Isotopic and geochemical characterization of salinization in the shallow aquifers of a reclaimed subsiding zone: The southern Venice Lagoon coastland

The coastal plain bordering the southern Venice Lagoon is a reclaimed lowland characterized by high subsidence rate, and ground level and water-table depth below sea level. In this agricultural region, where the surface hydrologic network is entirely artificially controlled by irrigation/drainage canals, salinization problems have long been encountered in soils and groundwaters. Here we use isotopic and geochemical tracers to improve our understanding of the origin of salinization and mineralization of the semi-confined aquifer (0–40 m), and the freshwater inputs to this hydrological system. Water samples have been collected at different seasons in the coastal Adriatic Sea, lagoon, rivers and irrigation canals, as well as in the semi-confined aquifer at depths between 12 and 35 m (14 boreholes), and in the first confined aquifer (three boreholes drilled between 40 and 80 m depth). Stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δD) and conductivity profiles show that direct saline intrusion from the sea or the lagoon is observed only in a restricted coastal strip, while brackish groundwaters are found over the entire topographic and piezometric depression in the centre of the study area. Fresh groundwaters are found only in the most western zone. The sharp isotopic contrast between the western and central regions suggests disconnected hydrological circulations between these two parts of the shallow aquifer. The border between these two regions also corresponds to the limits of the most strongly subsiding zone.Our results can be interpreted in terms of a four end-member mixing scheme, involving (1) marine water from the lagoon or the open sea, (2) alpine and pre-alpine regional recharge waters carried either by the main rivers Adige, Bacchiglione and Brenta (irrigation waters) or by the regional groundwater circulation, (3) local precipitation, and (4) evaporated waters infiltrated from the surface. Infiltration from the surface is also revealed by the stratification of the electrical conductivity profiles, showing that the brackish groundwaters are overlain by a shallow layer of less saline water all over the central depression. In the first confined aquifer, the groundwaters have isotopic compositions similar to the deep groundwaters of the Venetian confined aquifers (40–400 m depth). The isotopic data and the Br/Cl ratio show that the origin of the salinization of the phreatic aquifer can be ascribed to seawater intrusion alone, with no indication of the involvement of deep brines (identified at 450 m depth) in the process.The chemical composition of the saline and brackish groundwaters is characterized by an excess of sodium and a deficit of calcium compared to conservative mixing between fresh groundwaters and seawater. This suggests that the phreatic aquifer is progressively freshening, as a consequence of the beneficial influence of the extensive irrigation/drainage network, including raised canals acting as a hydraulic barrier along the coast. This freshening tendency may have been lasting since the reclamation in the mid-twentieth century, and has probably been accelerated by the ban on groundwater abstraction since the 1970s.     

Deduction of groundwater flow regime in a basaltic aquifer using geochemical and isotopic data: The Golan Heights, Israel case study

Groundwater flow-paths through shallow-perch and deep-regional basaltic aquifers at the Golan Heights, Israel, are reconstructed by using groundwater chemical and isotopic compositions. Groundwater chemical composition, which changes gradually along flow-paths due to mineral dissolution and water–rock interaction, is used to distinguish between shallow-perched and deep-regional aquifers. Groundwater replenishment areas of several springs are identified based on the regional depletion in rainwater δ¹⁸O values as a function of elevation (−0.25‰ per 100 m). Tritium concentrations assist in distinguishing between pre-bomb and post-bomb recharged rainwater.

It was found that waters emerging through the larger springs are lower in δ¹⁸O than surrounding meteoric water and poor in tritium; thus, they are inferred to originate in high-elevation regions up to 20 km away from their discharge points and at least several decades ago. These results verify the numerically simulated groundwater flow field proposed in a previous study, which considered the geological configuration, water mass balance and hydraulic head spatial distribution.     

