•  
  •  
 

Abstract

To investigate the extent of seawater intrusion in the Liao Dong Bay coastal plain, China, a numerical model for variable-density groundwater flow and miscible salt transport was developed. The SEAWAT code was used to solve the density-dependent groundwater flow and solute transport governing equations. The simulation was conducted for 55 months from October, 2004 to April, 2009. The numerical model was calibrated by the hydraulic heads measured in April, 2009. Using the calibrated model and the same hydrogeological conditions in 2004, the extent of seawater intrusion prediction was conducted for the next 40 years. The results show that the extent of seawater intrusion area will increase in all geologic layers with nearly 6.2 km in the upper Quaternary aquifer and 4.3 km in lower Quaternary aquifer for 40 years. In the Minhuazhen group aquifer, the maximum speed of seawater intrusion is 62.2 m/yr. Therefore, some protection of the freshwater aquifer from seawater intrusion in the Liao Dong Bay coastal plain is imperative.

COinS