsaturated (vadose) zone or horizontal transport in aquifers, rivers, channels and pipelines.

Note that a similar pathway, the Pipe, can be used for many of the same purposes. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of Pipes and Aquifers, and when each should be used, is provided in the first topic listed below.