The Prototype Plume Busters Software:

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The Prototype Plume Busters Software A New Tool
for Computer Assisted Instruction
P. Allen Macfarlane, Geoffery Bohling, Margaret
Townsend Kansas Geological Survey Steve Case and
Tom Baker KU Center for Science Education Ken
Thompson Depts. of Physical Sciences Emporia
State University
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Teaching Ground-water Science Concepts

• Ground-water systems are typically not observed
  directly.

• The concepts and earth material properties that
  govern ground-water flow are abstract.

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The River Basin Hydrologic Cycle
Stagnant ? ? ?
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Hydrogeology What is it?

• Hydrogeology examines the interrelationships of
  geologic materials and processes with water
• This is not what a hydrogeologist does

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PLUME BUSTERS

• An NSF-funded product
• A role-play to help students develop a better
  understanding of how ground-water concepts are
  applied using simulation and games.

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Setting for the SimulationStream-Aquifer System
A'
A
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Environmental Consultant Role Play
The Situation A chemical spill from a ruptured
pipeline has contaminated a shallow aquifer. A
plume of contamination is moving toward the
river. If unchecked, the contaminants will seep
into the nearby Buffalo River and render River
Citys downstream water supply unusable.
Your Role You have been hired by the pipeline
owner solve this environmental problem. Your
objective is to eliminate the contamination from
the aquifer in the shortest amount of time for
the least cost to the pipeline owner. Every
action you take in this simulation will cost you
time money
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Software Features

• Software Structure
• Locate the Plume
• Remediate the Plume
• Interaction with the Software
• Information provided on a series of linked HTML
  pages
• User interacts with ground-water model through
  the Map View screen

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Locating the Plume

• The ships of the each players fleet are
  distributed on a game board before play begins.
• Ships remain fixed in their positions on the
  board throughout the game.
• Each player tries to guess the location of
  the opposing players ships so they can be
  destroyed and sunk.

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Locating the Plume
Source
Where is the plume in the aquifer at any given
time?
Buffalo River
Ground-water Flow
Assumption The plume is moving in the same
direction and with the same constant speed as
the ground-water.
Problem Solution Distance Speed x Time
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Porosity Definition
All earth materials contain void space or porosity
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Hydraulic Conductivity
The ease with which fresh water passes through
an earth material.
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Hydraulic Head
A Measure of Ground-water Potential Energy
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Hydraulic Gradient
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Average Ground-water Velocity
Darcys Law
Q/A K x (?h/?L)
Specific Discharge
Hydraulic Conductivity
Hydraulic Gradient

X
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Locating the Plume
Distance Speed x Time

• When the source stopped adding contaminants
  to the aquifer

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Locating the Plume
Ground-water Flow Corridor
Source
Plume
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Remediate the Plume
Pump and Treat Technology
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Remediate the Plume
Capture Zone