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Spatial characterization of the seawater upconing process in a coastal Mediterranean aquifer (Plana de Castellón, Spain): evolution and controls

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 75, Article number: 728 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

In this contribution, we describe the formation and evolution of the upconing process in a Mediterranean coastal aquifer. The study area has experienced severe salinization over the last 40 years because of intensive exploitation of groundwater. We used historical and current records of piezometric levels and chloride concentrations to trace the development of the salinization of the aquifer. We defined the 3D shape of the saline wedge from the spatial distribution of chloride concentrations and vertical well logs of electrical conductivity using monitoring network data. Upconing first appeared in the early 90s and has continued until the present day. In this study, we examined the intensity of the upconing process. Dry periods and the associated increases in pumping caused the advance of seawater intrusion. The sharp reduction in groundwater withdrawals over the last 10 years has caused the saline wedge to move backwards, although the ongoing pumping and the climate conditions mean that this retreat is quite slow.

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Acknowledgments

This study formed part of the project Facing seawater intrusion recharging coastal aquifers with regenerated water, financed by The Coca-Cola Foundation (Atlanta, USA), with the support of Coca-Cola Iberian Partners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Aquifers Research Group, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón, Spain

    Olga García-Menéndez, Ignacio Morell, Arianna Renau-Pruñonosa & Alejandra Renau-Llorens

  2. Coastal Aquifers Research Group, Geological Survey of Spain, C/Cirilo Amorós, 42, 46004, Valencia, Spain

    Bruno J. Ballesteros

  3. Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Cerro Coatepec s/n C.U., 50130, Toluca, Mexico

    Mª Vicenta Esteller

Authors
  1. Olga García-Menéndez
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  2. Ignacio Morell
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  3. Bruno J. Ballesteros
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  4. Arianna Renau-Pruñonosa
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  5. Alejandra Renau-Llorens
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  6. Mª Vicenta Esteller
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Correspondence to Olga García-Menéndez.

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García-Menéndez, O., Morell, I., Ballesteros, B.J. et al. Spatial characterization of the seawater upconing process in a coastal Mediterranean aquifer (Plana de Castellón, Spain): evolution and controls. Environ Earth Sci 75, 728 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5531-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5531-7

Keywords

  • Seawater intrusion
  • Upconing
  • Electrical conductivity vertical logs
  • Plana Castellón aquifer