Formation of a salt plume in the Coastal Plain aquifer of Israel: the Be''er Toviyya region

The formation and development of a salt plume (salinity up to 800 mg Cl 1⁻¹) in the inner part of the Coastal Plain aquifer of Israel is analyzed. Massive groundwater exploitation during the 1950s caused a large drop in the water level and formation of a hydrologic depression in the Be'er Toviyya-Kefar Warburg area. The depression reached a maximal depth during the late 1960s; thereafter a reduction in the rate of pumpage led to restoration of water levels and shallowing of the depression, until its complete disappearance towards the end of the 1980s. A spot of high salinity first appeared in 1956, following a deep drawdown in the water levels. This saline plume has been continuously expanding with increasing salinity concentrations (200–800 mg Cl 1⁻¹) in its center. The average rate of radial expansion was about 50 m year⁻¹. The expansion and salinization did not cease as the depression disappeared. Rather, equalization of water levels in wells situated within the plume area with those of situated along its margins resulted in the salinization of the latter within a period of 1 year.

Mass balances for water and chloride contents were made for the period 1967–1990. Taking into consideration the storage change, pumpage, natural replenishment and artificial recharge, the lateral inflow to the depression is estimated as 60 × 10⁶ m³. Upon addition of the chloride balance, and taking into consideration the chloride concentrations of the surrounding fresh water and the apparent possible end-member of the saline source (based on geochemical considerations), the saline inflow is estimated as (40–60) × 10⁶ m³. These estimates indicate that a large amount of saline water penetrated into the aquifer, of about half of the natural replenishment of the study area, with an estimated salinity of 1900–2700 mg Cl 1⁻¹.

It is suggested that the salt plume was formed as a result of a drop in water level combined with a flow of underlying saline water bodies from deeper strata. The chemical composition of the groundwater points to the existence of two saline water bodies of Ca-chloride composition and a marine Br/Cl ratio: (1) saline water with low Na/Cl (0.6), So₄/Cl, and B/Cl ratio; (2) saline water with higher Na/Cl (> 0.6), So₄/Cl, and B/Cl ratios. These chemical compositions resemble Ca-chloride saline waters found in other locations in the Coastal Plain aquifer and in underlying formations. The saline water bodies may occur in either pockets at the bottom of the aquifer or lumachelle and sandstone layers of high hydraulic conductivity in underlying sediments.     

Origin of salinity in a multilayered aquifer with high salinization vulnerability

The Kaluvelly watershed is a coastal area (Tamil Nadu, India) where water abstraction has resulted in a dramatic fall in the level of the water table and a piezometric depression in the most exploited aquifer, the Vanur aquifer. In addition, intensification/mechanization of agriculture may have affected the quality of recharge water. An initial hydrodynamic study showed that the Vanur aquifer is highly vulnerable to salinization due to potential seawater intrusion, and our aim was to determine the source of salinity recorded in the groundwater of this multilayered aquifer. Our approach involved the use of existing boreholes and of a moderate number of samples, with the aim of developing appropriate water resource management techniques. Major element, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, ²H/¹H and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ratios were measured in rainwater, surface water and groundwater collected during five sampling campaigns over a 2‐year period. Geochemical data indicate that the Vanur aquifer is recharged and that small mixings between aquifers fluctuate according to monsoon intensity. There was no evidence of seawater intrusion. The range of recorded salinity originated mainly from water–rock interaction but a disconnection of some deeper parts of the aquifer was apparent. Strontium isotopic ratios in the recharge area suggest an anthropogenic influence, possibly related to fertilizer use. A high SO₄/Cl ratio was observed in the aquifer; in the deeper parts, the influence of a formation containing lignite is hypothesized, whereas near the surface, sulphate may partly originate from fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion. Water isotopic data suggest that the origin of precipitation in this region has been unchanged for several hundreds or thousands of years. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Geochemical Approach to Determine Sources and Movement of Saline Groundwater in a Coastal Aquifer

Geochemical evaluation of the sources and movement of saline groundwater in coastal aquifers can aid in the initial mapping of the subsurface when geological information is unavailable. Chloride concentrations of groundwater in a coastal aquifer near San Diego, California, range from about 57 to 39,400 mg/L. On the basis of relative proportions of major‐ions, the chemical composition is classified as Na‐Ca‐Cl‐SO₄, Na‐Cl, or Na‐Ca‐Cl type water. δ²H and δ¹⁸O values range from ?47.7‰ to ?12.8‰ and from ?7.0‰ to ?1.2‰, respectively. The isotopically depleted groundwater occurs in the deeper part of the coastal aquifer, and the isotopically enriched groundwater occurs in zones of sea water intrusion. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from about 0.7050 to 0.7090, and differ between shallower and deeper flow paths in the coastal aquifer. ³H and ¹⁴C analyses indicate that most of the groundwater was recharged many thousands of years ago. The analysis of multiple chemical and isotopic tracers indicates that the sources and movement of saline groundwater in the San Diego coastal aquifer are dominated by: (1) recharge of local precipitation in relatively shallow parts of the flow system; (2) regional flow of recharge of higher‐elevation precipitation along deep flow paths that freshen a previously saline aquifer; and (3) intrusion of sea water that entered the aquifer primarily during premodern times. Two northwest‐to‐southeast trending sections show the spatial distribution of the different geochemical groups and suggest the subsurface in the coastal aquifer can be separated into two predominant hydrostratigraphic layers.     

