Groundwater salinisation on atoll islands after storm-surge flooding: Modelling the influence of central topographic depressions
Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Water and Environment Journal
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Abstract
© 2015 CIWEM. Fresh groundwater lenses (FGLs) are of utmost importance for human survival on small and isolated atolls. This article examines saline damage to atoll FGLs from wave washover caused by storm surge and studies the particular influence of central topographic depressions (CTDs). We model storm surge over atoll islets of contrasting widths (400 and 800m), both with and without CTDs of various sizes. Three key findings emerge. First, under equilibrium undisturbed conditions, the CTD slightly reduces the size of the FGL compared to atoll islets without this feature. Second, during marine flooding, prior saturated conditions at the base of a CTD impede seawater infiltration into the substrate, thereby limiting saline damage in that location. Third and most crucial, however, the amount of salt accumulated within the CTD is significant, ranging from 2 to 10 times higher than the net subsurface infiltration during the period of the storm inundation.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Volume
29
Issue
3
First Page
430
Last Page
438
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Keywords
Coastal management, Disaster recovery, Groundwater, Hydrogeology, Storm
Scopus ID
Recommended Citation
Chui, Ting Fong May and Terry, James P., "Groundwater salinisation on atoll islands after storm-surge flooding: Modelling the influence of central topographic depressions" (2015). All Works. 1816.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/1816
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
no