Impact of estuarine reclamation projects on saltwater intrusion and freshwater resource

Estuarine projects can change local topography and influence water transport and saltwater intrusion.The Changjiang(Yangtze)River estuary is a multichannel estuary,and four major reclamation projects have been implemented in the Changjiang River estuary in recent years:the Xincun Shoal reclamation project(RP-XCS),the Qingcao Shoal reclamation project(RP-QCS),the Eastern Hengsha Shoal reclamation project(RP-EHS),and the Nanhui Shoal reclamation project(RP-NHS).The effects of the four reclamation projects and each project on the saltwater intrusion and water resources in the Changjiang River estuary were simulated in a 3D numerical model.Results show that for a multichannel estuary,local reclamation projects change the local topography and water diversion ratio(WDR)between channels and influence water and salt transport and freshwater utilization in the estuary.During spring tide,under the cumulative effect of the four reclamation projects,the salinity decreases by approximately 0.5in the upper reaches of the North Branch and increases by 0.5-1.0 in the middle and lower reaches of the North Branch.In the North Channel,the salinity decreases by approximately 0.5.In the North Passage,the salinity increases by 0.5-1.0.In the South Passage,the salinity increases by approximately 0.5 in the upper reaches and decreases by 0.2-0.5 on the north side of the middle and lower reaches.During neap tide,the cumulative effects of the four reclamation projects and the individual projects are similar to those during spring tide,but there are some differences.The effects of an individual reclamation project on WDR and saltwater intrusion during spring and neap tides are simulated and analyzed in detail.The cumulative effect of the four reclamation projects favors freshwater usage in the Changjiang River estuary.

Impact of the eastern water diversion from the south to the north project on the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary in China

The south to the north project (WDP) on the saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary is studied by the improved three-dimensionai (3D) numerical model.The net unit width flux in the Changjiang Estuary as well as the sectional salt flux is calculated in the North Branch (NB),the South Branch (SB),the North Channel (NC),the South Channel (SC),the North Passage (NP) and the South Passage (SP),respectively.The net seaward water flux in the SB is reduced,and the net water flux spilling over from the NB to the SB is enhanced after the eastern WDP.Under the mean river discharge condition in the dry season,the net salt flux spilling over from the NB to the SB is increased by 2.09 t/s and 0.52 t/s during the spring and neap tides,respectively,due to the eastern WDP.The saltwater intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary is enhanced by the eastern WDP.Compared with that during the spring tide,the net water diversion ratio during the neap tide in the NC is smaller,and thus the enhancement of the saltwater intrusion by the eastern WDP is smaller in the NC,and larger in the NP and the SP.The tidally averaged surface salinity at the water intakes of the Dongfengxisha Reservoir,the Chenhang Reservoir and the Qingcaosha Reservoir rises both during the spring and neap tides.

Investigation of saltwater intrusion and salinity stratification in winter of 2007/2008 in the Zhujiang River Estuary in China

Saltwater intrusion is a serious environmental problem in the Zhujiang River Estuary (ZRE),which threatens the water supply of fifteen million people. The hydrological observations as well as meteorological and tidal forcing in the winter of 2007/2008 were analyzed to examine the saltwater intrusion in the ZRE.The observational results suggest that the maximum vertical difference of salinity can reach 10 in the Humen Channel during neap tide,but is very small in the Hengmen Channel. The vertically averaged salinity from time series stations during spring tide is higher than that during neap tide.A three-dimensional finite difference model was developed based on the environmental fluid dynamic code (EFDC) to study the mechanism of saltwater intrusion and salinity stratification in the ZRE.By analyzing the salt transport and the temporal variation of saltwater intrusion,the authors found that the net salt transport due to the estuarine circulation during neap tide was more than that during spring tide.This caused salt to advance more into the estuary during neap tide.However,saltwater intrusion was stronger during spring tide than that during neap tide because the spring-neap variation in salt transport was small relative to the total length of the saltwater intrusion.The physical mechanism causing this saltwater intrusion was investigated by a series of sensitivity experiments,in order to examine saltwater intrusion in response to river discharge and winds.The freshwater source was a dominant influencing factor to the saltwater intrusion and controlled salinity structure,vertical stratification and length of the saltwater intrusion.The prevailing northeast monsoon during winter could increase the saltwater intrusion in the ZRE.Though the southwest wind was uufavorable to saltwater intrusion during spring tide,it could increase stratification and saltwater intrusion during neap tide.

