The inter-relationship between coastal sub-aquifers and the Mediterranean Sea, deduced from radioactive isotopes analysis

Abstract

Radioactive isotopes were used to estimate the rate of seawater intrusion into the coastal aquifer of Israel, the connection between the different sub-aquifers, and the connection between the sub-aquifers and the sea. This was done by dating both fresh and saline groundwaters from the vicinity of the shoreline, which were analyzed for their 14C and tritium content together with their chemical and stable isotope composition. The results indicate that the distinct sub-aquifers differ in their water chemistry and age. The saline groundwater in the lower sub-aquifers is older than ca. 10,000 years, as evidenced by the absence of tritium and low 14C activity (<12 PMC). On the other hand, saline groundwaters in the upper sub-aquifers contain tritium and are thus younger than 50 years, indicating recent intrusion of seawater. The ages of the saline groundwaters become younger upward from the lower sub-aquifers to the upper ones, reflecting the sea-level rise since the last glacial period. The older ages also imply slow groundwater flow in the lower sub-aquifers. The fresh groundwaters in most cases in the lower sub-aquifers were found to be older than ca. 10,000 years and this implies that the flow to the sea is blocked or restricted.