Salinity and Temperature Variations near the Freshwater-Saltwater Interface in Coastal Aquifers Induced by Ocean Tides and Changes in Recharge

Abstract

The temperature distribution of shallow sectors of coastal aquifers are highly influenced by the atmospheric temperature and recharge. However, geothermal heat or vertical fluxes due to the presence of the saline wedge have more influence at deeper locations. In this study, using numerical models that account for variable density, periodic oscillations of temperature have been detected, and their origin has been attributed to the influence exerted by recharge and tides. The combined analysis of field data and numerical models showed that the alternation of dry and wet periods modifies heat distribution in deep zones (>100 m) of the aquifer. Oscillations with diurnal and semidiurnal frequencies have been detected for groundwater temperature, but they show differences in terms of amplitudes and delay with electrical conductivity (EC). The main driver of the temperature oscillations is the forward and backward displacement of the freshwater–saltwater interface, and the associated thermal plume generated by the upward flow from the aquifer basement. These oscillations are amplified at the interfaces between layers with different hydraulic conductivity, where thermal contours are affected by refraction.

Wavelet Analysis on Groundwater, Surface-Water Levels and Water Temperature in Doñana National Park (Coastal Aquifer in Southwestern Spain)

“…Finally, the fact that shallow-groundwater temperature and level exhibit a correlation at a 0.5 day period in the Santa Olalla pond can be attributed to dampened-temperature variations caused by the force of tidal fluctuations driving heat transport by advection and dispersion, as stated by other authors [47][48][49]. However, this will require further analysis, as it was not detected at the Dulce pond.…”

How groundwater temperature is affected by climate change: A systematic review

“…Other authors have studied GWT variations in coastal aquifers. Blanco-Coronas et al [ 48 ] examined temperature distribution in coastal aquifers. Periodic thermal oscillations are influenced by recharge and tides, with a greater impact in deeper areas.…”

Salinity Profiles in Coastal Aquifers: A Characterization Framework for Field Measurements

“…The causes of this are difficult to ascertain because this type of comparison is rarely attempted or analyzed in the existing literature, and we have limited our investigation to the curve‐fitting analysis described above. However, the use of flowmeters has been shown previously to be informative of complex flow dynamics within wells (e.g., Blanco‐Coronas et al., 2022; Kim et al., 2006; Park et al., 2012).…”