Coastal shallow aquifer characterization in Tiruchendur coastal district of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India utilizing geophysical and geochemical approaches. (2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Govindaraj, Sakthivel; Renganathan, Manjula
• Is Part Of: Materials today. Volume 45:Part 7(2021)
• Page Start: 6204
• Page End: 6209
• Publication Date: 2021
• Subjects: Electrical resistivity -- Geo-chemical -- Paleoriver -- Watersample -- Seawater intrusion -- Coastal environment; Materials science -- Congresses -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.522
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7853

Abstract

Abstract: Southeastern coastal inlands around the Gulf of Mannar in the Tiruchendur district are primarily areas of agriculture, salt pan, and industry. Canals of Tamirabarani River are the main source of groundwater for irrigation and livestock purposes. Intrusion of saltwater can have a range of major economic and environmental effects, including decreased freshwater storage capacity, pollution of freshwater production wells, salinisation of soil and decreased freshwater discharge into marine environments. In the study area, geophysical and geo-chemical investigations were conducted to interpret geological subsurface formation and to assess intrusion by seawater. Electrical resistivity tomographic surveys conducted in the study area showed low resistivity formation in the coastal region, as the average soil thickness is about 3 m with low surface moisture retention. The fresh water in the study area is given by nearly 10–100 Ωm of resistivity. The 10–50 Ωm apparent resistivities indicate the sub-surface section consists of sand, clay, and caliche. The very low layer of resistivity (<5 Ωm) could be due to the encroachment of seawater in the study area. Twenty three sample were collected of water from the well drilled in the Coastal area was analysed going to allow for the determination of concentration levels of major ions in groundwater. Data were used to determine the seawater intrusion and coastal environment characteristics in the study area.