Geo-Environmental Approaches for the Analysis and Assessment of Groundwater Resources at Catchment-Scale

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 July 2021) | Viewed by 42519

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Special Issue Editors

Hellenic Agricultural Organisation, Soil and Water Resources Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: hydrogeochemistry; groundwater quality; groundwater salinization; environmental monitoring; hydrogeology; environmental isotopes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Soil and Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Gorgopotamou Str., Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: groundwater chemistry and hydrology; high frequency monitoring; data driven irrigation management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the variable and often diverse methodologies for the analysis and assessment of groundwater resources. These may include, but are not limited to, hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical modeling; environmental isotopes; environmental indicators and envirometrics; geostatistics; and artificial intelligence. The complexity of the different hydrological and hydrogeological set-ups, the hydrodynamic patterns, the site specifications, and the wide variability of internal and external factors and/or processes impacting groundwater quality and quantity on the catchment-scale level impose the need for combined integrated approaches of robust methods, leading to more accurate and reliable outcomes toward sustainable groundwater management. Sound knowledge of a studied groundwater system may reduce the uncertainty of predicting its future evolution, thus enabling its better management and protection whilst limiting the need to hypothesize. In line with the above goal, the Guest Editors will consider papers that will combine and jointly evaluate the outcomes of different methods, such as those described. The papers should reflect new insights on the joint application and co-assessment of these methods for groundwater resources and ideally explore new state-of-the-art methodological concepts in light of a rapidly changing environment impacted by external anthropogenic stresses (e.g., climate change impact, urbanization, intense agriculture, droughts, water scarcity, overexploitation of water reserves) or inherent geogenic factors (e.g., geological regime, natural processes). Theoretical approaches, lab experimentation, and successful field test cases are equally welcome to serve as paradigms for the international scientific community to be inspired by and adopt.

Dr. Evangelos Tziritis
Dr. Andreas Panagopoulos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • hydrogeology
  • hydrogeochemisrty
  • modeling
  • isotope hydrology
  • environmental indicators
  • geostatistics
  • artificial intelligence

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 158 KiB  
Editorial
Geo-Environmental Approaches for the Analysis and Assessment of Groundwater Resources at the Catchment Scale
by Evangelos Tziritis and Andreas Panagopoulos
Water 2022, 14(7), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071085 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
Groundwater resources constitute nearly one-third of the globe’s freshwater resources [...] Full article

Research

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25 pages, 8523 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Vulnerability Analysis of Tirnavos Basin, Central Greece: An Application of RIVA Method
by Ioannis Vrouhakis, Evangelos Tziritis, Georgios Stamatis and Andreas Panagopoulos
Water 2022, 14(4), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14040534 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2002
Abstract
A novel index-based method (RIVA) for assessing intrinsic groundwater vulnerability was applied to Tirnavos basin (central Greece) to assess the susceptibility to surface-released contamination. Data from field surveys, previous studies, and literature were used to calculate the factors that compile the RIVA method. [...] Read more.
A novel index-based method (RIVA) for assessing intrinsic groundwater vulnerability was applied to Tirnavos basin (central Greece) to assess the susceptibility to surface-released contamination. Data from field surveys, previous studies, and literature were used to calculate the factors that compile the RIVA method. The aggregated results delineated the spatial distribution of groundwater vulnerability from very low to very high. The modelled results were successfully validated with ground-truth values of nitrates obtained from 43 boreholes. Overall, the modelled and the monitored values match more than 80%, indicating the successful application of the RIVA method. Few deviations were observed in areas dominantly affected by lateral crossflows and contamination from adjacent areas. RIVA proved an efficient method in terms of accuracy, data intensity, and investment to reach highly accurate results. Overall, RIVA proved to be a robust tool for reliable groundwater vulnerability assessments and could be further exploited for risk assessment and decision-making processes in the context of groundwater resource management. Full article
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37 pages, 17072 KiB  
Article
Hydrogeochemical Processes and Natural Background Levels of Chromium in an Ultramafic Environment. The Case Study of Vermio Mountain, Western Macedonia, Greece
by Eleni Vasileiou, Panagiotis Papazotos, Dimitrios Dimitrakopoulos and Maria Perraki
Water 2021, 13(20), 2809; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202809 - 09 Oct 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2596
Abstract
The hydrogeochemical processes and natural background levels (NBLs) of chromium in the ultramafic environment of Vermio Mountain, Western Macedonia, Greece, were studied. Seventy groundwater samples were collected from 15 natural springs between 2014–2020, and an extensive set of physical and chemical parameters were [...] Read more.
