Articles | Volume 29, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4251-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4251-2025
Research article
 | 
10 Sep 2025
Research article |  | 10 Sep 2025

Enhancing inverse modeling in groundwater systems through machine learning: a comprehensive comparative study

Junjun Chen, Zhenxue Dai, Shangxian Yin, Mingkun Zhang, and Mohamad Reza Soltanian

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Cited articles

Abbas, S. A., Bailey, R. T., White, J. T., Arnold, J. G., White, M. J., Čerkasova, N., and Gao, J.: A framework for parameter estimation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty analysis for holistic hydrologic modeling using SWAT+, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 21–48, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-21-2024, 2024. 
Adler, J. and Öktem, O.: Solving ill-posed inverse problems using iterative deep neural networks, Inverse Probl., 33, 124007, https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6420/aa9581, 2017. 
Arsenault, R. and Brissette, F. P.: Continuous streamflow prediction in ungauged basins: The effects of equifinality and parameter set selection on uncertainty in regionalization approaches, Water Resour. Res., 50, 6135–6153, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013wr014898, 2014. 
Bandai, T. and Ghezzehei, T. A.: Forward and inverse modeling of water flow in unsaturated soils with discontinuous hydraulic conductivities using physics-informed neural networks with domain decomposition, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 4469–4495, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-4469-2022, 2022. 
Bao, J., Li, L., and Redoloza, F.: Coupling ensemble smoother and deep learning with generative adversarial networks to deal with non-Gaussianity in flow and transport data assimilation, J. Hydrol., 590, 125443, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125443, 2020. 
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Short summary
Balancing exploration and exploitation in conventional inversion algorithms is challenging. We evaluated the effectiveness of tandem neural network architecture (TNNA) in addressing this challenge. Inversion problems with different heterogeneous scenarios were designed to compare TNNA with four metaheuristic algorithms. Results show that TNNA significantly improves computational efficiency and accuracy, offering a promising framework for developing robust inversion algorithms.
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