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Modelling the response of fresh groundwater to climate and vegetation changes in coral islands

Modéliser la réponse des eaux souterraines douces aux changements climatiques et de végétation dans les îles coralliennes

Modelación de la respuesta del agua subterránea dulce a los cambios climáticos y de vegetación en islas coralinas

模拟地下淡水对珊瑚岛气候和植被变化的响应

Modelação da resposta da água subterrânea doce às alterações no clima e na vegetação em ilhas de coral

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Abstract

In coral islands, groundwater is a crucial freshwater resource for terrestrial life, including human water supply. Response of the freshwater lens to expected climate changes and subsequent vegetation alterations is quantified for Grande Glorieuse, a low-lying coral island in the Western Indian Ocean. Distributed models of recharge, evapotranspiration and saltwater phytotoxicity are integrated into a variable-density groundwater model to simulate the evolution of groundwater salinity. Model results are assessed against field observations including groundwater and geophysical measurements. Simulations show the major control currently exerted by the vegetation with regards to the lens morphology and the high sensitivity of the lens to climate alterations, impacting both quantity and salinity. Long-term changes in mean sea level and climatic conditions (rainfall and evapotranspiration) are predicted to be responsible for an average increase in salinity approaching 140 % (+8 kg m−3) when combined. In low-lying areas with high vegetation density, these changes top +300 % (+10 kg m−3). However, due to salinity increase and its phytotoxicity, it is shown that a corollary drop in vegetation activity can buffer the alteration of fresh groundwater. This illustrates the importance of accounting for vegetation dynamics to study groundwater in coral islands.

Résumé

Dans les îles coralliennes, l’eau souterraine est une ressource d’eau douce cruciale pour la vie terrestre, y compris pour l’alimentation en eau humaine. La réponse de la lentille d’eau douce aux changements climatiques attendus et aux modifications de la végétation qui en découlent est quantifiée pour la Grande Glorieuse, une île corallienne basse de l'Ouest de l’Océan Indien. Des modèles distribués de la recharge, de l’évapotranspiration et de la phytotoxicité vis-à-vis du sel sont intégrés au sein d’un modèle d’eau souterraine à densité variable pour simuler l’évolution de la salinité de l’eau souterraine. Les résultats du modèle sont évalués au regard des observations de terrain, comprenant des mesures hydrogéologiques et géophysiques. Les simulations montrent le contrôle majeur exercé à l'heure actuelle par la végétation sur la morphologie de la lentille et la forte sensibilité de la lentille aux modifications du climat, qui ont des impacts à la fois quantitatifs et sur la salinité. Les changements à long terme et combinés du niveau moyen de la mer et des conditions climatiques (pluie et évapotranspiration) apparaissent comme responsables d’une augmentation moyenne de la salinité atteignant 140 % (+8 kg.m−3). Dans les zones basses avec une forte densité de végétation, ces changements atteignent jusqu'à +300 % (+10 kg.m−3). Cependant, du fait de l’augmentation de la salinité et de sa phytotoxicité, il est montré que la diminution résultante de l’activité de la végétation peut atténuer la dégradation des eaux souterraines. Cela illustre l’importance de prendre en compte la dynamique de la végétation lors de l’étude des eaux souterraines des îles coralliennes.

Resumen

En las islas coralinas, el agua subterránea es un recurso de agua dulce crítico para la vida terrestre, incluyendo el abastecimiento de agua para consumo humano. Se cuantifica la respuesta de las lentes de agua dulce a los cambios climáticos esperados y subsecuentes alteraciones de la vegetación en Grande Glorieuse, una isla coralina de baja altura en el Océano Indico Occidental. Se integraron modelos distribuidos de recarga, evapotranspiración y la fitotoxicidad de plantas en un modelo de agua subterránea de densidad variable para simular la evolución de la salinidad del agua subterránea. Los resultados del modelo se evalúan contra observaciones de campo incluyendo mediciones de agua subterránea y geofísicas. Las simulaciones muestran el gran control habitualmente ejercido por la vegetación en relación a la morfología de las lentes y la alta sensibilidad de las lentes a alteraciones climáticas, impactando sobre la cantidad y salinidad del agua subterránea. Se predice que la combinación de los cambios a largo plazo en el nivel medio del mar y en las condiciones climáticas (precipitación y evapotranspiración), es responsable de un incremento promedio en la salinidad que se aproxima a 140 % (+8 kg m−3). En áreas de baja altura con una alta densidad de vegetación, estos cambios alcanzan a +300 % (+10 kg m−3). Sin embargo, debido al incremento de salinidad y su fitotoxicidad, se muestra como corolario que una caída en la vegetación puede amortiguar la alteración del agua subterránea dulce. Esto ilustra la importancia de tener en cuenta la dinámica de la vegetación para estudiar el agua subterránea en islas coralinas.

