Numerical modelling of sea water intrusion in coastal aquifer

Main parameters

• Particle-size distribution

• Bulk density

• Hydraulic conductivity

• Transmissivity

• Storage coefficient

• Specific yield

• Effective porosity

• Hydrometeorological data (precipitation, evapotranspiration, mineralization etc.)

Area of study

Coastal area of Kaliningrad region

Numerical modelling of sea water intrusion in coastal aquiferNatural processes

Numerical modelling of sea water intrusion in coastal aquifer

Increase in Vistula Lagoon’s mineralization

Numerical modelling of sea water intrusion in coastal aquifer

Anthropogenic influence, spill of produced waterin Vistula Lagoon

Transformation of ecosystems caused by produced water spill

Distribution of salinization in the area of produced water spill

Distribution of salinization in the area of produced water spill

Changes of soils physical properties under high mineralized water influence

Changes of seepage velocity in saltaffected soils

Mathematical Modeling in HYDRUS – 1D, Hydraulic Model Van Genuchten-Mualem

• Comparison results of natural processes modelling for coastal areas (sand soils) with the literature data showed its similarity. Changes in Vistula Lagoon mineralization lead to small increase in groundwater salinization.

•There was a sharp rise of groundwater mineralization in case of modelling produced water spill in Vistula Lagoon . Moreover the verification of data with field experiments and literature data also showed the high rate of it relevance.

•The best way to evaluate changes is a comprehensive approach: use modelling, but always verify data with real measurements, experiments under field and laboratory conditions.

•Moreover, geochemical transformation of soils causing changes in soils structure as a result leads to decrease of seepage velocity. Thus, additional models, such as HYDRUS etc should be used in order to assess soils transformation more complex an in a proper way.