Technical Memorandum Report No. 82
Vertical Movement of Saltwater-Freshwater Interface in a Thick Groundwater System
Akio Ogata & L. Stephen Lau
March 1990
ABSTRACT
A theoretical function is derived to predict the transient position of the saltwater-freshwater interface set in vertical motion from an initially static equilibrium state. The function is found to be proportional to the square root of time after commencement. The proportionality is governed by the porosity and permeability of the aquifer, the difference in density of the two liquids, and the amount of head change. Laboratory sand-column experiments conducted generally validated the model. Precise experiments are desirable to elucidate a theoretical constant.