On the Use of High-Performance Simulation in the Management of Groundwater Resources in Large Aquifer Systems

This paper reviews the need for and initial development of an advanced, highperformance computer model of groundwater flow and chemical migration in a large and heavily used groundwater basin in Orange County in Southern California. The objectives of such a model are to provide an improved scientific basis to more fully understand the migration rates, travel times, and overall quality of groundwater throughout the basin, especially as it relates to both historical and future groundwater recharge practices. The use of such a model is dictated by the fine spatial resolution required to examine 3D transport issues over large portions of the simulation domain. It is expected that the ongoing application will demonstrate the viability of applying concepts of large-scale simulation to such a practical and significant problem.