Abstract
The influence of sea-level rise (SLR) on seawater intrusion (SWI) has been the subject of several publications, which consider collectively a range of functional relationships within various hydrogeological and SLR settings. Most of the recent generalized analyses of SWI under SLR neglect land-surface inundation (LSI) by seawater. A simple analytical method is applied to quantitatively assess the influence and importance of LSI on SLR–SWI problems under idealized conditions. The results demonstrate that LSI induces significantly more extensive SWI, with inland penetration up to an order of magnitude larger in the worst case, compared to the effects of pressure changes at the shoreline in unconfined coastal aquifers with realistic parameters. The study also outlines some of the remaining research challenges in related areas, concluding that LSI impacts are among other important research questions regarding the SLR–SWI problems that have not been addressed, including the effects of aquifer heterogeneities, real-world three dimensionality, and mitigation measures.
Résumé
L’influence de l’élévation du niveau marin sur l’intrusion marine a fait l’objet de plusieurs publications, qui considèrent ensemble une série de relations fonctionnelles entre diverses configurations hydrogéologiques et marines. La plupart des analyses générales récentes portant sur les intrusions marines liées à la fluctuation du niveau marin négligent l’inondation des terres par la mer. Une méthode analytique simple est appliquée pour évaluer quantitativement, dans des conditions théoriques, l’influence et l’importance de l’inondation des terres sur l’élévation du niveau de la mer et l’intrusion marine. Les résultats montrent que l’inondation des terres induit de façon significative une intrusion marine plus étendue et, dans le pire des cas, une pénétration dans l’arrière pays plus importante que celle due aux effets des variations de pression sur les aquifères côtiers libres le long la ligne de rivage, calculée avec des paramètres réalistes. L’article souligne également quelques uns des défis encore posés à la recherche dans les domaines de ce genre, concluant que les impacts de l’inondation des terres figurent parmi les autres questions importantes de la recherche concernant les problèmes d’élévation du niveau de la mer et d’intrusion de l’eau de mer à n’avoir pas été abordées et qui comprennent l’incidence des hétérogénéités de l’aquifère, le caractère tridimensionnel du monde réel et les approches simplificatrices.
Resumen
La influencia del ascenso del nivel del mar (SLR) en la intrusión de agua marina (SWI) ha sido objeto de varias publicaciones, que consideran colectivamente un rango de relaciones funcionales dentro de varias configuraciones hidrogeológicas y de SLR. La mayor parte de los recientes análisis generalizados de SWI bajo SLR desprecian la inundación de la superficie del terreno (LSI) por el agua de mar. Se aplica un método analítico simple para evaluar cuantitativamente la influencia y la importancia de LSI sobre los problemas de SLR–SWI bajo condiciones idealizadas. Los resultados demuestran que la LSI induce significativamente en SWI más extensas, con penetración tierra adentro de hasta un orden de magnitud más grande que en el peor de los casos, comparado con los efectos de los cambios de presión en la línea de costa en acuíferos costeros no confinados con parámetros realistas. El trabajo también esboza algunos de los desafíos de investigación que restan en áreas relacionados, concluyendo que los impactos de LSI, entre otras cuestiones importantes en relación a los problemas SLR–SWI, no han sido evaluados, incluyendo los efectos de las heterogeneidades del acuífero, tridimensionalidad del mundo real y las medidas de mitigación.
Resumo
A influência da elevação do nível do mar (ENM) na intrusão salina (IS) tem sido objeto de várias publicações, as quais consideram coletivamente uma gama de relações funcionais dentro de vários cenários hidrogeológicos e de ENM. A maior parte das análises recentes mais generalizadas de IS sob ENM negligenciam a inundação da superfície do solo (ISS) pela água marinha. É aplicado um método analítico simples para calcular quantitativamente a influência e importância da ISS nos problemas de ENM-IS sob condições ideais. Os resultados demonstram que a ISS induz uma IS significativamente mais extensa, com uma penetração continental até uma ordem de magnitude maior no pior dos casos, quando comparada com os efeitos das alterações de pressão na linha de costa em aquíferos livres costeiros com parâmetros realistas. O documento também enfatiza alguns dos restantes desafios da investigação em áreas similares, concluindo que os impactes da ISS estão entre outras questões importantes para a investigação relacionada com os problemas de ENM-IS que não foram ainda abordados, incluindo os efeitos das heterogeneidades dos aquíferos, a tridimensionalidade do mundo real e as medidas de mitigação.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Peta Jacobsen and Davood Mahmoodzadeh for their contributions to artwork. This work was funded in part by the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, a collaborative initiative of the Australian Research Council and the National Water Commission.
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Ataie-Ashtiani, B., Werner, A.D., Simmons, C.T. et al. How important is the impact of land-surface inundation on seawater intrusion caused by sea-level rise?. Hydrogeol J 21, 1673–1677 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1021-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1021-0