Characterizing groundwater heat transport in a complex lowland aquifer using paleo-temperature reconstruction, satellite data, temperature–depth profiles, and numerical models

Casillas-Trasvina, Alberto; Rogiers, Bart; Beerten, Koen; Wouters, Laurent; Walraevens, Kristine

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5577-2022

Articles | Volume 26, issue 21

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5577-2022

© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-5577-2022

© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 26, issue 21

Research article

|

09 Nov 2022

Research article |

| 09 Nov 2022

Characterizing groundwater heat transport in a complex lowland aquifer using paleo-temperature reconstruction, satellite data, temperature–depth profiles, and numerical models

Alberto Casillas-Trasvina, Bart Rogiers, Koen Beerten, Laurent Wouters, and Kristine Walraevens

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Final revised paper (published on 09 Nov 2022)
Preprint (discussion started on 13 Jan 2022)

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

RC1:
'Comment on hess-2021-586', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Mar 2022

please see attached pdf

Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-586-RC1
- AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Alberto Casillas-Trasvina, 27 Apr 2022
  
  Please see attached pdf file.
  
  Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-586-AC1
RC2:
'Comment on hess-2021-586', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Apr 2022

The paper by Casillas-Trasvina et al. aims to simulate the heat transport in the Neogene aquifer. Although this manuscript collects a lot of data, which can be useful for other works, it is difficult to read and the presentation should be more concise and to the point.

I have the following main comments:

1. It is not clear why the model needs paleo-temperature to work. Also, I really doubt that simulating 10519 years yields meaningful results, given that the flow model is stationary.

2. Peclet number: I have not understood why the Pe number is smaller than 1 in some parts of the aquifer. I really doubt that transport can be diffusive in aquifers.

Minor comments:

Ln. 85: a full stop is missing before This work.

Figure 2: Please write also in the caption the source of the map

Ln. 137: avoid abbreviation. Use was not instead of was’t

Figure 3: the figure is not clear. It should be somehow indicated that b) is the inset in a). Also the curves are not clear and the data from Eindhowen look completely missing.

Ln. 162: what is i.a. ?

Ln. 185: there is a parenthesis that is not open before.

Ln. 229: full stop missing after the parenthesis.

Eq. (1) and (2) vectors should be distinguished from scalar by using bold characters.

Ln. 336: which are cases 2 and 3?

Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-586-RC2
- AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Alberto Casillas-Trasvina, 27 Apr 2022
  
  Please see attached pdf file.
  
  Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-586-AC2

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (14 Jun 2022) by Monica Riva

AR by Alberto Casillas-Trasvina on behalf of the Authors (22 Jun 2022) Author's response Author's tracked changes Manuscript

ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (05 Jul 2022) by Monica Riva

RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (14 Jul 2022)

ED: Publish as is (05 Sep 2022) by Monica Riva

Short summary

Heat in the subsurface can be used to characterize aquifer flow behaviour. The temperature data obtained can be useful for understanding the groundwater flow, which is of particular importance in waste disposal studies. Satellite images of surface temperature and a temperature–time curve were implemented in a heat transport model. Results indicate that conduction plays a major role in the aquifer and support the usefulness of temperature measurements.