Abstract
Considering the current poor understanding of the seawater–freshwater (SW–FW) interaction pattern at dynamic hydro-geological boundary of coastal aquifers, this work strives to study tidal effect on groundwater quality using chemical tracers combined with environmental isotopes. In situ measurement data of electrical conductivity and groundwater level along with laboratory measurement data of hydro-chemical species were compared with tidal level data measured by Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, Saijo City, Japan for time series analysis. Result shows that diurnal tides have significant effect on groundwater level as well as its chemical characteristics; however, the magnitude of effect is different in case of different aquifers. Various scatter diagrams were plotted in order to infer mechanisms responsible for water quality change with tidal phase, and results show that cations exchange, selective movement and local SW–FW mixing were likely to be the main processes responsible for water quality changes. It was also found that geological structure of the aquifers is the most important factor affecting the intensity of tidal effect on water quality.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are highly thankful to the Monbu-kagakusho (MEXT) Japanese Government fellowship which helped to pursue research. Authors also want to put on record contribution of Dr. Ki-Cheo Shin for providing the necessary logistic support to conduct experiments at RIHN, Kyoto, Japan. Authors also want to give their gratitude to Mr. Koichi Sakakibara, Mr. Wataru Yamada and all members of life and environment section, Municipal office of Saijo City for their valuable help to our field work.
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Kumar, P., Tsujimura, M., Nakano, T. et al. Time series analysis for the estimation of tidal fluctuation effect on different aquifers in a small coastal area of Saijo plain, Ehime prefecture, Japan. Environ Geochem Health 35, 239–250 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-012-9479-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-012-9479-6