Assessment of Ocean Dynamics on Groundwater Discharge Across Aquifer Type Through Coupled Ocean-Groundwater Models

  • Jin, JIANGYUE (GHS)
  • Espino, Manuel (LIM)
  • Fernández, Daniel (GHS)
  • Floch, Albert (GHS)

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Coastal zones are dynamic interfaces where groundwater-ocean interactions, such as seawater intrusion (SWI) and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), critically influence water resource sustainability and ecosystem stability. While hydraulic properties like groundwater permeability and ocean tidal effects are well-studied, the impacts of other coastal physical properties—salinity, temperature, and turbulent diffusion—on these processes, particularly across different aquifer types, remain insufficiently explored. This study employs a coupled Telemac-3D and MODFLOW6 model to comparatively analyze coastal groundwater dynamics in confined and unconfined aquifers under comparable geometries. Through systematic modulation of oceanic drivers - coastal salinity, coastal temperature, and turbulent diffusion parameters - we establish a controlled framework to: 1) quantify differential sensitivity of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and seawater intrusion (SWI) to individual marine forcing factors, and 2) characterize how aquifer confinement regulates the spatiotemporal evolution of groundwater-ocean exchange. This comparative framework reveals how geological architecture influences the balance of density-driven flow, advection, and dispersion at the terrestrial-marine interface. This research seeks to improve understanding of coastal groundwater processes and support better management strategies for regions with varied aquifer types and environmental challenges.