Abstract
Aim: To examine the numerical modeling of seawater intrusion and show its implication for sustainable coastal acquifer management. Problem Statement: The global rise in the world population has necessitated the essentiality of water which also has linkage with power and agriculture. However, arid and semi-arid regions occupy almost one-third of the global land surface which makes many regions to be under harsh and rising water stress. The intrusion of seawater into some sections of aquifers has been one of the major problems contributing to water scarcity, especially during the dry season. Significance of Study: A numerical model is a reasonably accurate and economical tool to simulate and predict the head and quality of groundwater in coastal aquifers if it is properly calibrated using the available measurements of heads, pumping rates, and boundary conditions. The calibrated geo-hydrological parameters can then be used to validate the model for another set of measured data. Thus, it is imperative to predict seawater intrusion into coastal aquifer using numerical modeling tools for water management and sustainability purpose. Methodology: This review article was compiled using references from previous literatures addressing seawater intrusion into coastal aquifer. Cited cases were referenced from different relevant journals. Discussion: This article has presented the fundamental principles and mechanisms of seawater intrusion into coastal aquifer. It was observed that seawater intrusion may arise as a result of moderately lower groundwater withdrawal in dry seasons during which the intrusion of seawater is considerably much when compared with the rainy season. The major influencing factors are temperature, rainfall, abstraction rate and evaporation. However, abstraction rate is the most vital variable in relation to rise in population because the saline water migrates more inland due to water over-extraction from the subsurface without adequate replenishment in either semi-arid or arid regions. Different applicable mathematical models for seawater intrusion into coastal aquifer stated in this review are visual MODFLOW, MT3DMS routines, SEAWAT-2000 routines and FEFLOW routines. The applications of these models in the numerical modeling of coastal aquifers in some countries are stated and with their respective influence on the objectives of the study and the results obtained. Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of numerical modeling in studying the nature of seawater intrusion is imperative to achieve sustainable coastal aquifer management.
Published Version
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