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Effect of underground urban structures on eutrophic coastal environment
Tadanobu Nakayama1, Masataka Watanabe, Kazunori Tanji
1Asian Environment Research Group, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. nakat@nies.go.jp
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 3, 2007
Summary
Urban development in Tokyo has altered groundwater flow, increasing levels and decreasing bay seepage. Proposed green infrastructure scenarios show potential for groundwater level recovery.
Area of Science:
- Eco-hydrology
- Hydrogeology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- The Kanto Plain and Tokyo Bay face complex eco-hydrological challenges.
- Groundwater dynamics are significantly impacted by urban development and water withdrawal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the NICE model (NICE-SEA) for simulating groundwater and solute transport in the Kanto Plain.
- To assess the impact of urban structures and propose scenarios for ecosystem service provisioning.
Main Methods:
- Expanded the NICE model to include density currents and solute transport.
- Incorporated water table and tidal fluctuations.
- Simulated the effects of underground urban structures and proposed political scenarios for infiltration.
Main Results:
- The model accurately reproduced observed river discharge and groundwater levels.
- Simulated groundwater levels indicate significant depletion in urban areas.
- Urban infrastructure disrupts groundwater flow, increasing levels and reducing seepage into Tokyo Bay.
Conclusions:
- Underground urban structures and sewer leakage significantly alter the hydrological cycle.
- Proposed scenarios involving green infrastructure show potential for increasing groundwater levels and mitigating negative impacts.
- Management strategies are needed to address altered groundwater dynamics and nutrient supply to Tokyo Bay.
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