Caribbean Conference Transactions

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Urbano, L., 2005. Pattern of saltwater contamination resulting from tsunami inundation of small islands, Abstract for the 17th Caribbean Geological Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 17-21.

Short paper by Urbano and Thibault

Conference Poster: Image:Carib conf poster.pdf

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Abstract

The inundation of coastal regions and small islands by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 2004 resulted in extensive salinization of shallow groundwater resources. In order to investigate the spatial and temporal consequences of tsunami inundation, I employ an idealized numerical model that simulates the effects of inundation on natural and anthropogenically impacted freshwater lenses of small islands. On unimpacted islands the primary determinant of saline contamination of the aquifer is local topography. Saline water is collected in local depressions that serve as focus points for infiltration into the aquifer. A second major parameter affecting saline infiltration is the heterogeneity of the aquifer permeability; infiltration is focused through high permeability regions. On islands with significant anthropogenic groundwater withdrawals, however, the location and size shallow wells are extremely important. Unprotected wells can serve as direct paths for salt water into the aquifer, while the cones of depression surrounding wells focus saline recharge water toward the wells. Once the saline recharge is focused, density effects drive the saline water deeper into the aquifer and continues to focus flow even without further withdrawals. The results of these numerical experiments suggest that wellhead protection and a strategic water extraction scheme may help ameliorate the adverse effects of tsunami inundation.

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Poster

Title page.	Abstract.	Conceptual model.	Importance of hydrogeology.
The idealized numerical model.	Model parameters and SUTRA.	Initial Conditions.	Inundation.
Inundation with unprotected well 1.	Inundation with unprotected well 2.	Inundation with unprotected well 3.	Inundation with protected well 1.
Inundation with protected well 2.	Conclusions.	Climate change and sea level rise.	References.