3D geomechanical modeling of the response of the Wilzetta Fault to saltwater disposal

From 2009 to 2017,parts of Central America experienced marked increase in the number of small to moderate-sized earthquakes.For example,three significant earthquakes(~Mw 5)occurred near Prague,Oklahoma,in the U.S.in 2011.On 6 Nov 2011,an Mw 5.7 earthquake occurred in Prague,central Oklahoma with a sequence of aftershocks.The seismic activity has been attributed to slip on the Wilzetta fault system.This study provides a 3 D fully coupled poroelastic analysis(using FLAC3 D)of the Wilzetta fault system and its response to saltwater injection in the underpressured subsurface layers,especially the Arbuckle group and the basement,to evaluate the conditions that might have led to the increased seismicity.Given the data-limited nature of the problem,we have considered multiple plausible scenarios,and use the available data to evaluate the hydromechanical response of the faults of interest in the study area.Numerical simulations show that the injection of large volumes of fluid into the Arbuckle group tends to bring the part of the Wilzetta faults in Arbuckle group and basement into near-critical conditions.

Impacts of Different Dynamic Factors on the Saltwater Intrusion in the Northern Branch of the Yangtze Estuary

A 3-D baroclinic numerical model is established to study the temporal and spatial distribution of salinity in the Northern Branch(NB) of the Yangtze Estuary(YE) in response to river runoff, wind and currents. The idealized,process-oriented studies show that the lower river runoff in the dry season is the main driving factor for the spilling over from the NB to the Southern Branch(SB). The NB takes longer time to get in dynamic stable state compared with the SB, as the runoff transfers from the wet season to the dry season. The vertical stratification intensity of the NB has obvious periodic phenomena in the dry season, and the stratification strength is enhanced under the action of low runoff and north wind, which further weakens the vertical transport of water. Momentum balance analysis suggested that the landward net flux increases when considering the influence of the moderate north wind, and the landward flux will enhance if considering the boundary current during the spring tide. With the influence of the boundary current, increases the average salinity of the NB, as well as the intrusion degree from the NB to the SB.This indicates that the nearshore ocean current of the Yellow Sea is an important factor affecting the saltwater intrusion in the NB of the YE.

Features and evaluation of sea/saltwater intrusion in southern Laizhou Bay

Understanding the degree of sea/saltwater intrusion in coastal regions is of great significance to treating the intrusion and improving the environment. Based on the character analysis of the sea/saltwater intrusion, five factors were selected in the fuzzy-synthetical evaluation approach to form the index system, so as to evaluate the degree of sea/saltwater intrusion in southern Laizhou Bay. The results show that the sea/saltwater intrusion is stronger in the middle and northern areas and weaker on the sides and in southern area; currently, the intrusion is relatively serious, and the intrusion area has covered about 68.2% of the areas under study, among which the heavily intruded area is over 50%. Based on the factors analysis of the occurrence and development of sea/saltwater intrusion, the thesis proposes treatment measures.

Modeling of the Groundwater Flow and Saltwater Intrusion in the Coastal Aquifer of Fum Al Wad, Province of Laayoun, Morocco

Saltwater intrusion caused by groundwater over-exploitation from coastal aquifers poses a severe problem in many regions. The Fum Al Wad aquifer is located between Atlantic Ocean in the West and Laayoun in the East. This aquifer covers an area of 250 Km2, and represents an essential water resource for Laayoun city and the periphery regions. It is heavily exploited for water supply, agriculture and industry. The freshwater-saltwater interface is affected by groundwater extraction by public supplies, irrigation wells, and domestic wells in the coastal of this aquifer. The position of the interface is controlled by several factors: these include precipitation, recharge rate, dryness, evapotranspiration, hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic head. Landward migration of the interface freshwater-saltwater often results in a significant decrease in the water resources available for coastal communities. The volume pumped by public for irrigation and the domestic usage in 2010-2011 is estimated 2.5 Mm3/year, and in 2015 about 2.91 Mm3/year only for domestic usages. The objectives of this work are to model the groundwater flow and saltwater intrusion in the coastal aquifer of Fum Al Wad, by SEAWAT-2000 program which coupled both the version of MODFLOW-2000 and MT3DMS. They are designed to simulate variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport in three dimensions. The model is calibrated for hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, porosity, and recharge rate as well as dispersivity coefficient. The result of simulation of the hydrodynamic model during the period of 1986-2015 has revealed a piezometric drawdown with 2.3 m approximately at the level of the pumping zone. Furthermore, this piezometric depression is caused by excessive pumping of the various uses of water and its corresponding that has resulted in the migration of the saltwater intrusion into freshwater with 4.3 km approximately. The simulations result for scenarios 2020 and 2030 of Fum Al Wad aquifer showed a vertical decrease of the piezometric head (about 2.5 m) in 2030, but the saltwater intrusion has advanced diagonally to reach 4.7 km under the freshwater of groundwater of this aquifer.

