Impact of coastal forcing and groundwater recharge on the growth of a fresh groundwater lens in a mega-scale beach nourishment

For a large beach nourishment called the Sand Engine – constructed in 2011 at the Dutch coast – we have examined the impact of coastal forcing (i.e. natural processes that drive coastal hydro- and morphodynamics) and groundwater recharge on the growth of a fresh groundwater lens between 2011 and 201...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrology and earth system sciences 2018-02, Vol.22 (2), p.1065-1080
Main Authors: Huizer, Sebastian, Radermacher, Max, de Vries, Sierd, Oude Essink, Gualbert H.P, Bierkens, Marc F.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beach nourishment
Beaches
Coastal dynamics
Coastal environments
Coastal erosion
Coastal processes
Coastal storms
Coasts
Computer simulation
Dynamics
Environmental aspects
Groundwater
Groundwater recharge
Groundwater resources
Growth
Morphology
Natural history
Radiative forcing
Recharge zones
Salinization
Storm surges
Storms
Three dimensional models
Tidal dynamics
Water resources
Wave runup
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Summary:For a large beach nourishment called the Sand Engine – constructed in 2011 at the Dutch coast – we have examined the impact of coastal forcing (i.e. natural processes that drive coastal hydro- and morphodynamics) and groundwater recharge on the growth of a fresh groundwater lens between 2011 and 2016. Measurements of the morphological change and the tidal dynamics at the study site were incorporated in a calibrated three-dimensional and variable-density groundwater model of the study area. Simulations with this model showed that the detailed incorporation of both the local hydro- and morphodynamics and the actual recharge rate can result in a reliable reconstruction of the growth in fresh groundwater resources. In contrast, the neglect of tidal dynamics, land-surface inundations, and morphological changes in model simulations can result in considerable overestimations of the volume of fresh groundwater. In particular, wave runup and coinciding coastal erosion during storm surges limit the growth in fresh groundwater resources in dynamic coastal environments, and should be considered at potential nourishment sites to delineate the area that is vulnerable to salinization.
ISSN:1607-7938
1027-5606
1607-7938
DOI:10.5194/hess-22-1065-2018