The hydrogeochemical processes and natural background levels (NBLs) of chromium in the ultramafic environment of Vermio Mountain, Western Macedonia, Greece, were studied. Seventy groundwater samples were collected from 15 natural springs between 2014–2020, and an extensive set of physical and chemical parameters were determined. The ultramafic-dominated environment of western Vermio Mt. favors elevated groundwater concentrations of dissolved magnesium (Mg2+), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), and Cr in natural spring waters. Chromium was the principal environmental parameter that exhibited a wide range of concentrations, from 0.5 to 131.5 μg/L, systematically exceeding the permissible limit of 50 μg/L for drinking water. Statistical evaluation of hydrogeological, hydrochemical, and hydrological data highlighted the water-ultramafic rock process as the predominant contributor of Cr in groundwater. The NBL assessment for Cr and Cr(VI) was successfully applied to the typical ultramafic-dominated spring “Potistis” that satisfied all the methodology criteria. The NBLs of Cr and Cr(VI) were defined at 130 μg/L and 100 μg/L, respectively, revealing that a natural ultramafic-dominated environment exhibits the geochemical potential to contribute very high concentrations of geogenic Cr to groundwater. The holistic methodology, proposed herein, could be implemented in any catchment scale to assess geogenic and anthropogenic Cr-sources that degrade groundwater quality. Full article
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16 pages, 5252 KiB  
Article
Aquifer Parameters Estimation from Natural Groundwater Level Fluctuations at the Mexican Wine-Producing Region Guadalupe Valley, BC
by Mario A. Fuentes-Arreazola, Jorge Ramírez-Hernández, Rogelio Vázquez-González, Diana Núñez, Alejandro Díaz-Fernández and Javier González-Ramírez
Water 2021, 13(17), 2437; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13172437 - 04 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2729
Abstract
Determining hydrogeological properties of the rock materials that constitute an aquifer through stress tests or laboratory tests presents inherent complications. An alternative tool that has significant advantages is the study of the groundwater-level response as a result of the pore-pressure variation caused by [...] Read more.
Determining hydrogeological properties of the rock materials that constitute an aquifer through stress tests or laboratory tests presents inherent complications. An alternative tool that has significant advantages is the study of the groundwater-level response as a result of the pore-pressure variation caused by the internal structure deformation of the aquifer induced by barometric pressure and solid Earth tide. The purpose of this study was to estimate the values of the physical/hydraulic properties of the geological materials that constitute the Guadalupe Valley Aquifer based on the analysis of the groundwater-level response to barometric pressure and solid Earth tide. Representative values of specific storage (1.27 × 10−6 to 2.78 × 10−6 m−1), porosity (14–34%), storage coefficient (3.10 × 10−5 to 10.45 × 10−5), transmissivity (6.67 × 10−7 to 1.29 × 10−4 m2∙s−1), and hydraulic conductivity (2.30 × 10−3 to 2.97 × 10−1 m∙d−1) were estimated. The values obtained are consistent with the type of geological materials identified in the vicinity of the analyzed wells and values reported in previous studies. This analysis represents helpful information that can be considered a framework to design and assess management strategies for groundwater resources in the overexploited Guadalupe Valley Aquifer. Full article
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37 pages, 14478 KiB  
Article
Spatial Prediction of Groundwater Potentiality in Large Semi-Arid and Karstic Mountainous Region Using Machine Learning Models
by Mustapha Namous, Mohammed Hssaisoune, Biswajeet Pradhan, Chang-Wook Lee, Abdullah Alamri, Abdenbi Elaloui, Mohamed Edahbi, Samira Krimissa, Hasna Eloudi, Mustapha Ouayah, Hicham Elhimer and Tarik Tagma
Water 2021, 13(16), 2273; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162273 - 19 Aug 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3126
Abstract
The drinking and irrigation water scarcity is a major global issue, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones. In rural areas, groundwater could be used as an alternative and additional water supply source in order to reduce human suffering in terms of water scarcity. [...] Read more.
