Evolución de los modelos numéricos de flujo de agua subterránea en el acuífero de Ogallala en Texas

Abstract

The Ogallala aquifer is the main source of water for much of the central United States. In Texas, for example, more water is pumped from this aquifer with more than 70,000 irrigation wells than from any other aquifer. Water levels in much of the aquifer in Texas declined an average of more than 0.6 m/yr during 1950-2000.

Few regional aquifers have been as extensively studied as the Ogallala yet much remains to be learned about its hydrogeology. Numerical models have been important tools for expanding our understanding of the aquifer, predicting how the aquifer might respond, identifying data needs, and supporting aquifer management policy. At least 17 models have been developed for parts of the Ogallala aquifer in Texas. Insights from three decades of modeling of the Ogallala aquifer in Texas might have application to other areas at a similar or earlier stage in aquifer model evolution.