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A Novel Approach Using Hybrid Fuzzy Vertex Method-MATLAB Framework Based on GMS Model for Quantifying Predictive Uncertainty Associated with Groundwater Flow and Transport Models

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Abstract

Identification of the uncertain parameters, which affecting on the qualitative behavior of the aquifer, and determining their effect on the uncertainty of the simulated nitrate concentration (NC) is one of the major challenges in the qualitative monitoring of aquifers. In this study, in order to determine the quantitative amount of uncertainty related to the simulated nitrate, an approach based on a hybrid of Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) model and Fuzzy Vertex Method (FVM) method was developed using the developed code for the relationship between aquifer simulation model and MATLAB environment. In this model, hydraulic conductivity, NC in aquifer recharge sources, longitudinal dispersivity coefficient, and specific storage parameters were considered as uncertain parameters in the distributed simulation model of the Ardabil aquifer. In the proposed approach, first the quantitative and qualitative (QQ) model of the aquifer was prepared using the GMS model and calibrated. Then, using the FVM method and developed MATALB code, the uncertain values appropriate for each of the aquifer active cells were determined. The results obtained from the monthly NC uncertainty show that with increasing the level of uncertainty, the uncertainty of the simulated NC increases significantly. For example, can be mentioned a 14-fold increase in the number of cells with variation of NC less than 10% in the September month. Also, the lowest and highest variation in the deterministic amount of NC is related to the months of Nov. and Sep. with concentration variations equal to [− 8.5, 8.35] and [− 23.43, 19.8] mg/L, respectively. The findings of this study show that the application of at least 10% uncertainty in the deterministic values of the simulated NC is necessary to provide a suitable view for quality monitoring of aquifer. A quantitative amount of monthly uncertainty in areas with nitrate concentrations greater than 50 mg/L indicates that the amount of uncertainty in these areas is higher than areas with nitrate concentrations less than 50 mg/L. This leads to errors in the monitoring of contaminated areas to eliminate contamination and quality restoration. Also, centralization of uncertainty is mainly concentrated in the northeastern, western and southwestern parts of Ardabil plain and the severity of uncertainty in the mentioned areas increases with the intensification of uncertainty and continues to the central areas. Finally, it must be said that hydraulic conductivity and NC in aquifer recharge sources, respectively, play the most important role in creating uncertainty and is necessary to be considered in the NC simulation models.

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Data and material would be made available on request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Mona Nemati & Seyed Abbas Hosseini

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran, Iran

    Mahmoud Mohammad Rezapour Tabari

  3. Center of Excellence in Risk Management and Natural Hazards, Isfahan University and Technology, Isfahan, Iran

    Mahmoud Mohammad Rezapour Tabari

  4. Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Saman Javadi

Authors
  1. Mona Nemati
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  2. Mahmoud Mohammad Rezapour Tabari
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  3. Seyed Abbas Hosseini
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  4. Saman Javadi
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Contributions

Mona Nemati: Conceptualization, Data acquisition, Writing- Original draft preparation, Editing of manuscript; Mahmoud Mohammad Rezapour Tabari: Conceptualization, Supervision, Methodology, Visualization, Editing of manuscript; Seyed Abbas Hosseini: Conceptualization, Supervision, Visualization, Editing of manuscript; Saman Javadi: Conceptualization, Visualization.

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Correspondence to Mahmoud Mohammad Rezapour Tabari.

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Nemati, M., Tabari, M.M.R., Hosseini, S.A. et al. A Novel Approach Using Hybrid Fuzzy Vertex Method-MATLAB Framework Based on GMS Model for Quantifying Predictive Uncertainty Associated with Groundwater Flow and Transport Models. Water Resour Manage 35, 4189–4215 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02940-1

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