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Application of GALDIT index in the Mediterranean region to assess vulnerability to sea water intrusion

Zaarour, Tracy LU (2017) In Lund University GEM thesis series NGEM01 20162
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract
GALDIT is a Vulnerability Indexing (VI) methodology that uses ranges, ratings and weights developed as a preliminary decision support tool to predict groundwater areas prone to Sea Water Intrusion (SWI). It has been only applied on porous coastal aquifers to date, in Mediterranean coastal regions, where SWI has become a growing problem.
The present study tests the applicability of GALDIT VI in the Mediterranean region, by comparing the results of a porous aquifer in Akkar, Northern Lebanon to the results of a porous aquifer in Northern-East Greece. Furthermore, a feasibility of the application of GALDIT VI is done on a karstic coastal aquifer for the first time. The coastal aquifer selected for this purpose is located in Ghadir, Central... (More)
GALDIT is a Vulnerability Indexing (VI) methodology that uses ranges, ratings and weights developed as a preliminary decision support tool to predict groundwater areas prone to Sea Water Intrusion (SWI). It has been only applied on porous coastal aquifers to date, in Mediterranean coastal regions, where SWI has become a growing problem.
The present study tests the applicability of GALDIT VI in the Mediterranean region, by comparing the results of a porous aquifer in Akkar, Northern Lebanon to the results of a porous aquifer in Northern-East Greece. Furthermore, a feasibility of the application of GALDIT VI is done on a karstic coastal aquifer for the first time. The coastal aquifer selected for this purpose is located in Ghadir, Central Lebanon.
The application of GALDIT VI on two different porous coastal aquifers shows that the theoretical ranges and ratings can always be adjusted to better fit the hydrogeological conditions of the study area. Moreover, GALDIT VI is not able to explain alone SWI evolution through time, at least not in the case of Akkar porous aquifer. Therefore, anthropogenic parameters, such as abstraction rate, should be taken into consideration.
The results of the feasibility study on the karstic aquifer of Ghadir reveal the limitation of GALDIT VI in predicting sensitivity to SWI. Consequently, GALDIT VI can be fine-tuned by modifying or replacing the non-sensitive parameters/indicators by sensitive ones.
The modifications include taking into account the geological structures and introducing parameters that specifically characterize karst aquifers.
Finally, further investigations should be conducted to validate the solutions proposed in order to give the best possible outcome from a low resolution vulnerability assessment method as GALDIT VI. (Less)
Popular Abstract
To predict fresh water areas that can be contaminated by water from the sea, a technique needs to be used to assist decision makers in water management. This method has been only applied on certain locations to date, in Mediterranean coastal regions, where salt water contamination has become a growing problem.
The present study focuses on the Mediterranean region, by comparing the results of a site in Greece, where a vulnerability method has been used before, to another new one in Lebanon. Furthermore, another area is studied having more complex conditions.
The application of this vulnerability method on two different locations of the Mediterranean coast shows that the original method can always be adjusted to better fit the conditions... (More)
To predict fresh water areas that can be contaminated by water from the sea, a technique needs to be used to assist decision makers in water management. This method has been only applied on certain locations to date, in Mediterranean coastal regions, where salt water contamination has become a growing problem.
The present study focuses on the Mediterranean region, by comparing the results of a site in Greece, where a vulnerability method has been used before, to another new one in Lebanon. Furthermore, another area is studied having more complex conditions.
The application of this vulnerability method on two different locations of the Mediterranean coast shows that the original method can always be adjusted to better fit the conditions of the study area. Moreover, salt water evolution through time is not explained by the methodology used. Therefore, external indicators, such as water pumping, should be taken into consideration.
The results of the complex area explain the barriers encountered in predicting sensitivity to salt water in complex conditions. Consequently, the original method can be fine-tuned by modifying it to better fit these complex zones.
The modifications include taking into account the nature of the rocks present, the conditions surrounding them and the use of indicators characterizing the complexity of the area under study.
Finally, further investigations should be conducted to validate the solutions proposed in order to give the best possible outcome from a preliminary method. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Zaarour, Tracy LU
supervisor
organization
course
NGEM01 20162
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
aquifer, Physical Geography and Ecosystem analysis, Sea Water Intrusion (SWI), Vulnerability Index (VI), GALDIT VI, Groundwater, GEM
publication/series
Lund University GEM thesis series
report number
21
funder
Erasmus Mundus Programme
language
English
additional info
External supervisor: Dr Joanna Doummar, American University of Beirut
id
8917258
date added to LUP
2017-06-20 12:25:52
date last changed
2017-06-20 12:25:52
@misc{8917258,
  abstract     = {{GALDIT is a Vulnerability Indexing (VI) methodology that uses ranges, ratings and weights developed as a preliminary decision support tool to predict groundwater areas prone to Sea Water Intrusion (SWI). It has been only applied on porous coastal aquifers to date, in Mediterranean coastal regions, where SWI has become a growing problem.
The present study tests the applicability of GALDIT VI in the Mediterranean region, by comparing the results of a porous aquifer in Akkar, Northern Lebanon to the results of a porous aquifer in Northern-East Greece. Furthermore, a feasibility of the application of GALDIT VI is done on a karstic coastal aquifer for the first time. The coastal aquifer selected for this purpose is located in Ghadir, Central Lebanon.
The application of GALDIT VI on two different porous coastal aquifers shows that the theoretical ranges and ratings can always be adjusted to better fit the hydrogeological conditions of the study area. Moreover, GALDIT VI is not able to explain alone SWI evolution through time, at least not in the case of Akkar porous aquifer. Therefore, anthropogenic parameters, such as abstraction rate, should be taken into consideration.
The results of the feasibility study on the karstic aquifer of Ghadir reveal the limitation of GALDIT VI in predicting sensitivity to SWI. Consequently, GALDIT VI can be fine-tuned by modifying or replacing the non-sensitive parameters/indicators by sensitive ones.
The modifications include taking into account the geological structures and introducing parameters that specifically characterize karst aquifers.
Finally, further investigations should be conducted to validate the solutions proposed in order to give the best possible outcome from a low resolution vulnerability assessment method as GALDIT VI.}},
  author       = {{Zaarour, Tracy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Lund University GEM thesis series}},
  title        = {{Application of GALDIT index in the Mediterranean region to assess vulnerability to sea water intrusion}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}