Observing tidal and storm generated wave height impact on groundwater levels in a tropical delta (the Sundarbans)

Abstract

Groundwater level (GWL) of coastal aquifers are strongly influenced by the ocean tide at sub-daily to seasonal scale. Similarly, GWL are influenced by storm induced ocean wave surge lasting few hours to a day. There has not been a detailed study on the conjunctive impact of such tidal and storm waves on coastal groundwater and its vulnerability. Through our coastal and field-laboratory observations at one of the world’s most extreme climate affected regions, the Ganges river mega-delta, we delineate the influence of ocean wave surge impacts on the shallow (<24 m below ground level [m bgl]) and deep (115 m bgl) aquifers GWL. Our study on the multi-layered delta-front aquifers, adjoining the tropical BoB shows that the high-temporal resolution GWL fluctuation due to wave surges are instantaneous, rapid and synchronous at all depths of the aquifers. The potential rise of ocean waves caused by tropical cyclone Bulbul (November 2019) significantly increases the GWL, both in shallow and deeper aquifer. Using multivariate statistics and machine learning techniques, we have attempted to quantify the rise of GWL during each of the ocean wave surge event. The model shows good predictability for deeper groundwater, however it is unable to quantify the shallower GWL of each of the ocean wave surge during storm events. Such phenomenon indicates aquifer vulnerability, thereby posing an emerging threat to drinking water availability to millions of groundwater-dependent inhabitants in coastal areas, globally, which may rapidly intensify with increasing rates of tropical cyclones and sea level rise in recent times and impending future.