Abstract
Seawater intrusion occurs in almost all coastal aquifers that are subject to human pressure. Its effects could be reduced by avoiding pumping in those wells better hydraulically connected to the sea. This paper presents a methodology to assess hydraulic connection to the sea of a well from its response to sea-level fluctuations. Head fluctuations in a well result from the superposition of hydraulic and hydro-mechanical responses. The hydraulic response requires a good hydraulic connection to the sea, whereas a hydro-mechanical response suggests a poor connection. Sea level fluctuates with a broad range of harmonics, which allows identification of the hydraulic and hydro-mechanical responses based on the harmonic frequency. It is shown that the response to low-frequency harmonics is essentially hydraulic and the response to high-frequency harmonics is mainly hydro-mechanical. The proposed methodology facilitates the discrimination of both responses with the aim to study qualitatively the hydraulic connection to the sea. This methodology is applied to the aquifer system of La Plata river estuary in western Argentina. Surprisingly, the hydraulic response of the deepest aquifer (Paraná) is less damped than the response of the overlaying aquifer (Puelches). This finding suggests that the Paraná aquifer is better connected to the sea than the Puelches.
Résumé
L’intrusion d’eau de mer se produit dans presque tous les aquifères côtiers qui sont soumis à la pression humaine. Ses effets pourraient être réduits en évitant de pomper dans les puits les mieux connectés hydrauliquement à la mer. Cet article présente une méthodologie pour évaluer la connexion hydraulique à la mer d’un puits, à partir de sa réponse aux fluctuations du niveau marin. Les fluctuations des charges d’un puits résultent de la superposition des réponses hydrauliques et hydromécaniques. La réponse hydraulique nécessite une bonne connexion hydraulique à la mer, alors qu’une réponse hydromécanique suggère une mauvaise connexion. Le niveau marin fluctue avec une large gamme d’harmoniques, ce qui permet d’identifier les réponses hydrauliques et hydro-mécaniques en fonction de la fréquence harmonique. Il est démontré que la réponse aux harmoniques de basse fréquence est essentiellement hydraulique et que la réponse aux harmoniques de haute fréquence est principalement hydro-mécanique. La méthodologie proposée facilite la discrimination des deux réponses dans le but d’étudier qualitativement la connexion hydraulique à la mer. Cette méthodologie est appliquée au système aquifère de l’estuaire du fleuve La Plata, dans l’ouest de l’Argentine. Étonnamment, la réponse hydraulique de l’aquifère le plus profond (Paraná) est moins amortie que la réponse de l’aquifère susjacent (Puelches). Cette constatation suggère que l’aquifère du Paraná est mieux relié à la mer que celui du Puelches.
Resumen
La intrusión salina se produce en casi todos los acuíferos costeros antropizados. Sus efectos podrían controlarse reduciendo el bombeo en aquellos pozos mejor conectados hidráulicamente al mar. Este artículo presenta una metodología para evaluar la conexión hidráulica al mar de un pozo a partir de su respuesta a las fluctuaciones del nivel del mar. Las fluctuaciones de nivel en un pozo son el resultado de la superposición de dos tipos de respuestas: hidráulica e hidromecánica. La respuesta hidráulica requiere una buena conexión hidráulica al mar, mientras que una respuesta hidromecánica necesita de una mala conexión. El nivel del mar fluctúa con una amplia gama de armónicos, lo que permite identificar las respuestas hidráulicas e hidromecánicas basadas en las diferentes frecuencias del espectro. Se demuestra que la respuesta a los armónicos de baja frecuencia es esencialmente hidráulica y la respuesta a los armónicos de alta frecuencia es principalmente hidromecánica. La metodología propuesta facilita la discriminación de ambas respuestas con el objetivo de estudiar cualitativamente la conexión hidráulica al mar. Esta metodología se aplica al sistema acuífero del estuario del Río de la Plata en el occidente argentino. Sorprendentemente, la respuesta hidráulica del acuífero más profundo (Paraná) está menos amortiguada que la respuesta del acuífero superior (Puelches). Este hallazgo sugiere que el acuífero Paraná podría estar mejor conectado al mar que el acuífero Puelches.
摘要
几乎所有受人类影响的沿海含水层都发生海水入侵。通过避免从与海面水力联系更好的井中抽水可以减少其影响。本文提出了一种方法, 可以根据其对海水位波动的响应来评估与海的水力连通性。井中水位波动是水力和流体力学响应叠加的结果。水力响应要求与海的良好水力连通性, 而流体力学响应则需要连通性不好。海水位谐波波动范围很广, 可以根据谐波频率识别水力和流体力学响应。结果表明, 对低频谐波的响应基本上是水力响应, 而对高频谐波的响应主要是流体力学响应。所提出的方法有助于对两种响应进行区分, 以定性地研究与海的水力连通性。该方法应用于阿根廷西部La Plata河河口含水层系统。令人感到吃惊的是, 最深含水层(Paraná)的水力响应比上覆含水层(Puelches)的水力阻尼要小。这一发现表明Paraná含水层比Puelches与海洋的连通性更好。
Resumo
A intrusão da água do mar ocorre em quase todos os aquíferos costeiros sujeitos à pressão humana. Seus efeitos poderiam ser reduzidos evitando o bombeamento nos poços mais bem conectados hidraulicamente ao mar. Este artigo apresenta uma metodologia para avaliar a conexão hidráulica de um poço ao mar a partir de sua resposta às flutuações do nível do mar. Flutuações de carga em um poço resultam da superposição de respostas hidráulicas e hidromecânicas. A resposta hidráulica requer uma boa conexão hidráulica com o mar, enquanto uma resposta hidromecânica sugere uma conexão ruim. O nível do mar flutua com uma ampla gama de harmônicos, o que permite a identificação das respostas hidráulicas e hidromecânicas com base na frequência harmônica. É mostrado que a resposta aos harmônicos de baixa frequência é essencialmente hidráulica e a resposta aos harmônicos de alta frequência é principalmente hidromecânica. A metodologia proposta facilita a discriminação de ambas as respostas com o objetivo de estudar qualitativamente a ligação hidráulica ao mar. Esta metodologia é aplicada ao sistema aquífero do estuário do rio La Plata, no oeste da Argentina. Surpreendentemente, a resposta hidráulica do aquífero mais profundo (Paraná) é menos amortecida do que a resposta do aquífero de cobertura (Puelches). Essa descoberta sugere que o aquífero Paraná está melhor conectado ao mar do que os Puelches.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the Matanza-Riachuelo Autorithy Basin (ACUMAR) for providing the aquifer data. We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which greatly improved this manuscript.
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The first author was funded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET).
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Alcaraz, M., Carrera, J., Cuello, J. et al. Determining hydraulic connectivity of the coastal aquifer system of La Plata river estuary (Argentina) to the ocean by analysis of aquifer response to low-frequency tidal components. Hydrogeol J 29, 1587–1599 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02332-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02332-0