Drought Index as Indicator of Salinization of the Salento Aquifer (Southern Italy)

Abstract

<jats:p>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.</jats:p>

Xylella fastidiosa and Drought Stress in Olive Trees: A Complex Relationship Mediated by Soluble Sugars

“…No cure is currently available, and according to several studies, the spread of Xf could cost billions of euros over the next years [ 16 , 17 ]. In addition, it is necessary to underline that the bacterium has spread in a territory, the Salento peninsula, characterized by frequent droughts [ 18 ]. A condition that in the past has favored the large development of olive growing, particularly suited to the soil and climatic conditions of the territory—as well as in many Mediterranean areas—and which has promoted a wide use of cv Cellina di Nardò, considered particularly resistant to drought, but which, as mentioned, is unfortunately very susceptible to the bacterium.…”

Hydrochemical Indicators Analysis of Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Karstic Aquifers on the Example of the Bokanjac-Poličnik Catchment Area in Zadar, Croatia

“…Analysis of the chlorine concentrations in groundwater in various parts of that area was conducted to demonstrate this increase due to two possible reasons-the natural conditions of circulation of groundwater and sea in the wider area of their leakage, as well as depletion of water supplies in adverse hydrological conditions. Additionally, increases in chloride content occur during prolonged droughts periods in the form of gradual rise in chloride content or during such prolonged droughts periods as a result of significant precipitation [29].…”

Application of short time series analysis for the hydrodynamic characterization of a coastal karst aquifer: the Salento aquifer (Southern Italy)

“…The rainfall depth is low (600-700 mm/year) and precipitation mainly occurs in the autumn-winter period (October-March). Alfio et al (2020) analysed the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for the Salento aquifer from 1949 to 2011 on the basis of monthly precipitation. They verified the presence of several drought periods during this time, including a variable severity one, from mild to severe that occurred between 2006 and 2008.…”

“…As there is also a lack of freshwater springs and extra-regional water resources, Salento relies on groundwater as the only source of supply for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes. Groundwater over-exploitation started in the 1960s, consequent to the demographical and economic development, thus causing a relentless groundwater quantity reduction and quality deterioration (Cotecchia et al 2005;Polemio 2005;De Filippis et al 2019;Alfio et al 2020;Di Nunno & Granata 2020). Because of the current exploitation regime and the projected climate change induced impacts, knowledge of the hydrodynamic response of the aquifer to precipitation is a crucial aspect for present and future water management.…”