TY - JOUR

T1 - Saltwater intrusion in Denmark

AU - Duque, Carlos

AU - Meyer, Rena

AU - Sonnenborg, Torben O.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 CSIC.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - The studies investigating saltwater intrusion in Denmark have been reviewed to identify the main characteristics and features that have an impact on coastal aquifers interacting with the sea. Traditionally, in regions with wet climate, saltwater intrusion is not appointed as a frequent problem and it is more commonly linked to areas affected by water scarcity. Nevertheless, multiple factors that can induce the salinization of coastal aquifers have been found for Denmark such as the presence of coastal drained lowlands with the water table below the sea level or karstic features and buried valleys in carbonate and detrital systems respectively that can act as preferential flow paths for saline water. Eustatic changes have been also played an important role in the salinization of aquifers, in deep aquifers saline ancient connate water can be identi-fied and in small islands, a delicate equilibrium of freshwater lenses is generated over saline water. As the water supply in this country depends almost exclusively on groundwater, saltwater intrusion can jeopardize fresh groundwater resources in coastal areas. An overview of the cas-es already studied, questions about the magnitude of these issues and the future perspectives with climate changes are discussed to put into context what is already known and what are the next challenges.

AB - The studies investigating saltwater intrusion in Denmark have been reviewed to identify the main characteristics and features that have an impact on coastal aquifers interacting with the sea. Traditionally, in regions with wet climate, saltwater intrusion is not appointed as a frequent problem and it is more commonly linked to areas affected by water scarcity. Nevertheless, multiple factors that can induce the salinization of coastal aquifers have been found for Denmark such as the presence of coastal drained lowlands with the water table below the sea level or karstic features and buried valleys in carbonate and detrital systems respectively that can act as preferential flow paths for saline water. Eustatic changes have been also played an important role in the salinization of aquifers, in deep aquifers saline ancient connate water can be identi-fied and in small islands, a delicate equilibrium of freshwater lenses is generated over saline water. As the water supply in this country depends almost exclusively on groundwater, saltwater intrusion can jeopardize fresh groundwater resources in coastal areas. An overview of the cas-es already studied, questions about the magnitude of these issues and the future perspectives with climate changes are discussed to put into context what is already known and what are the next challenges.

KW - Aerial electromagnetic methods

KW - Coastal aquifers

KW - Fractured aquifers

KW - Freshwater lenses

KW - Saltwater intrusion

U2 - 10.21701/bolgeomin/133.1/002

DO - 10.21701/bolgeomin/133.1/002

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85133215775

VL - 133

SP - 29

EP - 46

JO - Boletin Geologico y Minero

JF - Boletin Geologico y Minero

SN - 0366-0176

IS - 1

ER -