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SEAWAT: A Computer Program for Simulation of Three-Dimensional Variable-Density Ground-Water Flow and Transport

SEAWAT Version 4 Overview

SEAWAT is a generic MODFLOW/MT3DMS-based computer program designed to simulate three-dimensional variable-density groundwater flow coupled with multi-species solute and heat transport. The program has been used for a wide variety of groundwater studies including those focused on brine migration in continental aquifers as well as those focused on saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers. SEAWAT uses the familiar structure of MODFLOW and MT3DMS. Thus, most of the commonly used pre and post-processors can be used to create SEAWAT datasets and visualize results. The MODFLOW concepts of "packages" and "processes" are retained in SEAWAT, which allows the program to work with many of the MODFLOW-related software programs, such as MODPATH, ZONEBUDGET, and parameter estimation programs. SEAWAT is a public domain computer program. The source code and software are distributed free of charge by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

SEAWAT Version 4 is a replacement for SEAWAT-2000. SEAWAT-2000 users are encouraged to use this new version, even if the new features are not required for a particular application. SEAWAT Version 4 is backward compatible with datasets created for SEAWAT-2000 and, therefore, SEAWAT-2000 is no longer supported or maintained.

What's New in Version 4

SEAWAT Version 4 is the most recent SEAWAT release, and like SEAWAT-2000, Version 4 is based on MODFLOW-2000 and MT3DMS. SEAWAT Version 4 retains all of the functionality of SEAWAT-2000 and is backward compatible with SEAWAT-2000 datasets. SEAWAT Version 4 includes the following new features:

• Effects of viscosity variations on groundwater flow can be represented with the Viscosity (VSC) Package.
• Unique diffusion coefficients can be entered for each MT3DMS component. This allows thermal diffusivity to be used for the temperature component, and molecular diffusion coefficients to be used for solute species.
• Fluid density and viscosity can be calculated as a function of one or more MT3DMS species.
• Additional options are available for specifying the density value associated with constant-head (CHD) boundaries.
• New options and program redesign allow for faster execution times.

Previous SEAWAT versions are also available for download from this site; however, these versions are no longer maintained, updated, or supported. Users are encouraged to use the most recent version of SEAWAT as it may contain fixes and improvements that are not included in older versions.

Information and Downloads

• Summary of SEAWAT Version 4
  • History
  • Disclaimer
• SEAWAT Version 4 Release Notes
• Download SEAWAT Version 4.00.04 program, source code, user guides, and example problems [12.1MB ZIP file] (updated February 7, 2011)
• User Guides and Technical Information
  • Langevin, C.D., SEAWAT: a computer program for simulation of variable-density groundwater flow and multi-species solute and heat transport: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS 2009-3047, 2 p.
  • Langevin, C.D., Thorne, D.T., Jr., Dausman, A.M., Sukop, M.C., and Guo, Weixing, 2007, SEAWAT Version 4: A Computer Program for Simulation of Multi-Species Solute and Heat Transport: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods Book 6, Chapter A22, 39 p.
  • Thorne, D., Langevin, C.D., and Sukop, M.C., 2006, Addition of simultaneous heat and solute transport and variable fluid viscosity to SEAWAT: Computer and Geosciences vol. 32, 1758-1768.
  • Langevin, C.D., and Guo, W., 2006, MODFLOW/MT3DMS-based simulation of variable density ground water flow and transport [2.1MB PDF]: Ground Water vol. 44, no. 3:339-351.
  • Langevin, C.D., Shoemaker, W.B., and Guo, Weixing, 2003, MODFLOW-2000, the U.S. Geological Survey Modular Ground-Water Model–Documentation of the SEAWAT-2000 Version with the Variable-Density Flow Process (VDF) and the Integrated MT3DMS Transport Process (IMT): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-426, 43 p.
  • Guo, Weixing, and Langevin, C.D., 2002, User's Guide to SEAWAT: A Computer Program for Simulation of Three-Dimensional Variable-Density Ground-Water Flow: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations Book 6, Chapter A7, 77 p.
• Published Reports and Articles Describing an Application of SEAWAT
• Superseded Versions (Note: these versions are no longer supported)
  • SEAWAT Version 4.00.03 program, source code, user guides, and example problems [11.6MB ZIP file]
  • SEAWAT Version 3 (SEAWAT-2000)
  • SEAWAT Version 2
• Useful Links
  • USGS Freshwater-Saltwater Interactions along the Atlantic Coast
  • USGS Hydrologic and Geochemical Models
  • USGS Water Resources Applications Software
    • MODFLOW and other groundwater software
  • MODFLOW-2000
  • MT3DMS (University of Alabama)

Point of Contact

Support is provided for correcting bugs and clarification of how SEAWAT is intended to work. Only limited assistance can be provided for applying SEAWAT to specific problems by contacting the point of contact listed below:

Christian Langevin
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Groundwater
411 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192

Continued development and support of the SEAWAT program is funded by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program.

Other USGS Groundwater Software

The USGS develops groundwater, water-quality, surface-water, and other water-resources software for use by the USGS in fulfilling its mission. Most of this software is available online for download at no charge.

Disclaimers and Notices

Please refer to the USGS Software User Rights Notice for complete use, copyright, and distribution information. The USGS provides no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the correctness of the furnished software or the suitability for any purpose. The software has been tested, but as with any complex software, there could be undetected errors. Users who find errors are requested to report them to the USGS.

References to non-USGS products, trade names, and (or) services are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, U.S. Department of Interior, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

Note: Some or all of this information is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader from the Adobe web site.  Visit http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/  for free tools that allow visually impaired users to read PDF files.