Effects of episodic rainfall on a subterranean estuary. Issue 7 (20th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Xiayang; Xin, Pei; Lu, Chunhui; Robinson, Clare; Li, Ling; Barry, D. A.
• Is Part Of: Water resources research. Volume 53:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 5774
• Page End: 5787
• Publication Date: 2017-07-20
• Subjects: submarine groundwater discharge -- seawater intrusion -- coastal aquifer -- recharge -- numerical modeling -- density‐dependent flow; Hydrology -- Periodicals; 333.91
• DOI: 10.1002/2017WR020809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1397

Abstract

Abstract: Numerical simulations were conducted to examine the effect of episodic rainfall on nearshore groundwater dynamics in a tidally influenced unconfined coastal aquifer, with a focus on both long‐term (yearly) and short‐term (daily) behavior of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and seawater intrusion (SWI). The results showed nonlinear interactions among the processes driven by rainfall, tides, and density gradients. Rainfall‐induced infiltration increased the yearly averaged fresh groundwater discharge to the ocean but reduced the extents of the saltwater wedge and upper saline plume as well as the total rate of seawater circulation through both zones. Overall, the net effect of the interactions led to an increase of the SGD. The nearshore groundwater responded to individual rainfall events in a delayed and cumulative fashion, as evident in the variations of daily averaged SGD and salt stored in the saltwater wedge (quantifying the extent of SWI). A generalized linear model (GLM) along with a Gamma distribution function was developed to describe the delayed and prolonged effect of rainfall events on short‐term groundwater behavior. This model validated with results of daily averaged SGD and SWI from the simulations of groundwater and solute transport using independent rainfall data sets, performed well in predicting the behavior of the nearshore groundwater system under the combined influence of episodic rainfall, tides, and density gradients. The findings and developed GLM form a basis for evaluating and predicting SGD, SWI, and associated mass fluxes from unconfined coastal aquifers under natural conditions, including episodic rainfall. Key Points: SGD and SWI responded to rainfall events in a delayed and prolonged fashion Effect of episodic rainfall on SGD and SWI was quantified using the Gamma distribution function Rainfall‐induced SGD and SWI were predictable