An accurate groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) and heat coupling model (WHCM) aids in exploration of water migration and heat transport laws in the sedimentary layers of riverbeds and riparian zones, which is critical for understanding the transport patterns of contaminants in sediments. In this paper, a novel WHCM for GW-SW interaction is proposed by incorporating an effective soil thermal conductive model (ESTCM) into the advection-dispersion equation to address the shortcomings of current simulations that fail to account for the nonuniform heat transfer of soil. The model is developed in COMSOL, and the numerical implementation method is illustrated in detail. Furthermore, six recommended ESTCMs are examined in the WHCM to validate and compare the model simulation effects based on field test observations in the Walker River, USA. The results demonstrate that the proposed model performs better than the model that does not account for the nonuniform heat transfer effects of the soil in simulating GW-SW water and heat exchange. Meanwhile, the proposed model's simulation effects based on the Y2019 model perform the best. The orthogonal test revealed that the hydraulic conductivity ks and porosity n are the two most sensitive parameters influencing the model output results of groundwater seepage velocity and temperature, respectively. The efforts of this work can offer technical assistance and a guide for enhancing the simulation effect of river GW-SW water and heat exchange.
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