Characterizing the Salinity Distribution at the Belgian Coastal Zone by Constraining Electrical Resistivity Tomography Inversions Using Cone Penetration Tests
Please login to view abstract download link
Groundwater resource distribution in coastal areas is the result of the complex interaction between freshwater and seawater. At the Belgian coast, the distribution of the fresh/salt water interface is complex due to the Quaternary coastal evolution and anthropogenic factors (e.g., polders, groundwater pumping). Geologic heterogeneity plays a role in the groundwater distribution. Geophysical methods based on electrical conductivity (e.g., Electrical Resistivity Tomography, ElectroMagnetic Induction) are used to investigate the geology and the groundwater distribution of the Belgian coastal zone in more detail. The geophysical results are optimized using direct electrical conductivity data and/or the implementation of indirect structural information both obtained with Cone Penetration Tests (geotechnical method).