Stack unit mapping of coastal aquifer to predict and control sea water intrusion using remote sensing and a geographical information system

Abstract

Abstract:Aquifers are inherently susceptible to contamination and coastal aquifers in specific are highly vulnerable to sea water intrusion. For efficient planning and management of coastal aquifers in Kayalpattu and Tiruchopuram villages, which extend over 4Ð05 km 2 , it is essential to delineate and predict the extent of intrusion into the shallow aquifer. Management of ground water in coastal aquifers is composed of major elements that should be properly evaluated, and special attention is given to the sea water intrusion problem. Different data, like hydro-geomorphological and depth-wise iso-apparent resistivity, are integrated spatially using a geographical information system. The stack-unit mapping approach is used to delineate the zones with iso-apparent resistivity of less than 10 m have been found to be increasing in areal extent with reference to depth.