Numerical solutions to the problem of salt water intrusion have traditionally been validated by attempting to reproduce previous numerical and analytical solutions. In recent years, our ability to solve the governing equations accurately has improved dramatically due to superior numerical algorithms and the widespread availability of computational resources. Yet no recent studies have examined the accuracy of salt water intrusion models by comparison of sand box model studies with numerical solutions to the problem. Furthermore, there are some fundamental problems with current salt water intrusion models related to the underlying dispersion and diffusion mechanisms which couple the fluid flow equation to the solute transport equation. In this study, we propose to compare the results of sand box model experiments with numerical models of the same problem in order to evaluate the accuracy of the standard mathematical model for salt water intrusion and to develop new mathematical models of the saltwater intrusion process which better describe the physics and chemistry of the density-coupled flow and transport process. The sand box model experiments will serve as a new and unique data set with which to verify the correctness of the new approach and to validate numerical models of salt water intrusion.
