Development of a groundwater quality index for seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers

Date

2014

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Coastal aquifers are increasingly threatened by seawater intrusion due to increased urbanization, groundwater exploitation, and global sea-level rise. Pattern diagrams, which constitute the outcome of several hydro-geochemical processes, have traditionally been used to characterize vulnerability to seawater 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 raises the need to transform the information from current pattern diagrams into a format that can be readily used under a GIS framework to define vulnerable areas prone to seawater intrusion. In this study, a groundwater quality index specific to seawater intrusion (GQISWI) was developed for the purpose of aggregating data into a comprehensible format that allows spatial analysis. The index was evaluated with data from various coastal regions worldwide and then applied at a pilot karstic aquifer along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

Keywords

SALT WATER INTRUSION, GROUNDWATER QUALITY INDICES, GIS SPATIAL ANALYSIS, COASTAL AREAS, WATER MANAGEMENT, HYDROLOGY, WATER QUALITY, HYDROCHEMISTRY, KRIGING, GROUNDWATER FLOW, MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

Citation

Tomaszkiewicz, M., Abou Najm, M., & El-Fadel, M. (2014). Development of a groundwater quality index for seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers. Environmental Modelling & Software, 57, 13-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.03.010

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10625/53890

DOI

Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Research Results (CC) / Résultats de recherches (CC)
Research Results (CCW) / Résultats de recherches (CCE)