Seawater intrusion in continuous coastal aquifer-aquitard systems

Abstract

The problem of seawater intrusion in a confined coastal aquifer is investigated. The aquifer is overlain by a leaky aquitard and both units extend continuously out under the sea. The problem is formulated in terms of the two governing differential equations, the fluid continuity equation written conveniently in terms of equivalent freshwater head, and the mass continuity equation. Use of linear rectangular finite elements, with direct integration and an iterative solution technique lead to an efficient numerical scheme that is capable of handling long simulation periods. The results, for a 300 m thick aquifer overlain by a 100 m thick aquitard, show that the aquitard has a controlling influence on the salt distribution. A zone of mixing in the aquifer is found to extend for several kilometres in the seaward as well as the landward direction. The time period required by the system to attain a state of dynamic equilibrium after a perturbation is applied may be of the order of centuries. The aquitard is found to cause a downward and seaward displacement of the average salt front.