Author(s)

JOSELYNE SOLÓRZANO, EMILY SÁNCHEZ-ZAMBRANO, MARIBEL AGUILAR-AGUILAR, ASTRID RAMÍREZ-LÓPEZ, EUDES RAMOS-SÁNCHEZ, MILENA BAQUE, PAÚL CARRIÓN-MERO

Abstract

Coastal aquifers are critical to the socioeconomic development of coastal areas. One of the most common effects in the coastal profile is the advance of saltwater intrusion, sometimes due to natural factors and sometimes highlighted by anthropogenic actions. Seawater intrusion is a highly studied problem for the control, conservation, and management of aquifers. One of the most pressing challenges in marine coastal reality is managing the effects of saltwater intrusion, and geophysics is one of the most applied techniques. This work aims to analyse geophysics’ applications in saline intrusion study cases through bibliometrics and a systematic review of the knowledge of techniques for the study, control and sustainable management of coastal aquifers. The method focuses on searching for scientific publications in the Scopus database using the descriptors ‘saltwater intrusion’ and ‘geophysics’ and their synonyms. The publications are classified using the VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software, recognising their evolution and scientific trends. The results reflect 564 publications in Scopus, various methods where the measurement of water levels in nearby wells predominates, geoelectric applications, geoelectric cuts, 3D models, physical-mathematical analysis models such as numerical models and water quality measurements applying isotopic methods. The researcher’s experience reveals the integration and synergy in techniques and methods used to ensure the effective management of this phenomenon. Seawater intrusion can be natural, but above all, it stands out due to processes of excessive exploitation of groundwater, which, in many cases, is an irreversible situation. Therefore, the management of a coastal aquifer is vital to its sustainability.

Keywords

groundwater management, salt wedge, conductivity, scientometric, geoelectrical, groundwater flow models