Hydrogeological modeling of the Roussillon coastal aquifer (France): stochastic inversion and analysis of future stresses

Abstract

Global climate change-induced stresses on coastal water resources include water use restrictions, saline intrusions, and permanently modifying or damaging regional resources. Groundwater in coastal regions is often the only freshwater resource available, so an in-depth understanding of the aquifer, and the aquifer’s response to climate change, is essential for decision-makers. In this study, we focus on the coastal aquifer of Roussillon (southern France) by developing and investigating a steady-state groundwater flow model (MODFLOW 6) and calibrated with PEST++ on a Python interface (FloPy and PyEmu). Model input and boundary conditions are constrained by various scenarios of climate projections by 2080, with model results predicting the aquifer’s response (and associated uncertainty) to these external forcings. Using simple assumptions of intrusion estimates, model results highlight both strong climatic and anthropogenic impacts on the water table. These include aquifer drawdowns reaching several meters locally, and the seawater interface advancing locally several hundred meters inland and rising by several meters. Intrusions of this magnitude risk endangering exploited water wells and their sustainability. Our results demonstrate the critical importance of properly characterizing the geology and its heterogeneity for understanding aquifers at risk because poor predictions may lead to inappropriate decisions, putting critical resources at risk, particularly in coastal environments.