The drinking and irrigation water scarcity is a major global issue, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones. In rural areas, groundwater could be used as an alternative and additional water supply source in order to reduce human suffering in terms of water scarcity. In this context, the purpose of the present study is to facilitate groundwater potentiality mapping via spatial-modelling techniques, individual and ensemble machine-learning models. Random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) are the main algorithms used in this study. The preparation of groundwater potentiality maps was assembled into 11 ensembles of models. Overall, about 374 groundwater springs was identified and inventoried in the mountain area. The spring inventory data was randomly divided into training (75%) and testing (25%) datasets. Twenty-four groundwater influencing factors (GIFs) were selected based on a multicollinearity test and the information gain calculation. The results of the groundwater potentiality mapping were validated using statistical measures and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) method. Finally, a ranking of the 15 models was achieved with the prioritization rank method using the compound factor (CF) method. The ensembles of models are the most stable and suitable for groundwater potentiality mapping in mountainous aquifers compared to individual models based on success and prediction rate. The most efficient model using the area under the curve validation method is the RF-LR-DT-ANN ensemble of models. Moreover, the results of the prioritization rank indicate that the best models are the RF-DT and RF-LR-DT ensembles of models. Full article
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17 pages, 4044 KiB  
Article
Freshwater–Saltwater Interactions in a Multilayer Coastal Aquifer (Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, Central ITALY)
by Margherita Bonamico, Paola Tuccimei, Lucia Mastrorillo and Roberto Mazza
Water 2021, 13(13), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13131866 - 04 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3234
Abstract
An integrated research approach consisting of hydrogeologic and geochemical methods was applied to a coastal aquifer in the Ostia Antica archaeological park, Roma, Italy, to describe freshwater–saltwater interactions. The archaeological park of Ostia Antica is located on the left bank of the Tevere [...] Read more.
An integrated research approach consisting of hydrogeologic and geochemical methods was applied to a coastal aquifer in the Ostia Antica archaeological park, Roma, Italy, to describe freshwater–saltwater interactions. The archaeological park of Ostia Antica is located on the left bank of the Tevere River delta which developed on a morphologically depressed area. The water monitoring program included the installation of multiparametric probes in some wells inside the archaeological area, with continuous measurement of temperature, electrical conductivity, and water table level. Field surveys, water sampling, and major elements and bromide analyses were carried out on a seasonal basis in 2016. In order to understand the detailed stratigraphic setting of the area, three surface boreholes were accomplished. Two distinct circulations were identified during the dry season, with local interaction in the rainy period: an upper one within the archaeological cover, less saline and with recharge inland; and a deeper one in the alluvial materials of Tevere River, affected by salinization. Oxygen and carbon isotopic signature of calcite in the sediments extracted from the boreholes, along with major elements and Br concentration, allowed us to recognize the sources of salinity (mainly, local interaction with Roman salt pans and agricultural practices) and the processes of gas–water–rock interaction occurring in the area. All these inferences were confirmed and strengthened by PCA analysis of physicochemical data of groundwater. Full article
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19 pages, 7591 KiB  
Article
Development of Seawater Intrusion Vulnerability Assessment for Averaged Seasonality of Using Modified GALDIT Method
by Il Hwan Kim, Il-Moon Chung and Sun Woo Chang
Water 2021, 13(13), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13131820 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2404
Abstract
Climate change and anthropogenic activities are necessitating accurate diagnoses of seawater intrusion (SWI) to ensure the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources in coastal areas. Here, vulnerability to SWI was assessed by classifying the existing GALDIT into static parameters (groundwater occurrence (G), aquifer hydraulic [...] Read more.
