HMSE: A tool for coupling MODFLOW and HYDRUS-1D computer programs

A new software HMSE has been developed to facilitate external coupling between two well-known programs for subsurface flow modeling: MODFLOW-2005 (saturated zone flow) and HYDRUS-1D (unsaturated zone flow). Two coupling schemes have been implemented. In the first case the groundwater recharge flux is calculated by HYDRUS-1D assuming a fixed water table position and then passed to MODFLOW input files. In the second case the water table position in HYDRUS-1D is updated periodically using the solution from MODFLOW. HMSE can be deployed in 3 modes: local, Docker and Kubernetes cluster. A web-based interface is provided to configure and run the simulation in all three cases. The software is applied to simulate groundwater table fluctuations observed in a shallow aquifer during three years.