The progressive population growth in coastal areas and the increasing groundwater discharge, together withpeculiarities of karst coastal aquifers constitute a huge worldwide problem, particularly relevant for coastal aquifers ofthe Mediterranean basin (Tulipano et al., 2005).Karst aquifers in coastal regions are well known to be highly vulnerable to the overexploitation of groundwaterresources, both from water increasing demand than from decreasing aquifer recharge due to climate changes. The coastalcarbonate aquifers of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular the Adriatic and Ionian coast that extend between westernGreece and Italy up to the eastern coast of Sicily not only ensure the socio-economic development of the populations butfeeds with spring waters valuable wetland environments with negative effects on ecosystems (Barrocu, 2003; Bonacci,2014; Eftimi & Zojer, 2015; Polemio, 2016).The aim of this study is to develop management and forecast tools to identify the best way to assure enduringavailability of high quality groundwater, and conciliate irrigation and drinking water demands. A geodatabase, collectinginformation for all carbonate aquifers present along the Adriatic and Ionian coast, will be first created. At the core thereis a Geographic Information System, in which are placed the spatial information regarding the geology of aquifers,hydrogeological and geochemical features, together with climatic conditions and specific information concerning past,present and future groundwater usage.The availability of tools that allow the integrated analysis of local hydrogeological situations, in reference to the widerareas where they are located, allows numerous applications. The system, in fact, is not only aimed to archiving, queryingand mapping, but also to operate spatial analysis and the implementation of calculation systems, to return thehydrogeological conceptual models, supporting both the management of groundwater resources and the knowledge forthe protection of coastal environments, and groundwater in general.
Degradation of coastal aquifers of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea: the framework of knowledge
De Giorgio G.
Primo
;Santaloia F.;Zuffiano L. E.;Basso A.;Dragone V.;Polemio M.Ultimo
2016
Abstract
The progressive population growth in coastal areas and the increasing groundwater discharge, together withpeculiarities of karst coastal aquifers constitute a huge worldwide problem, particularly relevant for coastal aquifers ofthe Mediterranean basin (Tulipano et al., 2005).Karst aquifers in coastal regions are well known to be highly vulnerable to the overexploitation of groundwaterresources, both from water increasing demand than from decreasing aquifer recharge due to climate changes. The coastalcarbonate aquifers of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular the Adriatic and Ionian coast that extend between westernGreece and Italy up to the eastern coast of Sicily not only ensure the socio-economic development of the populations butfeeds with spring waters valuable wetland environments with negative effects on ecosystems (Barrocu, 2003; Bonacci,2014; Eftimi & Zojer, 2015; Polemio, 2016).The aim of this study is to develop management and forecast tools to identify the best way to assure enduringavailability of high quality groundwater, and conciliate irrigation and drinking water demands. A geodatabase, collectinginformation for all carbonate aquifers present along the Adriatic and Ionian coast, will be first created. At the core thereis a Geographic Information System, in which are placed the spatial information regarding the geology of aquifers,hydrogeological and geochemical features, together with climatic conditions and specific information concerning past,present and future groundwater usage.The availability of tools that allow the integrated analysis of local hydrogeological situations, in reference to the widerareas where they are located, allows numerous applications. The system, in fact, is not only aimed to archiving, queryingand mapping, but also to operate spatial analysis and the implementation of calculation systems, to return thehydrogeological conceptual models, supporting both the management of groundwater resources and the knowledge forthe protection of coastal environments, and groundwater in general.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