Structural controls on groundwater flow and groundwater salinity in the Spicers Creek catchment,Central West region,New South Wales

Saline seepage zone development, and hence the onset of dryland salinity, is a major environmental problem occurring within the Spicers Creek catchment. The primary objective of this paper was to identify previously unmapped faults and show the correlation between these faults and groundwater salinization. As identified from this study, there is a close association between geological structural features and the formation of saline seepage zones. The most saline groundwaters in the catchment were encountered where two geological structures join and form a fault intersection. These saline groundwaters are found at various depths within the fractured aquifers, and changes in groundwater chemistry in the aquifers are associated with the presence of fault zones. ¹⁸O and δ²H stable isotopes, together with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios, indicate that groundwaters within the fault zones are enriched in ¹⁸O and have a strontium signature similar to seawater. This study identifies several geological structures in the Spicers Creek catchment and demonstrates that groundwaters with the highest salinity arise where fault intersections occur. The results of this study may be used to interpret further the mechanisms leading to seepage zone formation in dryland salinity‐affected catchments located throughout the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical Simulations of Seasonally Oscillated Groundwater Dynamics in Coastal Confined Aquifers

Studies investigating the effects of inland recharge on coastal groundwater dynamics were carried out typically in unconfined aquifers, with few in confined aquifers. This study focused on the groundwater dynamics in confined aquifers with seasonally sinusoidally fluctuated inland groundwater head and constant sea level by numerical simulations. It is known that the mixing zone (MZ) of saltwater wedge in response to the seasonal oscillations of inland groundwater head swings around the steady-state MZ. However, our simulation results indicate that even the most landward freshwater-saltwater interface over a year is seaward from the steady-state location when the hydraulic conductivity K is ≤10⁻⁴ m/s under certain boundary conditions with given parameter values. That is, seasonal oscillations of inland groundwater head may reduce seawater intrusion in confined coastal aquifers when K ≤ 10⁻⁴ m/s. Sensitivity analysis indicates that for aquifers of K ≤ 10⁻⁴ m/s, the larger the inland head fluctuation amplitude is, the less the seawater intrudes. This is probably due to the reason that the seawater intrusion time decreases with the increase of fluctuation amplitude when K ≤ 10⁻⁴ m/s. Numerical simulations demonstrate that seasonal inland groundwater head oscillations promote the annual averaged recirculated seawater discharge across the seaward boundary.     

Separating baseline conditions from anthropogenic impacts: example of the Damour coastal aquifer (Lebanon)

Abstract

A new structured approach is presented to derive groundwater baseline conditions, in this case for a dolomitic limestone aquifer suffering from salinization and other anthropogenic impacts. It builds on the HydroChemical System Analysis (HCSA) to map different groundwater bodies (hydrosomes) and hydrochemical zones within them, each of which show significant differences in baseline conditions. It also comprises a rigorous elimination scheme for samples affected by bias or pollution. The method is applied to the Damour coastal aquifer system, south of Beirut (Lebanon). Concentrations of Cl, Cl/Br, ²H, ¹⁸O and Ca/Sr were used to discern five hydrosomes and to determine mixing ratios. The dominant hydrochemical facies was (sub)oxic, calcareous and salinized, indicating a very low reduction capacity of the aquifer system, strong dissolution of dolomitic limestone and clear traces of seawater encroachment. The method proposed was capable of filtering out baseline conditions for 16 main constituents, 64 trace elements and two isotopes.     

