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Hydrological implications of inland boundary conditions in coastal aquifers subject to sea level rise

Implications hydrogéologiques des conditions limites à terre des aquifères côtiers sujets à une augmentation du niveau de la mer

Implicancias hidrológicas de las condiciones de contorno hacia el interior en acuíferos costeros afectados por el aumento del nivel del mar

海平面上升背景下滨海含水层内陆边界条件的水文意义

Implicações hidrológicas das condições de contorno interiores em aquíferos costeiros sujeitos à elevação do nível do mar

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Abstract

Climate change-induced sea level rise (SLR) is widely perceived as a significant driver of increased saltwater intrusion (SWI) in coastal aquifers. Previous studies show that, depending on the choice of inland freshwater boundary conditions, models predict contrasting results regarding SWI due to SLR. While simulations employing head-controlled (HC) freshwater boundary conditions show considerable additional SWI, those using flux-controlled (FC) freshwater boundary conditions show negligible additional SWI. However, the hydrological implications of inland freshwater boundary conditions on coastal water balances remain underexplored. Here, a widely studied field-scale conceptual problem is employed to comprehensively assess the hydrological implications of inland freshwater boundary conditions in coastal aquifers subject to SLR. The results show that coastal aquifers subject to SLR under: (i) HC conditions experience a flux-decline effect wherein freshwater fluxes reduce; and (ii) FC conditions experience a head-lift effect wherein freshwater heads increase. The analysis shows that HC aquifers exhibit prolonged transient responses in salt-wedge movement, suggesting ongoing responses to recent sea level changes. Additionally, the flux-decline effect in HC systems alters the overall aquifer and catchment coastal hydrological water balances and requires appropriate hydrological evaluations. FC systems, on the other hand, are mass-conservative and do not suffer from hydrological water balance artifacts. However, the head-lift effect in FC aquifers can cause inundation in low-lying regions with topographically limited aquifers. This study helps to comprehensively characterize the underlying mechanisms behind SWI and the hydrological implications of the choice of inland boundary conditions for studying the impacts of SLR.

Resume

L’augmentation du niveau de mer induite par le changement climatique est perçu largement comme un facteur significatif de l’augmentation de l’intrusion marine dans les aquifères côtiers. Les précédentes études montrent qu’en fonction de la sélection des conditions limites eau douce à terre, les modèles prédisent des résultats contrastés concernant l’intrusion d’eau de mer à cause de l’augmentation du niveau de la mer. Alors que les simulations employant de conditions limites eau douce de charge hydraulique contrôlée (CH) montrent des intrusions d’eau saline supplémentaires considérables, celles utilisant les conditions limites eau douce de type écoulement contrôlé (EC) montrent des augmentations d’intrusion saline négligeables. Cependant, les implications hydrologiques des conditions limites eau douce à terre sur les bilans hydrologiques côtiers demeurent sous étudiés. Ici, un problème conceptuel à l’échelle du terrain largement étudié est employé pour évaluer les implications hydrologiques des conditions limites eau douce à terre dans les aquifères côtiers sujets à l’augmentation du niveau de la mer. Les résultats montrent que les aquifères côtiers soumis à l’augmentation du niveau de la mer dans : (i) des conditions CH subissent un effet de déclin du flux dans lequel les flux d’eau douce diminuent ; et (ii) des conditions EC subissent un effet d’élévation de la charge hydraulique dans lequel les charges d’eau douce augmentent. L’analyse montre que les aquifères CH présentent des réponses transitoires prolongées dans le mouvement du coin de sel, suggérant des réponses continues aux récents changements du niveau de la mer. De plus, l’effet du déclin du flux dans les systèmes CH altère l’aquifère dans son ensemble et les bilans hydriques du bassin d’alimentation et nécessite des évaluations hydrologiques appropriées. Les systèmes EC, en revanche, sont conservateurs en termes de masse et ne souffrent pas d’artéfacts de bilan hydrologique. Cependant, l’effet d’élévation de charge hydraulique dans les aquifères EC peut provoquer des inondations dans les régions de basse altitude où les limites des aquifères sont marquées par la topographie. Cette étude permet de caractériser de manière exhaustive les mécanismes sous-jacents à l’intrusion des eaux de mer et les implications hydrologiques du choix des conditions limites à terre pour étudier les impacts de l’augmentation du niveau de la mer.

Resumen

El aumento del nivel del mar (SLR) provocado por el cambio climático se considera ampliamente como un factor importante del aumento de la intrusión de agua salada (SWI) en los acuíferos costeros. Estudios previos muestran que, dependiendo de la elección de las condiciones de contorno de agua dulce hacia el interior, los modelos predicen resultados contradictorios con respecto a la SWI debido al SLR. Mientras que las simulaciones que emplean condiciones de contorno de agua dulce controladas por la altura (HC) muestran un aumento considerable de la SWI, aquellas que utilizan condiciones de contorno de agua dulce controladas por el flujo (FC) muestran un aumento insignificante de la SWI. Sin embargo, las consecuencias hidrológicas de las condiciones de contorno de agua dulce hacia el interior en el balance hídrico costero siguen sin estar suficientemente estudiadas. En este trabajo se emplea un problema conceptual a escala de campo ampliamente estudiado para evaluar de forma exhaustiva las implicancias hidrológicas de las condiciones de contorno del agua dulce continental en los acuíferos costeros sujetos al SLR. Los resultados muestran que los acuíferos costeros sujetos al SLR bajo: (i) condiciones HC experimentan un efecto de disminución del flujo en el que se reducen los flujos de agua dulce; y (ii) condiciones FC experimentan un efecto de elevación de la carga hidráulica en el que aumentan las cargas hidráulicas del agua dulce. El análisis muestra que los acuíferos HC muestran respuestas transitorias prolongadas en el movimiento de la cuñña de sal, lo que sugiere respuestas continuas a los cambios recientes del nivel del mar. Además, el efecto de disminución del flujo en los sistemas HC altera el balance hídrico costero general del acuífero y de la cuenca hidrográfica, y requiere evaluaciones hidrológicas adecuadas. Por otro lado, los sistemas FC son conservadores en cuanto a la masa y no sufren alteraciones en el balance hídrico. Sin embargo, el efecto de elevación de la carga hidráulica en los acuíferos FC puede causar inundaciones en regiones bajas con acuíferos limitados topográficamente. Este estudio ayuda a caracterizar de manera exhaustiva los mecanismos subyacentes detrás del SWI y las implicaciones hidrológicas de la elección de las condiciones de contorno interiores para estudiar los impactos del SLR.

