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MODFLOW-2005 model used to Simulate the Evolution of Fluid Underpressures in the Great Plains, by Incorporation of Tectonic Uplift and Tilting

Metadata Updated: April 6, 2024

A sequence of nine two-dimensional cross-sectional groundwater models using MODFLOW-2005 was created to study whether underpressures (subhydrostatic heads) in the Paleozoic units underlying the Great Plains of North America are a consequence of Cenozoic uplift of the area. Based on tectonostratigraphic data incorporated into these nine models, we have developed a cumulative uplift history with superimposed periods of deposition and erosion for the Great Plains for the period from 40Ma to the present. Uplift, deposition, and erosion on an 800 kilometer long geologic cross-section extending from northeast Colorado to eastern Kansas is represented in these nine time-stepped geohydrologic models. Sequential solution of the two-dimensional diffusion equation reveals the evolution of hydraulic head and underpressure in a changing structural environment after 40 Ma, culminating in an approximate match with the measured present day values. The modeled and measured hydraulic head values indicate that underpressures increase to the west. The 2 to 0 Ma model indicates that the present-day hydraulic head values of the Paleozoic units have not reached steady state. This result is significant because it indicates that present-day hydraulic heads are not at equilibrium, and underpressures will increase in the future. The pattern uncovered by the series of nine MODFLOW models is of increased underpressures with time. Overall, the models indicate that tectonic uplift explains the development of underpressures in the Great Plains. This USGS data release contains all of the input and output files for the simulations described in the associated journal article (https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3765743).

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date May 31, 2023
Metadata Updated Date April 6, 2024

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI EDI

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date May 31, 2023
Metadata Updated Date April 6, 2024
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
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Identifier USGS:41ca4f5f-a2b6-4557-8715-21d747b2233f
Data Last Modified 20201117
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://datainventory.doi.gov/data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
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Harvest Source Id 52bfcc16-6e15-478f-809a-b1bc76f1aeda
Harvest Source Title DOI EDI
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -104.587835,37.941942,-96.210036,40.426574
Publisher Hierarchy White House > U.S. Department of the Interior > U.S. Geological Survey
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 40f5cea5c8e32a4fe750b32e9bf17193fced47319e987b8c8514dff3f1ce95d3
Source Schema Version 1.1
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