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Geophysical characterization of the complex dynamics of groundwater and seawater exchange in a highly stressed aquifer system linked to a coastal lagoon (SE Spain)

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 70, pages 2271–2282 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Anthropogenic pressure influences the two-way interactions between shallow aquifers and coastal lagoons. Aquifer overexploitation may lead to seawater intrusion, and aquifer recharge from rainfall plus irrigation may, in turn, increase the groundwater discharge into the lagoon. We analyse the evolution, since the 1950s up to the present, of the interactions between the Campo de Cartagena Quaternary aquifer and the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain). This is a very heterogeneous and anisotropic detrital aquifer, where aquifer–lagoon interface has a very irregular geometry. Using electrical resistivity tomography, we clearly identified the freshwater–saltwater transition zone and detected areas affected by seawater intrusion. Severity of the intrusion was spatially variable and significantly related to the density of irrigation wells in 1950s–1960s, suggesting the role of groundwater overexploitation. We distinguish two different mechanisms by which water from the sea invades the land: (a) horizontal advance of the interface due to a wide exploitation area and (b) vertical rise (upconing) caused by local intensive pumping. In general, shallow parts of the geophysical profiles show higher electrical resistivity associated with freshwater mainly coming from irrigation return flows, with water resources mostly from deep confined aquifers and imported from Tagus river, 400 km north. This indicates a likely reversal of the former seawater intrusion process.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been developed under the framework of the 08225/PI/08 research project financed by “Programa de Generación del Conocimiento Científico de Excelencia” of Fundación Séneca, Región de Murcia (II PCTRM 2007-10); the Project CGL2009-12396 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación); and the project “Modelación hidrológica en zonas semiáridas”, financed by Dirección General de Investigación y Política Científica (Murcia Region, Spain). Gratitude is expressed to the Instituto Universitario del Agua y del Medioambiente (University of Murcia) and to the Foundation Euromediterranean Water Institute for the access to the information of the latter project. Additional financial support came through the “CARTAG-EAU” project financed by the French SICMED initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Geología, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700, Linares, Jaén, Spain

    J. Rey

  2. Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica y Minera, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Linares, Universidad de Jaén, 23700, Linares, Jaén, Spain

    J. Martínez

  3. Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, CSIC-CEBAS, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain

    G. G. Barberá

  4. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Av. Miguel de Cervantes, 45, 30008, Murcia, Spain

    J. L. García-Aróstegui

  5. Euromediterranean Water Institute, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain

    J. García-Pintado & D. Martínez-Vicente

  6. National Centre for Earth Observation, University of Reading, Harry Pitt Building, 3 Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK

    J. García-Pintado

  7. Instituto Universitario del Agua y el Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Murcia, Edificio B, Camus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    D. Martínez-Vicente

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  1. J. Rey
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Correspondence to J. Rey.

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Rey, J., Martínez, J., Barberá, G.G. et al. Geophysical characterization of the complex dynamics of groundwater and seawater exchange in a highly stressed aquifer system linked to a coastal lagoon (SE Spain). Environ Earth Sci 70, 2271–2282 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2472-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2472-2

Keywords

  • Electrical resistivity tomography
  • Marine seawater intrusion
  • Detrital coastal aquifer
  • Campo de Cartagena
  • Mar Menor lagoon