Climate change and anthropogenic activities are necessitating accurate diagnoses of seawater intrusion (SWI) to ensure the sustainable utilization of groundwater resources in coastal areas. Here, vulnerability to SWI was assessed by classifying the existing GALDIT into static parameters (groundwater occurrence (G), aquifer hydraulic conductivity (A), and distance from shore (D)) and dynamic parameters (height to groundwater-level above sea-level (L), impact of existing status of seawater intrusion (I), and aquifer thickness (T)). When assessing the vulnerability of SWI based on observational data (2010–2019), 10-year-averaged data of each month is used for GALDIT dynamic parameter for representing the seasonal characteristics of local water cycles. In addition, the parameter L is indicated by the data observed at the sea-level station adjacent to the groundwater level station. The existing GALDIT method has a range of scores that can be divided into quartiles to express the observed values. To sensitively reflect monthly changes in values, the range of scores is divided into deciles. The calculated GALDIT index showed that the most vulnerable month is September, due to relatively low groundwater level. The proposed method can be used to apply countermeasures to vulnerable coastal areas and build water resources management plan considering vulnerable seasons. Full article
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24 pages, 4628 KiB  
Article
Groundwater of the Modder River Catchment of South Africa: A Sustainability Prediction
by Saheed Adeyinka Oke and Rebecca Alowo
Water 2021, 13(7), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070936 - 29 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6761
Abstract
This paper presents a spatial interpolation of the hydrological and socioeconomic processes impacting groundwater systems to predict the sustainability of the Modder river catchment of South Africa. These processes are grouped as climatic (factor A), aquifer sustainability (factor D), social-economic and land use [...] Read more.
This paper presents a spatial interpolation of the hydrological and socioeconomic processes impacting groundwater systems to predict the sustainability of the Modder river catchment of South Africa. These processes are grouped as climatic (factor A), aquifer sustainability (factor D), social-economic and land use (factor B), and the human-induced parameters of rights and equity (factor C). The parameters evaluated for factors A and D included climatic zones, precipitation, sunshine, evapotranspiration, slope, topography, recharge, yields, storativity, aquifer types, and lithology/rock types. Factors B and C included population in the catchment, use per capita, water uses, tariffs and duration of the permits, pump rate per year, number of issued permits per year in the catchment, and number of boreholes in the sub-catchment. This paper, therefore, looks at the impact of the average values of the chosen set of parameters within the given factors A, B, C and D on groundwater in the C52 catchment of the Modder River, as modelled in a sustainability index. C52 is an Upper Orange catchment in South Africa. The results are presented in sustainability maps predicting areas in the catchment with differing groundwater dynamics. The Modder River groundwater sustainability ranged between low and moderate sustainability. The sustainability maps were validated with actual field groundwater recharge and surface water, a comparison between storativity and licensed volume, and a comparison of sustainability scores and storativity. The key finding in this paper will assist groundwater managers and users to adequately plan groundwater resources, especially on licensing and over pumping. Full article
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24 pages, 11291 KiB  
Article
Hydrogeochemical and Hydrodynamic Assessment of Tirnavos Basin, Central Greece
by Ioannis Vrouhakis, Evangelos Tziritis, Andreas Panagopoulos and Georgios Stamatis
Water 2021, 13(6), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060759 - 11 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2869
Abstract
A combined hydrogeochemical and hydrodynamic characterization for the assessment of key aspects related to groundwater resources management was performed in a highly productive agricultural basin of the Thessaly region in central Greece. A complementary suite of tools and methods—including graphical processing, hydrogeochemical modeling, [...] Read more.
