Talk Abstract:
Coastal groundwater is important to freshwater resources, ecosystem health, pollutant transport, and flooding in coastal communities. The evolution of groundwater levels, circulation, and salinities is affected by ocean tides, storm surges, and waves, the beach morphology, and aquifer properties. Meanwhile, the exchange of water between the ocean and the aquifer can affect sediment transport and surface water chemistry. Despite significant progress over the past decades, groundwater processes in and near the shoreline are not understood well. Here, the groundwater evolution observed in the relatively deep surface aquifer of a sandy barrier island near Duck, NC, will be compared with the groundwater evolution measured in the shallow surface aquifer at Torrey Pines beach, San Diego, CA. Similarities and differences in the transformation and propagation of tidal and storm-driven watertable fluctuations within the two beaches will be described using linear and nonlinear theories. Impacts of ocean storms on groundwater-driven flooding, a saline groundwater plume, and infiltration and exfiltration through the beach at Duck, NC will be discussed in the context of the regional differences between the field sites.
All seminars this quarter will be in a hybrid format. Recording available upon request.
Seminar is at 3:30pm local time (San Diego)