An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers
For managing the freshwater in the worldwide coastal aquifers, it is imperative to understand the hydrogeochemical processes and flow patterns in the mixing freshwater/saltwater zone. The Egyptian Nile Delta aquifer is a typical example. The management of seawater intrusion (SWI) requires detailed i...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/7/1165 |
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| author | Hend S. Abu Salem Khaled S. Gemail Natalia Junakova Amin Ibrahim Ahmed M. Nosair |
| author_facet | Hend S. Abu Salem Khaled S. Gemail Natalia Junakova Amin Ibrahim Ahmed M. Nosair |
| author_sort | Hend S. Abu Salem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For managing the freshwater in the worldwide coastal aquifers, it is imperative to understand the hydrogeochemical processes and flow patterns in the mixing freshwater/saltwater zone. The Egyptian Nile Delta aquifer is a typical example. The management of seawater intrusion (SWI) requires detailed investigations of the intrusion wedge and the dynamic processes in the mixing zone. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach was applied based on holistic hydrogeochemical, statistical analysis, and DC resistivity measurements to investigate the lateral and vertical changes in groundwater characteristics undergoing salinization stressor. The results of cross plots and ionic deviations of major ions, hydrochemical facies evolution diagram (HFE-D), and seawater mixing index (SMI) were integrated with the resistivity results to show the status of the SWI where the intrusion phase predominates in ~2/3 of the study are (~70 km radius) and the compositional thresholds of Na, Mg, Cl, and SO<sub>4</sub> are 600, 145, 1200, and 600 mg/L, respectively, indicating that the wells with higher concentrations than these thresholds are affected by SWI. Moreover, the results demonstrate the efficiency of combining hydrogeochemical facies from heatmap and resistivity investigations to provide a large-scale characterization of natural and anthropogenic activities controlling aquifer salinization to support decision-makers for the long-term management of coastal groundwater. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:19:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7967a5a5edbc4652a7fada650adae4ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:19:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-7967a5a5edbc4652a7fada650adae4ae2023-12-01T00:23:00ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-04-01147116510.3390/w14071165An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal AquifersHend S. Abu Salem0Khaled S. Gemail1Natalia Junakova2Amin Ibrahim3Ahmed M. Nosair4Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptEnvironmental Geophysics Lab (ZEGL), Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, EgyptDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, 04200 Kosice, SlovakiaEnvironmental Geophysics Lab (ZEGL), Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, EgyptEnvironmental Geophysics Lab (ZEGL), Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, EgyptFor managing the freshwater in the worldwide coastal aquifers, it is imperative to understand the hydrogeochemical processes and flow patterns in the mixing freshwater/saltwater zone. The Egyptian Nile Delta aquifer is a typical example. The management of seawater intrusion (SWI) requires detailed investigations of the intrusion wedge and the dynamic processes in the mixing zone. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach was applied based on holistic hydrogeochemical, statistical analysis, and DC resistivity measurements to investigate the lateral and vertical changes in groundwater characteristics undergoing salinization stressor. The results of cross plots and ionic deviations of major ions, hydrochemical facies evolution diagram (HFE-D), and seawater mixing index (SMI) were integrated with the resistivity results to show the status of the SWI where the intrusion phase predominates in ~2/3 of the study are (~70 km radius) and the compositional thresholds of Na, Mg, Cl, and SO<sub>4</sub> are 600, 145, 1200, and 600 mg/L, respectively, indicating that the wells with higher concentrations than these thresholds are affected by SWI. Moreover, the results demonstrate the efficiency of combining hydrogeochemical facies from heatmap and resistivity investigations to provide a large-scale characterization of natural and anthropogenic activities controlling aquifer salinization to support decision-makers for the long-term management of coastal groundwater.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/7/1165seawater intrusion (SWI)hydrogeochemical faciesseawater mixing index (SMI)ionic deviationsDC resistivity methodNile Delta aquifer |
| spellingShingle | Hend S. Abu Salem Khaled S. Gemail Natalia Junakova Amin Ibrahim Ahmed M. Nosair An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers Water seawater intrusion (SWI) hydrogeochemical facies seawater mixing index (SMI) ionic deviations DC resistivity method Nile Delta aquifer |
| title | An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers |
| title_full | An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers |
| title_fullStr | An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers |
| title_short | An Integrated Approach for Deciphering Hydrogeochemical Processes during Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers |
| title_sort | integrated approach for deciphering hydrogeochemical processes during seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers |
| topic | seawater intrusion (SWI) hydrogeochemical facies seawater mixing index (SMI) ionic deviations DC resistivity method Nile Delta aquifer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/7/1165 |
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