A combined hydrogeochemical and hydrodynamic characterization for the assessment of key aspects related to groundwater resources management was performed in a highly productive agricultural basin of the Thessaly region in central Greece. A complementary suite of tools and methods—including graphical processing, hydrogeochemical modeling, multivariate statistics and environmental isotopes—have been applied to a comprehensive dataset of physicochemical analyses and water level measurements. Results revealed that the initial hydrogeochemistry of groundwater was progressively impacted by secondary phenomena (e.g., ion exchange and redox reactions) which were clearly delineated into distinct zones according to data processing. The progressive evolution of groundwater was further verified by the variation of the saturation indices of critical minerals. In addition, the combined use of water level measurements delineated the major pathways of groundwater flow. Interestingly, the additional joint assessment of environmental isotopes revealed a new pathway from E–NE (which had never before been validated), thus highlighting the importance of the joint tools/methods application in complex scientific tasks. The application of multivariate statistics identified the dominant processes that control hydrogeochemistry and fit well with identified hydrodynamic mechanisms. These included (as dominant factor) the salinization impact due to the combined use of irrigation water return and evaporitic mineral leaching, as well as the impact of the geogenic calcareous substrate (mainly karstic calcareous formations and dolostones). Secondary factors, acting as processes (e.g., redox and ion exchange), were identified and found to be in line with initial assessment, thus validating the overall characterization. Finally, the outcomes may prove to be valuable in the progression toward sustainable groundwater resources management. The results have provided spatial and temporal information for significant parameters, sources, and processes—which, as a methodological approach, could be adopted in similar cases of other catchments. Full article
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33 pages, 11919 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Modeling System for the Evaluation of Water Resources in Coastal Agricultural Watersheds: Application in Almyros Basin, Thessaly, Greece
by Aikaterini Lyra, Athanasios Loukas, Pantelis Sidiropoulos, Georgios Tziatzios and Nikitas Mylopoulos
Water 2021, 13(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030268 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3323
Abstract
This study presents an integrated modeling system for the evaluation of the quantity and quality of water resources of coastal agricultural watersheds. The modeling system consists of coupled and interrelated models, including (i) a surface hydrology model (UTHBAL), (ii) a groundwater hydrology model [...] Read more.
This study presents an integrated modeling system for the evaluation of the quantity and quality of water resources of coastal agricultural watersheds. The modeling system consists of coupled and interrelated models, including (i) a surface hydrology model (UTHBAL), (ii) a groundwater hydrology model (MODFLOW), (iii) a crop growth/nitrate leaching model (REPIC, an R-ArcGIS-based EPIC model), (iv) a groundwater contaminant transport model (MT3DMS), and (v) a groundwater seawater intrusion model (SEAWAT). The efficacy of the modeling system to simulate the quantity and quality of water resources has been applied to the Almyros basin in Thessaly, Greece. It is a coastal agricultural basin with irrigated and intensified agriculture facing serious groundwater problems, such as groundwater depletion, nitrate pollution, and seawater intrusion. Irrigation demands were estimated for the main crops cultivated in the area, based on precipitation and temperature from regional weather stations. The models have been calibrated and validated against time-series of observed crop yields, groundwater table observations, and observed concentrations of nitrates and chlorides. The results indicate that the modeling system simulates the water resources quantity and quality with increased accuracy. The proposed modeling system could be used as a tool for the simulation of water resources management and climate change scenarios. Full article
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25 pages, 9879 KiB  
Article
Checking the Plausibility of Modelled Nitrate Concentrations in the Leachate on Federal State Scale in Germany
by Tim Wolters, Nils Cremer, Michael Eisele, Frank Herrmann, Peter Kreins, Ralf Kunkel and Frank Wendland
Water 2021, 13(2), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13020226 - 18 Jan 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2721
Abstract
In Germany, modelled nitrate concentrations in the leachate are of great importance for the development of scenarios for the long-term achievement of the groundwater quality target according to the specific requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive as well as within the context [...] Read more.
