Recent Research Results on Groundwater Resources and Saltwater Intrusion in a Changing Environment

Maurizio Polemio,Kristine Walraevens

doi:10.3390/w11061118

Abstract

This Special Issue presents the work of 30 scientists of 11 countries. It confirms that the impacts of global change, resulting from both climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure, are huge on worldwide coastal areas (and very particularly on some islands of the Pacific Ocean), with highly negative effects on coastal groundwater resources, widely affected by seawater intrusion. Some improved research methods are proposed in the contributions: using innovative hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical monitoring; assessing impacts of the changing environment on the coastal groundwater resources in terms of quantity and quality; and using modelling, especially to improve management approaches. The scientific research needed to face these challenges must continue to be deployed by different approaches based on the monitoring, modeling, and management of groundwater resources. Novel and more efficient methods must be developed to keep up with the accelerating pace of global change.

Highlights

The salinization of groundwater resources can be caused by natural phenomena and anthropogenic activities
Population growth and progressive gathering in coastal areas, climate change, and sea-level rise will increase this pressure and enhance the need for the protection and sustainable management of coastal groundwater resources and ecosystems for coastal communities in the future [4]. This Special Issue deals with hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical monitoring and characterization of the subsurface, involving the distribution of freshwater and saltwater; assessment of impacts resulting from the changing environment on groundwater resources in coastal areas in terms of quantity and quality; and monitoring
Tal et al [7] investigated the interrelationship between a multi-layered coastal aquifer at the southern Carmel plain in Israel, fish-ponds, and the sea using off-shore seismic surveying, on-land time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) surveying, electrical conductivity (EC) profiles, hydrological field experiments, and groundwater levels

Summary

Introduction

The salinization of groundwater resources can be caused by natural phenomena and anthropogenic activities. Population growth and progressive gathering in coastal areas, climate change, and sea-level rise will increase this pressure and enhance the need for the protection and sustainable management of coastal groundwater resources and ecosystems for coastal communities in the future [4]. This Special Issue deals with hydrogeological, geophysical, and geochemical monitoring and characterization of the subsurface, involving the distribution of freshwater and saltwater; assessment of impacts resulting from the changing environment (both climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure) on groundwater resources in coastal areas in terms of quantity and quality; and monitoring. Impacts of the changing environment on the coastal groundwater resources; modelling of the freshwater–saltwater distribution; groundwater monitoring and management in coastal areas

Impacts of the Changing Environment on Coastal Groundwater Resources

Modelling of the Freshwater–Saltwater Distribution

Groundwater Monitoring and Management in Coastal Areas

Conclusions