A Modeling Study on Saltwater Intrusion to Western Four Watercourses in the Pearl River Estuary

Saltwater intrusion has been serious in the Pearl River estuary in recent years. For better understanding and analysis of the saltwater movement to the estuary, the three-dimensional Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model （FVCOM） is made to simulate the salinity intrusion to the four western watercourses in the Pearl River estuary under three semilunar conditions. With the measured and simulated Root Mean Square Error （RMSE） and the mean absolute percentage error of water level and salinity at multiple sites, the results show that the numerical water levels, salinity and flow velocities are in agreement with the measured data. It is acceptable and feasible to apply the FVCOM to simulate the salt water intrusion in the western four watercourses of the Pearl River. With the numerical data, the time and spatial movement patterns of saltwater intrusion along the Modao watercourse are analyzed. The salinity contour reaches its peak generally during 3~5 days before the spring tide. The salinity stratification is more obvious in the period of ebb tide than that in the rising tide whether in the spring or neap tides. Salt fluxes reflect changes of salt into the estuary, and the change rules are close to the rules of salinity intrusion.

A saturated saltwater drilling fluid based on salt-responsive polyampholytes

Based on special antipolyelectrolyte effect of zwitterion polymer with same quantity of anionic and cationic charges, we developed two types of salt-responsive polyampholytes, one with high molecular weight and low charge density(HvL) and the other with low molecular weight and high charge density(LvH), by inverse emulsion polymerization. Molecular structure and salt-responsiveness of them were characterized by 1 H-NMR and rheology measurement, respectively. HvL and LvH were evaluated in saturated-salt bentonite suspension and influences of their ratio on apparent viscosity and fluid loss were investigated as well. The results indicate that HvL is better at decreasing fluid loss while LvH is better at maintaining low viscosity. A saturated saltwater drilling fluid centering on HvL and Lv H with simple formula was designed and applied. It is indicated that salt-responsive polyampholytes are fundamentally better than AM-AMPS anionic copolymer and AM-AMPS-DMDAAC amphoteric copolymer. The saturated saltwater drilling fluid has excellent thermal stability, tolerance to bentonite and shale cuttings, and certain resistance to CaCl_2. Salt-responsive polyampholytes can be used in KCl-saturated drilling fluid, with universal adaptability.

Stimulus-responsive mechanism of salt-responsive polymer and its application in saturated saltwater drilling fluid

AM-AMPS-TAC polymers with different charge distribution are synthesized using acrylamide(AM),2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate(AMPS)and 3-acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium(TAC)at different feed ratios by polymerization in solution.The salt-responsive behavior,reasons leading to salt-responsiveness,and effects of polymers molecular structure on salt-responsiveness are studied by laboratory experiments to find out the adaptability of the polymers.Rheology test under stepwise shear mode shows that the AM-AMPS-TAC polymers have salt responsiveness,and the closer the feeds of AMPS and ATC,the more significant the salt responsiveness will be.Conformation change of polymers molecular chain under salt stimulus is studied by turbidity test and micro-morphology analysis,and the responsive mechanism is further investigated by intrinsic viscosity test and copolymer composition analysis.Results indicate that the salt-responsive behavior of AM-AMPS-TAC polymers derives from the"curled to expanded"transition of chain conformation under salt stimulus,and this transition is led by the screening effect of salt which weakens polymers intramolecular ionic bond.Application in saturated saltwater drilling fluid shows that the AM90-AMPS5-TAC5 polymer has the best salt-tolerance and temperature-tolerance when used together with fluid loss controller PAC-Lv.The drilling fluid saturated with NaCl can maintain stable viscosity,good dispersion and low fluid loss for long time under 150℃.

