Groundwater salinization processes in shallow coastal aquifer of Djeffara plain of Medenine, Southeastern Tunisia |
| |
Authors: | Rim Trabelsi Kamel Abid Kamel Zouari Houcine Yahyaoui |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Laboratory of Radio-Analysis and Environment, National School of Engineers of Sfax, BP 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia;(2) Regional Direction of Agriculture and Water Resources of Medenine, Medenine, Tunisia |
| |
Abstract: | Urban and industrial development and the expansion of irrigated agriculture have led to a drastic increase in the exploitation of groundwater resources. The over-exploitation of coastal aquifers has caused a seawater intrusion and has seriously degraded groundwater quality. The shallow coastal aquifer of the Djeffara plain, southeastern Tunisia constitutes an example of water resource suffering an intensive and uncontrolled pumping for irrigation. Intensive exploitation of the aquifer and climate aridity caused a decrease in piezometric level and an increase in salinity. According to the hydrochemical data (Cl−, SO4 2−, NO3 −, HCO3 −, Br−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and the stable isotope composition (oxygen-18 and deuterium content), groundwater salinization in the investigated system is caused by three main processes: (i) salts dissolution especially in the central part of Jerba and around Medenine plain; (ii) evaporation process; and (iii) seawater intrusion which caused the increase in salinity in the peninsula of El Jorf, in Jerba and in the North of Ben Gardane. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|