Estimation of the inland extending length of the freshwater–saltwater interface in coastal unconfined aquifers

ABSTRACT

The inland extending length of the freshwater–saltwater interface toe is useful in studies of seawater intrusion in coastal areas. The submarine fresh groundwater discharge in coastal zones is affected not only by hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient of the aquifer, but also by the position of the interface. Two observation wells at different distances from the coast are required to calculate the fresh groundwater flow rate in coastal unconfined aquifers. By considering that the submarine groundwater discharge is equal to the groundwater flow rate, the length of the interface toe extending inland can be estimated when the groundwater flow is at a steady-flow state. Aquifers with horizontal and sloping confined beds and without/with unique surface vertical infiltration are considered. Examples used to illustrate the application of these methods indicate that the inland extending lengths of the interface toe in aquifers with vertical surface infiltration are much shorter than those in aquifers without vertical surface infiltration, and the length of the interface in aquifers with a horizontal confining lower bed are smaller than those in aquifers with a confining lower bed sloping towards the sea. The extent of the interface on the northwestern coast near the city of Beihai in southern Guangxi, China, on 18 January 2013 was estimated as 471–478 m.

Editor M.C. Acreman Associate editor not assigned     

Hydrochemical and stable isotope evidence for the extent and nature of the effective Chalk aquifer of north Norfolk, UK

In eastern England the Chalk aquifer is covered by extensive Pleistocene deposits which influence the hydraulic conditions and hydrochemical nature of the underlying aquifer. In this study, the results of geophysical borehole logging of groundwater temperature and electrical conductivity and depth sampling for major ion concentrations and stable isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) are interpreted to reveal the extent and nature of the effective Chalk aquifer of north Norfolk. It is found that the Chalk aquifer can be divided into an upper region of fresh groundwater, with a Cl concentration of typically less than 100 mg l⁻¹, and a lower region of increasingly saline water. The transition between the two regions is approximately 50 m below sea-level, and results in an effective aquifer thickness of 50–60 m in the west of the area, but less than 25 m where the Eocene London Clay boundary is met in the east of the area. Hydrochemical variations in the effective aquifer are related to different hydraulic conditions developed in the Chalk. Where the Chalk is confined by low-permeability Chalky Boulder Clay, isotopically depleted groundwater (δ¹⁸O less than −7.5‰) is present, in contrast to those areas of unconfined Chalk where glacial deposits are thin or absent (δ¹⁸O about −7.0‰). The isotopically depleted groundwater is evidence for groundwater recharge during the late Pleistocene under conditions when mean surface air temperatures are estimated to have been 4.5°C cooler than at the present day, and suggests long groundwater residence times in the confined aquifer. Elevated molar Mg:Ca ratios of more than 0.2 resulting from progressive rock-water interaction in the confined aquifer also indicate long residence times. A conceptual hydrochemical model for the present situation proposes that isotopically depleted groundwater, occupying areas where confined groundwater dates from the late Pleistocene, is being slowly modified by both diffusion and downward infiltration of modem meteoric water and diffusive mixing from below with an old saline water body.     

Origin and Evolution of Aquitard Porewater in the Western Coastal Plain of Bohai Bay,China

High‐salinity paleowater from low‐permeability aquitards in coastal areas can be a major threat to groundwater resources; however, such water has rarely been studied. The chemical and isotopic compositions of porewater extracted from a 200‐m‐thick Quaternary sedimentary sequence in the western coastal plain of Bohai Bay, China, were analyzed to investigate the salinity origin and chemical evolution of porewater in aquitards. Porewater samples derived at depths shallower than 32 m are characterized by Cl‐Na type saline water (total dissolved solids [TDS], 10.9–84.3 g/L), whereas those at depths greater than 32 m comprise Cl·SO₄‐Na type brackish water (TDS, 2.2–6.3 g/L). Saline porewater is interpreted as evaporated seawater prior to halite saturation, as evidenced by Cl‐Br relationships. Although substantial dilution of saline porewater with meteoric water is supported by a wider Cl^? range and δ²H‐δ¹⁸O covariance, the original marine waters were not completely flushed out. The deeper brackish porewater is determined to be a mixture of fresher porewater and brine groundwater and had a component of old brine of less than 10%, as indicated by a mixing model defined using δ²H and Cl^? tracers. Porewater δ²H‐δ¹⁸O relationships and negative deuterium excess ranging from ?25.9‰ to ?2.9‰ indicate the existence of an arid climate since Late Pleistocene in Tianjin Plain. The aquitard porewaters were chemically modified through water‐rock interactions due to the long residence time.     