Effect of saltwater intrusion on groundwater environment in Weihe River downstream, Shandong Province, China

Based on the geological and hydrogeological conditions along with dynamic changes of groundwater level,this paper analyzes the hydrodynamic characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the study area.According to monitoring data of groundwater quality,the distribution characteristics of macro component are analyzed,and then fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is adopted to evaluate the impact of saltwater intrusion on groundwater environment.Concerning the influence degree of groundwater environment,the study area is divided into brine area,seriously influenced area,moderately influenced zone,slightly influenced zone and uninfluenced zone.The results can offer references for prevention and control of saltwater intrusion as well as the protection of water resources.

Groundwater Quality Assessment Based on WQI and Its Vulnerability to Saltwater Intrusion in a Coastal City, Iran

The purpose of this paper was to assess the quality of groundwater in Behshahr (Iran) based on water quality index (WQI). Sixteen water samples from this coastal aquifer were collected and analyzed to study physico-chemical parameters such as pH, hardness, chloride (Cl), electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS). The results showed that the annual average of TDS value increased by 343 mg/l between 1999 and 2015 due to anthropogenic activities. According to WQI, it was concluded that the groundwater quality degraded over the last sixteen-year period so that the percentage of samples identified as “good water” decreased by 18.5% and on the other hand, alas, the percentage of “poor water” quality soared by nearly 12.5%. Correspondence of WQI distribution diagram with that of chloride-bicarbonate ratio attests to the significant contribution of saltwater intrusion to groundwater quality deterioration in this area.

Restore or retreat? Saltwater intrusion and water management in coastal wetlands

Coastal wetlands perform a unique set of physical,chemical,and biological functions,which provide billions of dollars of ecosystem services annually.These wetlands also face myriad environmental and anthropogenic pressures,which threaten their ecological condition and undermine their capacity to provide these services.Coastal wetlands have adapted to a dynamic range of natural disturbances over recent millennia,but face growing pressures from human population growth and coastal development.These anthropogenic pressures are driving saltwater intrusion(SWI)in many coastal systems.The position of coastal wetlands at the terrestrial-marine interface also makes them vulnerable to increasing rates of sealevel rise and changing climate.Critically,anthropogenic and natural stressors to coastal wetlands can act synergistically to create negative,and sometimes catastrophic,consequences for both human and natural systems.This review focused on the drivers and impacts of SWI in coastal wetlands and has two goals:(1)to synthesize understanding of coastal wetland change driven by SWI and(2)to review approaches for improved water management to mitigate SWI in impacted systems.While we frame this review as a choice between restoration and retreat,we acknowledge that choices about coastal wetland management are context-specific and may be confounded by competing management goals.In this setting,the choice between restoration and retreat can be prioritized by identifying where the greatest return in ecosystem services can be achieved relative to restoration dollars invested.We conclude that restoration and proactive water management is feasible in many impacted systems.

Effect of large-scale reservoir and river regulation/reclamation on saltwater intrusion in Qiantang Estuary

By using field salinity data recorded in the Qiantang Estuary for the nearly forty years (which covers the periods before and after the erection of a large-scale reservoir in the watershed and river regulation/reclamation in the estuary) and one-dimensional salt water intrusion modeling, it is shown that the salt water intrusion decreases caused by increased low water discharge for the reservoir, while the intrusion increases for the increased tidal range because of the river regulation/reclamation. The integrate result is that the saltwater intrusion decreases.

Saltwater intrusion into groundwater systems in the Mekong Delta and links to global change

