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The coastal areas of Phuket Island are facing the risk of seawater intrusion, because intense anthropic activity due to urbanization and the expansion of tourism influences coastal hydrologic systems. Indeed, the Kamala sub-district—on the western part of Phuket Island—is a well-known and attractive destination for tourists. Previous research indicates that there is likely to be a seawater intrusion in Kamala. The main purpose of this study was to delineate the seawater intrusion problem in a coastal aquifer in Kamala. Geo-electrical surveys of four lines were successfully conducted in the study area. Two-dimensional (2D) inversion models from the resistivity data show high-resolution subsurface resistivity anomalies of seawater intrusion. The concentration of the seawater intrusion decreases eastward toward the inland areas. Based on a sample measurement, the contaminated zone of seawater has a resistivity value smaller than 30 Ohm-m, and the empirical relationship between the formation conductivity and fluid conductivity of the study area was established. Finally, time-lapse Electrical Resistivity Imaging (time-lapse ERI) was conducted to prove that there was no presence of clay layers in study area; thus, the low resistivity plumes (smaller than 30 Ohm-m) were scientifically interpreted as being seawater intrusion. Full article

This study employed electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in characterising the shallow groundwater aquifers of Eastern Dahomey basin in southwestern Nigeria to assess the possible occurrence and distribution of saltwater within the aquifers. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarization (IP) and borehole logging were carried in locations with relatively enhanced electrical conductivity (EC) within the coastal zone of the basin through 97 groundwater samples from shallow wells and boreholes; 500 m-length ERT and IP sections were carried out along three traverses A–B, C–D and E–F in directions perpendicular and parallel to the coastline. Three geoelectrical layers were identified along traverse line A–B which comprises cross-sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 located around Ugbonla, Aboto and Igbokoda with layers’ resistivity and chargeability values ranging from (1–1000, 33–200 and 1–1700 Ωm), and (−50–200 Ωm, −30–200 Ωm and −50–120 Ωm, respectively, from the top to the bottom layer. These values indicated unconsolidated sand/lateritic silty clay, underlain by a sandy/silty clay layer with underlying fine-grained sand with disseminated clay lenses. The average thickness of the first two layers was 16 and 53 m while that of the third layer was undetermined. Resistivity and chargeability results from ERT and IP cross-sections along profile C–D exhibited characteristics similar to that of profile A–B with unconsolidated sands which were underlain by intercalation of sandy/silty clay and fine-grained sands with suspected clay lenses saturated with saline water. Profile E–F revealed a geoelectrical layer with low resistivity which ranged from 1–30 Ωm with the corresponding chargeability between −150–400 ms. This indicated a saline water-saturated layer of fine-grained sand and silty clay which is overlaid by the unconsolidated unconfined freshwater aquifer. Correlation of selected ERT results with borehole logs further affirmed the suspected lithology from the sections. Two scenarios of saltwater intrusions into coastal freshwater aquifer were suggested which include the presence of trapped salt-saturated clay lenses within aquifer lithology and seawater incursion induced by over-drafting of groundwater in this basin.Therefore, it identified the need for further investigation which will involve a combination of hydrochemical and isotopes to further understand the paleowater hypothesis. Full article

Groundwater is the main supply of fresh water in many parts of the world. The intrusion of saline water into the fresh water is a serious threat to groundwater resources. Delineation of fresh-saline aquifer zones is essential to exploit the potable fresh water. The conventional method to differentiate fresh-saline water interface is to collect and test groundwater samples from boreholes using a number of laboratory tests. However, such techniques are expensive and time consuming. A non-invasive geoelectrical method, in combination with borehole data and physicochemical analysis, is proposed to assess the fresh-saline aquifers. This investigation was conducted in Jahanian area of Pakistan with forty-five vertical electrical soundings (VES) using Schlumberger array, nine bore wells and fifty physicochemical samples. The fresh-saline aquifers are delineated by aquifer resistivity and Dar-Zarrouk parameters namely transverse unit resistance and longitudinal unit conductance. The aquifer potential of fresh-saline water zones is estimated by the aquifer parameters namely transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. Integration of subsurface resistivity with hydrogeological information reveals the subsurface formation of five layered succession, that is, topsoil having dry strata with resistivity greater than 30 Ωm, clay containing saline water with resistivity less than 15 Ωm, clay-sand with brackish water having resistivity between 15 and 25 Ωm, sand containing fresh water with resistivity ranging from 25 to 45 Ωm and gravel-sand having fresh water with resistivity greater than 45 Ωm. The geoelectrical columns and geological cross-sections constructed by the aquifer resistivity provide effectiveness of the interpretations for the evaluation of fresh-saline aquifers. The results of physicochemical analysis using WHO guideline validate the fresh-saline aquifer zones delineated by the geophysical method. This investigation contributes towards predicting the fresh-saline water interface using inexpensive geoelectrical method. Full article