Abstract
This study investigated the saltwater upconing mechanism in fractured coastal aquifers. Head-induced saline intrusion was initiated into three narrow sandbox aquifers containing individual horizontal discontinuities placed on different positions. Subsequently, using a peristaltic pump, freshwater was abstracted from the aquifers’ center, triggering saltwater upconing. Progressively larger pumping rates were applied until critical conditions, resulting in the wells’ salinization, were achieved. Advanced image analysis algorithms were utilized to recreate the saltwater concentration fields and quantify the extent of the saline wedges with a high accuracy. A numerical model was successfully employed to simulate the laboratory results and conduct a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, further expanding the findings of this investigation. The impact of the fractures’ length, permeability and position on the upconing mechanism was identified. It was established that the presence of high permeability discontinuities significantly affected aquifer hydrodynamics. The conclusions of this study could constitute a contribution towards the successful management of real-world fractured coastal aquifers.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 3331 |
Number of pages | 31 |
Journal | Water |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 24 Nov 2021 |
Keywords
- Pumping-induced saltwater intrusion, Fractures, Well salinization, Sandbox experiments, Discrete fracture matrix model, SUTRA
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Laboratory and numerical study of saltwater upconing in fractured coastal aquifers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Student theses
-
Characterising the hydrodynamic interactions due to natural and pumping-induced saltwater intrusion in a coastal aquifer
McDonnell, M. C. (Author), Hamill, G. (Supervisor) & Flynn, R. (Supervisor), Dec 2023Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
-
Machine learning assisted, laboratory and numerical study of saltwater intrusion in stratified and fractured coastal aquifers
Etsias, G. (Author), Hamill, G. (Supervisor) & Flynn, R. (Supervisor), Dec 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
File