Coastal Resiliency Groundwater Considerations.

Area of Science:

• Hydrogeology
• Coastal Science
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Coastal resiliency assessments must consider rising groundwater levels.
• Unlike traditional groundwater modeling, coastal assessments focus on groundwater emergence due to sea level rise.
• Effective modeling requires understanding the unique challenges of coastal hydrogeology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the importance of groundwater emergence in coastal resiliency.
• To present a range of modeling options for assessing coastal groundwater.
• To emphasize the need for hydrogeological expertise in these assessments.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing various groundwater modeling techniques applicable to coastal environments.
• Differentiating between contaminant tracking models and emergence-focused models.
• Highlighting the spectrum of model complexity, from water table elevation to integrated stormwater models.

Main Results:

• Coastal groundwater emergence is a critical factor influenced by sea level rise.
• Model selection depends on data availability and specific project requirements.
• A range of modeling tools are available, from simplified to complex integrated systems.

Conclusions:

• Hydrogeological expertise is essential for accurate coastal groundwater resiliency assessments.
• Understanding potential groundwater emergence is crucial for effective coastal adaptation strategies.
• The choice of modeling approach should align with project scope and data constraints.