Sources of Ground Water Salinization in Parts of West Texas

Abstract
Determination of chemical constituent ratios allows distinction between two salinization mechanisms responsible for shallow saline ground water and vegetative-kill areas in parts of west Texas. Mixing of deep-basin (high Cl) salt water and shallow (low Cl) ground water results in saline waters with relatively low Ca/Cl, Mg/Cl, SO₄4/ Cl, Br/Cl, and NO₃/Cl ratios. In scattergrams of major chemical constituents vs. chloride, plots of these waters indicate trends with deep-basin brines as high Cl end members. Evaporation of ground water from a shallow water table, in contrast, results in saline water that has relatively high Ca/Cl, Mg/Cl, SO₄/Cl, and Br/CL ratios. Trends indicated by plots of this water type do not coincide with trends indicated by plots of sampled brines. Leaching of soil nitrate in areas with a shallow water table accounts for high NO₃ concentrations in shallow ground water.     

Formation of saline groundwaters in the Baltic region through freezing of seawater during glacial periods

Typical Ca---Cl brines occur in crystalline and metamorphic rocks below freshwater horizons at various localities in Sweden and Finland. Total dissolved solids (TDS) range in concentration between 2 and 120 gl⁻¹ and have long been thought to derive from water-rock interactions. The relationships between Na, Cl and Br in these brines suggest, however, that they were derived from freezing of seawater during glacial periods. The brines were subsequently diluted by meteoric waters and their Ca/Mg ratio was increased through water-rock interactions in the subsurface. The hydrogeological model for both the formation of freeze-derived marine brines and their lateral intrusion involves restricted inland marine basins in recent and subrecent polar climatic belts. Seawater in such basins gradually freezes in response to glaciation. The solutes which concentrate in the remaining water body are residual after precipitation of a sequence of minerals which include carbonates, mirabilite and hydrohalite. Hydraulic pressure of the growing ice sheet over the frozen seas is gradually added to the ambient hydrostatic pressure exerted on the brines. This, together with their increased density, increases the intrusional potential of the brines. As the land ice cannot exert hydraulic pressure on continental groundwater in the aquifers, the balance of pressure favours deep landward intrusion of brines. Post-glacial processes cause the subsurface dilution and replacement of the brines both by seawater and fresh waters. The presence of such brines also far from present-day coastal settings reflects the shifting of coastlines as a result of isostatic movements and eustatic sea-level changes associated with glaciation and deglaciation.     

Assessment of seasonal groundwater quality and potential saltwater intrusion: a study case in Urmia coastal aquifer (NW Iran) using the groundwater quality index (GQI) and hydrochemical facies evolution diagram (HFE-D)

Coastal aquifers are at threat of salinization in most parts of the world. This work investigated the seasonal hydrochemical evolution of coastal groundwater resources in Urmia plain, NW Iran. Two recently proposed methods have been used to comparison, recognize and understand the temporal and spatial evolution of saltwater intrusion in a coastal alluvial aquifer. The study takes into account that saltwater intrusion is a dynamic process, and that seasonal variations in the balance of the aquifer cause changes in groundwater chemistry. Pattern diagrams, which constitute the outcome of several hydrochemical processes, have traditionally been used to characterize vulnerability to sea/saltwater intrusion. However, the formats of such diagrams do not facilitate the geospatial analysis of groundwater quality, thus limiting the ability of spatio-temporal mapping and monitoring. This deficiency calls for methodologies which can translate information from some diagrams such Piper diagram into a format that can be mapped spatially. Distribution of groundwater chemistry types in Urmia plain based on modified Piper diagram using GQI_Piper(mix) and GQI_Piper(dom) indices that Mixed Ca–Mg–Cl and Ca-HCO₃ are the dominant water types in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. In this study, a groundwater quality index specific to seawater intrusion (GQI_SWI) was used to check its efficiency for the groundwater samples affected by Urmia hypersaline Lake, Iran. Analysis of the main processes, by means of the Hydrochemical Facies Evolution Diagram (HFE-Diagram), provides essential knowledge about the main hydrochemical processes. Subsequently, analysis of the spatial distribution of hydrochemical facies using heatmaps helps to identify the general state of the aquifer with respect to saltwater intrusion during different sampling periods. The HFE-D results appear to be very successful for differentiating variations through time in the salinization processes caused by saltwater intrusion into the aquifer, distinguishing the phase of saltwater intrusion from the phase of recovery, and their respective evolutions. Both GQI and HFE-D methods show that hydrochemical variations can be read in terms of the pattern of saltwater intrusion and groundwater quality status. But generally, in this case (i.e. saltwater and not seawater intrusion) the HFE-D method was presented better efficiency than GQI method (including GQI_Piper and GQI_SWI).     

