Modelling the effects of tides and storm surges on coastal aquifers using a coupled surface-subsurface approach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Jie Yang
  • Thomas Graf
  • Maria Herold
  • Thomas Ptak

External Research Organisations

  • University of Göttingen
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-75
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of contaminant hydrology
Volume149
Early online date26 Mar 2013
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

Abstract

Coastal aquifers are complex hydrologic systems because many physical processes interact: (i) variably saturated flow, (ii) spatial-temporal fluid density variations, (iii) tidal fluctuations, (iv) storm surges overtopping dykes, and (v) surface runoff of storm water. The HydroGeoSphere model is used to numerically simulate coastal flow dynamics, assuming a fully coupled surface-subsurface approach, accounting for all processes listed above. The diffusive wave approximation of the St. Venant equation is used to describe surface flow. Surface flow and salt transport are fully coupled with subsurficial variably saturated, variable-density flow and salt transport through mathematical terms that represent exchange of fluid mass and solute mass, respectively. Tides and storm surges induce a time-variant head that is applied to nodes of the surface domain. The approach is applied to real cases of tide and storm surge events. Tide simulation results confirm the existence of a recirculating zone, forming beneath the upper part of the intertidal zone. By monitoring the exchange fluid flux rates through the beach, it was found that the major inflow to the aquifer takes place at the upper part of the intertidal zone, which explains the formation of the recirculating zone. The recirculating zone is forming particularly during rising tide. Results from a storm surge simulation show that plume fingers develop below the flooded land surface. Natural remediation by seaward flowing freshwater is relatively slow, such that reducing the salt concentration in the aquifer down to drinking water standards takes up to 10 years.

Keywords

    Coupled approach, Seawater intrusion, Storm surge, Tide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Modelling the effects of tides and storm surges on coastal aquifers using a coupled surface-subsurface approach. / Yang, Jie; Graf, Thomas; Herold, Maria et al.
In: Journal of contaminant hydrology, Vol. 149, 06.2013, p. 61-75.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Yang J, Graf T, Herold M, Ptak T. Modelling the effects of tides and storm surges on coastal aquifers using a coupled surface-subsurface approach. Journal of contaminant hydrology. 2013 Jun;149:61-75. Epub 2013 Mar 26. doi: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2013.03.002
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