In Germany, modelled nitrate concentrations in the leachate are of great importance for the development of scenarios for the long-term achievement of the groundwater quality target according to the specific requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive as well as within the context of the recently adopted general administrative regulation for the designation of nitrate-polluted areas in Germany. For the German federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP), an area-covering modelling of mean long-term nitrate concentrations in leachate with high spatial resolution was carried out using the model system RAUMIS-mGROWA-DENUZ. Hotspot regions with nitrate concentrations in the leachate of 50 mg NO3/L and more were identified for intensively farmed areas in the Münsterland, Lower Rhine, and Vorderpfalz. The validity of modelled values was checked using measured values from 1119 preselected monitoring stations from shallow springs and aquifers filtered near to the surface with oxidizing properties. For the land use categories of urban areas, arable land, grassland, and forest, an at least good agreement of modelled nitrate concentrations in the leachate and measured nitrate concentrations in groundwater was obtained at numerous sites. An equally good agreement was obtained for 1461 measuring stations from the area of responsibility of the Erftverband, which is a major water supplier in the Lower Rhine region. Here, discrepancies have been analyzed in detail due to profound regional knowledge on observation sites. It turned out that in most cases, accuracy limitations of input data (e.g., N balance surpluses of agriculture at the municipal level, 1:50,000 soil map) have been the reason for larger deviations between observed and modelled values. In a broader sense, the case study has shown on the one hand that the model system RAUMIS-mGROWA-DENUZ is able to reliably represent interrelationships and influencing factors that determine simulated nitrate concentrations in the leachate. On the other hand, it has been proven that observed nitrate concentrations in groundwater may provide a solid data source for checking the plausibility of modelled nitrate concentrations in leachate in cases where certain preselection criteria are applied. Full article
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25 pages, 5349 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Effects of Agricultural Water Management in a Mediterranean Coastal Aquifer under Current and Projected Climate Conditions
by Vassilios Pisinaras, Charalampos Paraskevas and Andreas Panagopoulos
Water 2021, 13(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13010108 - 05 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4150
Abstract
Coastal delta plains are areas with high agricultural potential for the Mediterranean region because of their high soil fertility, but they also constitute fragile systems in terms of water resources management because of the interaction of underlying aquifers with the sea. Such a [...] Read more.
Coastal delta plains are areas with high agricultural potential for the Mediterranean region because of their high soil fertility, but they also constitute fragile systems in terms of water resources management because of the interaction of underlying aquifers with the sea. Such a case is the Pinios River delta plain located in central Greece, which also constitutes a significant ecosystem. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and SEAWAT models were combined in order to simulate the impact of current water resources management practices in main groundwater budget components and groundwater salinization of the shallow aquifer developed in the area. Moreover, potential climate change impact was investigated using climate data from Regional Climate Model for two projected periods (2021–2050 and 2071–2100) and two sea level rise scenarios (increase by 0.5 and 1 m). Modeling results are providing significant insight: although the contribution of the river to groundwater inflows is significant, direct groundwater recharge from precipitation was found to be higher, while capillary rise constitutes a major part of groundwater outflows from the aquifer. Moreover, during the simulation period, groundwater flow from the aquifer to the sea were found to be higher than the inflows of seawater to the aquifer. Regarding climate change impact assessment, the results indicate that the variability in groundwater recharge posed by the high variability of precipitation during the projected periods is increasing the aquifer’s deterioration potential of both its quantity and quality status, the latter expressed by the increased groundwater Cl concentration. This evidence becomes more significant because of the limited groundwater storage capacity of the aquifer. Concerning sea level rise, it was found to be less significant in terms of groundwater salinization impact compared to the decrease in groundwater recharge and increase in crop water needs. Full article
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21 pages, 3642 KiB  
Article
Drought Index as Indicator of Salinization of the Salento Aquifer (Southern Italy)
by Maria Rosaria Alfio, Gabriella Balacco, Alessandro Parisi, Vincenzo Totaro and Maria Dolores Fidelibus
Water 2020, 12(7), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12071927 - 06 Jul 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2727
Abstract
Salento peninsula (Southern Italy) hosts a coastal carbonate and karst aquifer. The semi-arid climate is favourable to human settlement and the development of tourism and agricultural activities, which involve high water demand and groundwater exploitation rates, in turn causing groundwater depletion and salinization. [...] Read more.
Salento peninsula (Southern Italy) hosts a coastal carbonate and karst aquifer. The semi-arid climate is favourable to human settlement and the development of tourism and agricultural activities, which involve high water demand and groundwater exploitation rates, in turn causing groundwater depletion and salinization. In the last decades these issues worsened because of the increased frequency of droughts, which emerges from the analysis of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), calculated during 1949–2011 on the base of monthly precipitation. Groundwater level series and chloride concentrations, collected over the extreme drought period 1989–1990, allow a qualitative assessment of groundwater behaviour, highlighting the concurrent groundwater drought and salinization. Full article
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