Estimation of seawater retreat timescales in homogeneous and confined coastal aquifers based on dimensional analysis

Reliable estimation of the timescales of seawater retreat (SWR) in coastal aquifers has significant implications for sustainable groundwater management in coastal areas. Due to the complexity of coastal dynamics, analytical estimates of SWR timescales are limited in number, and numerical models are mainly utilized. Although numerical models allow for accurate analysis of the coastal systems, they concern particular aquifer cases, thus their results are not generally applicable. Here, we perform a dimensional analysis for the depth-integrated freshwater/seawater continuity equations and identify the dimensionless parameters that affect SWR in confined, homogeneous and flux-controlled aquifers. Based on numerical simulations, we gain insight into how these parameters affect SWR, and produce type curves which can be used as a simple tool for estimating SWR timescales in idealized coastal systems, independent of the hydraulic and geometric characteristics of the aquifer. The reliability of our estimates in real-world applications is also discussed.     

Seawater intrusion and fresh groundwater hydraulics in fjord delta aquifers inferred from ground penetrating radar and resistivity profiles—Sunndalsøra and Esebotn, western Norway

Geophysical surveys have been carried out in two fjord delta aquifers in western Norway. Geophysical methods comprised ground penetrating radar (GPR), shallow reflection seismic and resistivity measurements. The purpose of the investigations was to evaluate hydrogeological properties of the fjord delta aquifers with emphasis on the possibilities of abstracting saline groundwater for use in fish farming. At Sunndalsøra, reflection seismic was helpful in the mapping of the base of the aquifer. Resistivity profiles revealed both the spatial and seasonal variability of seawater intrusion. Penetration depths of ground penetrating radar (GPR-D) revealed the spatial variation of the boundary of the transition zone between saline and fresh groundwater. Maps of GPR-D can be used to indicate direction and magnitude of mean hydraulic gradients and thus to locate optimal sites for both fresh and saline groundwater abstraction.In fjord delta aquifers, both rivers and abandoned river channels constitute important groundwater divides. Optimal locations for saline groundwater abstraction wells are in areas separated from the rivers by abandoned river channels. In areas between the rivers and the abandoned river channels, groundwater abstraction will result in decreasing salinity of the water.     

Groundwater Deterioration of Shallow Groundwater Aquifers Due to Overexploitation in Northeast Jordan

Groundwater is the major water resource in Jordan and most of the groundwater basins are already exploited beyond their estimated safe yield. Azraq basin is one of the most important groundwater basins in Jordan, which supplies Amman with drinking water. However, due to overpumping from the shallow groundwater aquifers, the water level dropped dramatically and signs of salinization and depletion are starting to occur. The severe drawdown in the Azraq well‐field caused a reverse in the hydraulic gradient and consequently, the saltwater in the center of the basin (Qa‐Azraq) started to move in the direction of the well‐field. The salinization in the shallow aquifer (basalt/B5/B4) is believed to result from one of the following scenarios: (i) a reverse flow from Sabkha to the AWSA well field, (ii) an upward leakage from the middle aquifer system (B2/A7) and the combined B3 Aquitard‐B2/A7 aquifer, (iii) a dissolution process between the water and rock matrix due to lowering of the dynamic water levels during pumping which reached the mineralized formations underlying the Basalt. The salinization trend of some AWSA wells represented by the gradual increase of major ions is associated with rather constant stable isotopic contents. This indicates that these constituents originate from the main minerals existing in the matrix of the aquifers and thus this scenario is the most likely to occur.     

