| Title | An Integrated Approach for Investigating the Salinity Evolution in a Mediterranean Coastal Karst Aquifer |
| Abstract | Coastal areas are characterized by considerable demographic pressure that generally leads
to groundwater overexploitation. In the Mediterranean region, this situation is exacerbated by a
recharge reduction enhanced by climate change. The consequence is water table drawdown that
alters the freshwater/seawater interface facilitating seawater intrusion. However, the groundwater
salinity may also be affected by other natural/anthropogenic sources. In this paper, water quality
data gathered at 47 private and public wells in a coastal karst aquifer in Apulia (southern Italy), were
interpreted by applying disparate methods to reveal the different sources of groundwater salinity.
Chemical characterization, multivariate statistical analysis, and mixing calculations supplied the
groundwater salinization degree. Characteristic ion ratios, strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr), and pure
mixing modelling identified the current seawater intrusion as a main salinity source, also highlighting
the contribution of water-rock interaction to groundwater composition and excluding influence from
Cretaceous paleo-seawater. Only the combined approach of all the methodologies allowed a clear
identification of the main sources of salinization, excluding other less probable ones (e.g., paleoseawater). The proposed approach enables effective investigation of processes governing salinity
changes in coastal aquifers, to support more informed management. |
| Source | Water (Basel) 14 (11) |
| Keywords | groundwater/seawater mixing phenomena; water-rock interaction; geochemical modelling; characteristic ion ratios; strontium isotope ratio; Apulia |
| Journal | Water (Basel) |
| Editor | Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.3390/w14111725 |
| Authors | Frollini E.[1], Parrone D.[1], Ghergo S.[1], Masciale R.[2], Passarella G.[2], Pennisi M.[3], Salvadori M.[3], Preziosi E.[1] |
| Text | 468075 2022 10.3390/w14111725 groundwater/seawater mixing phenomena; water rock interaction; geochemical modelling; characteristic ion ratios; strontium isotope ratio; Apulia An Integrated Approach for Investigating the Salinity Evolution in a Mediterranean Coastal Karst Aquifer Frollini E. 1 , Parrone D. 1 , Ghergo S. 1 , Masciale R. 2 , Passarella G. 2 , Pennisi M. 3 , Salvadori M. 3 , Preziosi E. 1 1 Water Research Institute, National Research Council IRSA CNR , 00015 Monterotondo Rome , Italy; 2 Water Research Institute, National Research Council IRSA CNR , 70132 Bari, Italy; 3 Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council IGG CNR , 56124 Pisa, Italy Coastal areas are characterized by considerable demographic pressure that generally leads to groundwater overexploitation. In the Mediterranean region, this situation is exacerbated by a recharge reduction enhanced by climate change. The consequence is water table drawdown that alters the freshwater/seawater interface facilitating seawater intrusion. However, the groundwater salinity may also be affected by other natural/anthropogenic sources. In this paper, water quality data gathered at 47 private and public wells in a coastal karst aquifer in Apulia southern Italy , were interpreted by applying disparate methods to reveal the different sources of groundwater salinity. Chemical characterization, multivariate statistical analysis, and mixing calculations supplied the groundwater salinization degree. Characteristic ion ratios, strontium isotope 87Sr/86Sr , and pure mixing modelling identified the current seawater intrusion as a main salinity source, also highlighting the contribution of water rock interaction to groundwater composition and excluding influence from Cretaceous paleo seawater. Only the combined approach of all the methodologies allowed a clear identification of the main sources of salinization, excluding other less probable ones e.g., paleoseawater . The proposed approach enables effective investigation of processes governing salinity changes in coastal aquifers, to support more informed management. 14 Published version https //www.mdpi.com/journal/water An Integrated Approach for Investigating the Salinity Evolution in a Mediterranean Coastal Karst Aquifer FROLLINI_June_2022.pdf Articolo in rivista Molecular Diversity Preservation International 2073 4441 Water Basel Water Basel Water Basel Water. Basel danieleparrone PARRONE DANIELE eleonorafrollini FROLLINI ELEONORA matteosalvadori SALVADORI MATTEO stefano.ghergo GHERGO STEFANO giuseppe.passarella PASSARELLA GIUSEPPE elisabetta.preziosi PREZIOSI ELISABETTA rita.masciale MASCIALE RITA maddalena.pennisi PENNISI MADDALENA |