摘要

气候变化引发的海平面上升(SLR)被广泛认为是滨海含水层咸水入侵(SWI)加剧的重要驱动因素。已有研究表明,模型对SLR引发的SWI预测结果受内陆淡水边界条件选择的显著影响。采用水头控制(HC)淡水边界条件的模拟结果显示,SLR会导致大量额外的咸水入侵;而采用通量控制(FC)淡水边界条件的模拟则表明,额外的咸水入侵可忽略。然而,内陆淡水边界条件对滨海地区水量平衡的水文影响尚缺乏系统研究。本文采用一个广泛研究的场地尺度概念模型,系统评估了海平面上升情景下内陆淡水边界条件对滨海含水层水文过程的影响。结果显示,海平面上升下:(i)HC条件下滨海含水层出现淡水通量下降效应,即淡水流动通量减少;(ii)FC条件下则出现水头提升效应,即淡水水头升高。分析还发现,HC含水层中的咸水楔移动响应呈现出更为持久的过渡过程,表明其对近期海平面变化的延续性响应。此外,HC系统中的淡水通量下降效应会改变整体含水层及其流域的滨海水量平衡,需要开展针对性的水文评价。相比之下,FC系统具有质量守恒特性,不会出现水量平衡失真问题,但其水头提升效应可能导致地势低洼且含水层厚度受限地区出现淹没风险。该研究有助于全面揭示海平面上升驱动下咸水入侵的机制,并为研究海平面上升影响时内陆边界条件的选择及其水文意义提供了理论支撑。

Resumo

A elevação do nível do mar (ENM) induzida por mudanças climáticas é amplamente percebida como um fator significativo para o aumento da intrusão de água salgada (IAS) em aquíferos costeiros. Estudos anteriores mostram que, dependendo da escolha das condições de contorno para água doce interior, os modelos preveem resultados contrastantes em relação à IAS devido à ENM. Enquanto simulações empregando condições de contorno para água doce controladas por carga (CC) mostram IAS adicional considerável, aquelas que usam condições de contorno para água doce controladas por fluxo (CF) mostram IAS adicional insignificante. No entanto, as implicações hidrológicas das condições de contorno para água doce interior nos balanços hídricos costeiros permanecem pouco exploradas. Aqui, um problema conceitual em escala de campo amplamente estudado é empregado para avaliar de forma abrangente as implicações hidrológicas das condições de contorno para água doce interior em aquíferos costeiros sujeitos à ENM. Os resultados mostram que aquíferos costeiros sujeitos à ENM sob: (i) condições CC sofrem um efeito de declínio de fluxo, no qual os fluxos de água doce reduzem; e (ii) as condições CF sofrem um efeito de elevação de carga em que as cargas de água doce aumentam. A análise mostra que os aquíferos CC apresentam respostas transitórias prolongadas no movimento da cunha salina, sugerindo respostas contínuas às recentes mudanças no nível do mar. Além disso, o efeito de declínio do fluxo em sistemas HC altera os balanços hidrológicos costeiros gerais do aquífero e da captação e requer avaliações hidrológicas apropriadas. Os sistemas CF, por outro lado, são conservadores em massa e não sofrem de artefatos de balanço hídrico hidrológico. No entanto, o efeito de elevação de carga em aquíferos CF pode causar inundação em regiões baixas com aquíferos topograficamente limitados. Este estudo ajuda a caracterizar de forma abrangente os mecanismos subjacentes por trás da IAS e as implicações hidrológicas da escolha das condições de contorno interiores para estudar os impactos da ENM.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the associate editor and the three anonymous reviewers for their comments, which have helped improve the quality of this manuscript. This research was in part supported by the following grants (i) Department of Science and Technology, India (Grant No: DST/CCP/CoE/141/2018(G)), and (ii) US National Science Foundation (Grant No:OIA 2019561).

Funding

This research was in part supported by the following grants (i) Department of Science and Technology, India (Grant No: DST/CCP/CoE/141/2018(G)), and (ii) US National Science Foundation (Grant No:OIA 2019561).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

    Rajagopal Sadhasivam & Venkatraman Srinivasan

  2. School of Sustainability, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

    Venkatraman Srinivasan

  3. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    T. Prabhakar Clement

Authors
  1. Rajagopal Sadhasivam
  2. Venkatraman Srinivasan
  3. T. Prabhakar Clement

Contributions

Rajagopal Sadhasivam: Conceptualization, Me-thodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Venkatraman Srinivasan: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. Prabhakar T. Clement: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – review & editing.

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Correspondence to Venkatraman Srinivasan.

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Sadhasivam, R., Srinivasan, V. & Clement, T.P. Hydrological implications of inland boundary conditions in coastal aquifers subject to sea level rise. Hydrogeol J 33, 1877–1895 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02974-4

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