Tidal dynamics and especially storm surges can have an extensive impact on coastal fresh groundwater resources. Combined with the prospect of sea‐level rise and the reliance of many people on these resources, this demonstrates the need to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas to these threats. In this study, we investigated the impact of tides and storm surges on coastal groundwater at a pilot location on the Dutch coast (viz., the Sand Engine). To monitor changes in groundwater salinity under a variety of conditions, we performed automated measurements with electrical resistivity tomography for a period of 2 months between November 2014 and January 2015. The obtained resistivity images were converted to salinity images, and these images served effectively as observations of the impact of tidal fluctuations, saltwater overwash during storm surges, and the recovery of the freshwater lens after land‐surface inundations. Most of the observed changes in groundwater head and salinity could be reproduced with a two‐dimensional variable‐density groundwater flow and salt transport model. This shows that groundwater models can be used to make accurate predictions of the impact of tides and storm surges on fresh groundwater resources, given a thorough understanding of the (local) system. Comparisons of measurements and model simulations also showed that morphological changes and wave run‐up can have a strong impact on the extent of land‐surface inundations in (low‐elevation) dynamic coastal environments, and can therefore substantially affect coastal fresh groundwater resources.
Abstract. For a large beach nourishment called the Sand Engine – constructed in 2011 at the Dutch coast – we have examined the impact of coastal forcing (i.e. natural processes that drive coastal hydro- and morphodynamics) and groundwater recharge on the growth of a fresh groundwater lens between 2011 and 2016. Measurements of the morphological change and the tidal dynamics at the study site were incorporated in a calibrated three-dimensional and variable-density groundwater model of the study area. Simulations with this model showed that the detailed incorporation of both the local hydro- and morphodynamics and the actual recharge rate can result in a reliable reconstruction of the growth in fresh groundwater resources. In contrast, the neglect of tidal dynamics, land-surface inundations, and morphological changes in model simulations can result in considerable overestimations of the volume of fresh groundwater. In particular, wave runup and coinciding coastal erosion during storm surges limit the growth in fresh groundwater resources in dynamic coastal environments, and should be considered at potential nourishment sites to delineate the area that is vulnerable to salinization.
Abstract. The anticipation of sea-level rise and increases in extreme weather conditions has led to the initiation of an innovative coastal management project called the Sand Engine. In this pilot project a large volume of sand (21.5 million m 3 ) -also called sand replenishment or nourishment -was placed on the Dutch coast. The intention is that the sand is redistributed by wind, current, and tide, reinforcing local coastal defence structures and leading to a unique, dynamic environment. In this study we investigated the potential effect of the long-term morphological evolution of the large sand replenishment and climate change on fresh groundwater resources. The potential effects on the local groundwater system were quantified with a calibrated three-dimensional (3-D) groundwater model, in which both variable-density groundwater flow and salt transport were simulated. Model simulations showed that the long-term morphological evolution of the Sand Engine results in a substantial growth of fresh groundwater resources, in all adopted climate change scenarios. Thus, the application of a local sand replenishment could provide coastal areas the opportunity to combine coastal protection with an increase of the local fresh groundwater availability.
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