In recent decades,changes in temperature,wind,and rainfall patterns of Southeast Asia induced by climate warming in the Tibetan Plateau result in many environmental changes that have serious impacts on the lower reach of the Mekong River basin,a region already battling severe water-related environmental problems such as pollution,saltwater intrusion,and intensified flooding.In the densely populated Mekong Delta located at the mouth of the Mekong River basin in southern Vietnam,the hydrogeological systems have been transformed from an almost undisturbed to a human-impacted state and saltwater intrusion into surface water and groundwater systems has grown to be a detrimental issue recently,seriously threatening freshwater supply and degrading the eco-environment.In this article,the impacts of human activities and climate change(e.g.,groundwater over-exploitation,relative sea-level rise,storm surge,changing precipitation and temperature regimes,uncontrolled drainage canals,operation of hydropower dams,and rapid development of aquaculture)on saltwater intrusion into groundwater systems in the Mekong Delta are briefly reviewed.Based on current status of research findings regarding saltwater intrusion and the subsequent groundwater quality degradation under the impacts of human activities and climate change,major knowledge gaps and challenges are identified and discussed,including thickness and permeability of the silt and clay aquitard,present-day highly heterogeneous 3D distribution of saline groundwater zones,dynamic variation of saltwater/freshwater transition zone,and the most effective and economical control measure.To bridge these gaps,future work should:1)apply environmental isotope techniques in combination with borehole tests to gain detailed hydrogeological information regarding spatial variation of permeability and thickness of the silt and clay aquitard;2)intensify regular groundwater monitoring and collect as much groundwater samples from multiple hydro-stratigraphic units at different depths as possible to visualize the present-day highly heterogeneous 3D distribution of saline groundwater;3)develop a series of variable-density coupled groundwater flow and salt transport models representing various scenarios of human activities and climate change for predicting future extent of saltwater intrusion;and 4)identify the dominant factor causing saltwater intrusion and determine the most effective and economical engineering technique to address saltwater intrusion problems in the Mekong Delta.

Combined effect of subsurface dam and layered heterogeneity on groundwater flow and salinity distribution in stratified coastal aquifers

In this paper,for the first time,we investigated the combined effect of subsurface dams and a typical stratified aquifer(two high-permeability layers with a low-permeability layer between them)on groundwater flow and salinity distribution in a tidally influenced coastal unconfined aquifer.Subsurface dams can inhibit the invasion of saltwater,and the low-permeability layer(LPL)and tide action can increase the effect of subsurface dams and the removal rate of residual saltwater.Through sensitivity analysis,it was discovered that shifting the dam location towards the inland resulted in a reduction in the effective heights of the dam.The upper saline plume contracted with increasing dam height,and the upper boundary of LPL was moved to shallower regions.And the natural removal time increased significantly with increasing dam height and the bottom boundary of LPL was moved to deeper regions.In addition,if the dam location was close to the sea boundary and the bottom boundary of LPL was moved to deeper regions,we could increase the subsurface dam height to reduce the risks of control of saltwater intrusion.This study provides us a comprehensive understanding of the complex hydrodynamics of saltwater intrusion and provides guides for the design of subsurface dams aimed at saltwater intrusion control in stratified coastal aquifers.

Effect of tidal currents on the transport of saline water from the North Branch in the Changjiang River estuary

Based on the MIKE 21 numerical model combined with measured data, a numerical model for the coupling of water and salinity in the Changjiang(Yangtze) River estuary was established, and based on good verification, the influence of the tidal current intensity on the transport and variations of salinity concentrations in saline water from the North Branch to the South Branch was numerically evaluated. The time and space mean root mean square of the tidal current velocity can be expressed as a parabolic function of an adjustment coefficient for the amplitude of the M2 tidal constituent along the open boundaries of the model. Under the advection of runof f and tidal currents, the saline pool is transported downstream in an oscillatory pattern. With the enhancement of tidal current intensity, the oscillatory motion of the saltwater pool is increasingly significant in a tidal cycle forced by rising and falling tides. Along four set paths, the daily average concentrations of the saline core were generally similar, and in the process of transportation downstream, the concentrations of saltwater declined. The decay of the tidal-period-averaged salinity of the saltwater was linearly related to the square of the tidal current. Thus, the tidal current has a significant and direct impact on saltwater transport and diffusion in the Changjiang River estuary.

Hydrodynamic and morphological processes in Yangtze Estuary:State-of-the-art research and its applications by Hohai University

This paper presents a review of the state-of-the-art research and its applications developed at Hohai University relating to the hydrodynamic and morphological processes in the Yangtze Estuary. Longitudinal, lateral, and horizontal flow circulations have been revealed based on the measurements with acoustic Doppler current profilers （ADCP）. The hydrodynamic mechanism at diversion points as well as the changing patterns of flow and sediment flux in the Yangtze Estuary has been investigated through long-term data analysis. A field survey has been carried out to detect the saltwater intrusion from the North Branch to South Branch. Different numerical models of flow motion, sediment transport, and saltwater intrusion have been developed to simulate the complicated processes and to evaluate the effects of engineering projects. The morphological processes of wetlands over a time scale of decades have been analyzed with an established database. Ideas for further research on the bio-geomorphological model system and long-term evolution mechanisms are put forward.