摘要

在珊瑚岛上,地下水是陆地生活包括人类供水的重要淡水资源。本 文定量分析了西印度洋低洼珊瑚岛---Grande Glorieuse 岛的淡水透镜体 对预期气候变化和随后的植被变化的响应。补给、蒸发蒸腾和危害植物的 毒性等分布式模型整合为可变密度地下水模型,以模拟地下水盐度演化。 根据野外观测数据,包括地下水和地球物理测量数据评价了模型结果。模 拟结果显示了针对影响数量和盐度的透镜体形态和透镜体对气候变化高度 灵敏性目前植被所发挥的主要控制作用。预测了平均海平面和气象条件 (降水和蒸发蒸腾)的长期变化,结果显示这些长期变化加在一起使盐度增 加,接近140 % (+8 kg m−3)。在低洼地区由于植被密集,导致变化达到 + 300 % (+10 kg m−3)。然而,由于盐度增加及其危害植物的毒性,推论 的植被活动降低可缓冲地下淡水的改变。这说明研究珊瑚岛地下水,弄清 楚植被带动力学非常重要。

Resumo

Em ilhas de coral, a água subterrânea é um recurso crucial de água doce para a vida terrestre, incluindo o abastecimento humano. A resposta das lentes de água doce às expetáveis alterações climáticas e subsequentes alterações na vegetação é quantificada para a Grande Glorieuse, uma ilha baixa de coral no ocidente do Oceano Índico. Modelos distribuídos de recarga, evaporação e fitotoxicidade de plantas são integrados num modelo de águas subterrâneas de densidade variável para simular a evolução da salinidade da água subterrânea. Os resultados do modelo são aferidos através de observações de campo, incluindo dados de águas subterrâneas e geofísicos. As simulações mostram o controlo fundamental exercido atualmente pela vegetação em relação à morfologia das lentes e a alta sensibilidade das lentes em relação às alterações climáticas, impactando quer a quantidade, quer a salinidade. Quando combinadas, as alterações de longo prazo do nível dos oceanos e das condições climáticas (precipitação e evapotranspiração) são previsivelmente responsáveis por um incremento médio da salinidade na ordem dos 140 % (+8 kg m−3). Em áreas baixas com elevada densidade de vegetação, estas alterações atingem os +300 % (+10 kg m−3). No entanto, devido ao incremento da salinidade e à sua fitotoxicidade, mostra-se que uma redução na atividade da vegetação pode tamponar as alterações na água subterrânea doce. Isto ilustra a importância de contar com a dinâmica da vegetação para estudar a água subterrânea em ilhas de coral.

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Acknowledgements

This research was carried out within the scope of the French ANR research program by the Project “INTERFACE - Vulnerability and Climate”. Writing up of the manuscript was partially supported by the Griffith Geoscience Research Award, Ireland. We are grateful to Météo France for access to the temperature and precipitation records, provided through the Climathèque agreement between Météo France and the University of Reunion Island. We are also grateful to P. Bauer-Gottwein for kindly providing the source code of the modified version of SEAWAT that was applied to carry out the phytotoxicity simulations in the last model scenario as well as our colleague R. Cassidy for assistance in code implementation. We thank the associate editor K. Hinsby as well as A. Vandenbohede and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queen’s University Belfast, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AQ, Northern Ireland, UK

    Jean-Christophe Comte

  2. Laboratoire GéoSciences Réunion IPGP, CNRS, UMR 7154, University of Reunion Island, Reunion Island, France

    Jean-Lambert Join & Eric Nicolini

  3. Laboratoire d’Hydrogéologie, UMR 1114 EMMAH, University of Avignon-INRA, Avignon, France

    Olivier Banton

Authors
  1. Jean-Christophe Comte
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  2. Jean-Lambert Join
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  3. Olivier Banton
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  4. Eric Nicolini
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Correspondence to Jean-Christophe Comte.

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Comte, JC., Join, JL., Banton, O. et al. Modelling the response of fresh groundwater to climate and vegetation changes in coral islands. Hydrogeol J 22, 1905–1920 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1160-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1160-y

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