Groundwater mineralisation processes in Mediterranean semi‐arid systems (Cap‐Bon,North east of Tunisia): hydrogeological and geochemical approaches

The groundwater of the Korba plain represents major water resources in Tunisia. The Plio‐Quaternary unconfined aquifer of the Cap‐Bon (north‐east Tunisia) is subject to the intensive agricultural activities and high groundwater pumping rates due to the increasing of the groundwater extraction. The degradation of the groundwater quality is characterized by the salinization phenomena. Groundwater were sampled and analysed for physic‐chemical parameters: Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^‐, SO₄^2‐, HCO₃^‐, NO₃^‐, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and the temperature (T°). The hydrochemical analysis is coupled with the calculation of the saturation indexes (SI gypsum, SI halite, SI calcite and SI dolomite), ionic derivation and with the ion correlations compared to chloride concentrations: Na⁺/ Cl^‐, Ca²⁺/ Cl^‐ and Mg²⁺/ Cl^‐ ratios. Seawater fractions in the groundwater were calculated using the chloride concentration. Those processes can be used as indicators of seawater intrusion progression. EC methods were also conducted to obtain new informations on the spatial scales and dynamics of the fresh water–seawater interface of coastal groundwater exchange. The mixing zone between freshwater and saltwater was clearly observed from the EC profile in the investigated area where a strong increase in EC with depth was observed, corresponding to the freshwater and saltwater interface. Results of hydrochemical study revealed the presence of direct cation exchange linked to seawater intrusion and dissolution processes associated with cations exchange. These results, together with EC investigation, indicated that the groundwater is affected by seawater intrusion and is still major actor as a source of salinization of the groundwater in Korba coastal plain. Further isotopic and hydrological investigations will be necessary to identify and more understood the underlying mechanisms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tidal effects on variations of fresh–saltwater interface and groundwater flow in a multilayered coastal aquifer on a volcanic island (Jeju Island, Korea)

We conducted various field studies at the seawater intrusion monitoring wells located in the eastern part of Jeju Island, Korea, to observe the tidal effect on groundwater–seawater flow in the coastal aquifer. Studies included monitoring the fluctuations of groundwater and tide levels, electrical and temperature logging, and 2-D heat-pulse flowmeter tests. According to time-series analysis, tidal effects on groundwater level reached up to 3 km inland from the coastline. Water-level variation was more sensitive to tidal fluctuations near the coast, and more related to rainfall toward inland areas. Temporal and spatial variations in the shape and location of the freshwater–saltwater interface were analyzed using data from nine monitoring wells. The results indicated that the interface toe is located at a distance of 6–8 km from the coastline and its location was related to geological layers present. Long-term seasonal variations revealed no major changes in the interface; minor variations were due to moving boundary conditions induced by tidal fluctuations. Using the two-dimensional heat-pulse flowmeter, groundwater flow directions and velocities at four tidal stages were measured on three monitoring wells drilled into the multilayered aquifers. This direct measurement enabled us to relate the differences of flow velocities and directions with geology and tidal fluctuations. Combining the results of EC logging and flowmeter tests, we found a zone where freshwater and saltwater moved alternately in opposite directions, as influenced by the tidal fluctuations. Integrating various physical logging and flowmeter data with water-level fluctuations improved our understanding of the behavior of fresh and seawater flow in the coastal aquifers.     

Source speciation resolving hydrochemical complexity of coastal aquifers

There is a growing concern of seawater intrusion to freshwater aquifers due to groundwater overexploitation in the eastern coastal belt of Southern India. The problem becomes complex in the regions where industrial effluents are also contaminating the freshwater aquifers. In order to understand the hydrochemical complexity of the system, topographic elevation, static water level measurements, major ion chemistry, ionic cross plots, water type contours and factor analysis were applied for 144 groundwater samples of shallow and deep sources from Quaternary and Tertiary coastal aquifers, located within the industrial zone of 25 km² area near Cuddalore, Southern India. The ionic cross plots indicates dissolution of halite minerals from marine sources and seawater mixing into inland aquifers up to the level of 9.3%. The factor analysis explains three significant factors totaling 86.3% of cumulative sample variance which includes varying contribution from marine, industrial effluent and freshwater sources.