A global coastal permeability dataset (CoPerm 1.0)

Area of Science:

• Hydrogeology
• Coastal Geoscience
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Coastal groundwater is a vital freshwater resource for communities and ecosystems.
• Groundwater abstraction in coastal areas risks saltwater intrusion, threatening water quality.
• Understanding coastal aquifer permeability is essential for sustainable groundwater management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first global dataset of coastal permeability (CoPerm 1.0).
• To provide data on landward, shoreline, and seaward permeability along global coastlines.
• To support global coastal groundwater assessments and studies on submarine groundwater discharge and saltwater intrusion.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of a global dataset (CoPerm 1.0) covering over two million kilometers of coastline.
• Inclusion of diverse shoreline characteristics such as cliffs, beaches, mangroves, and muddy coasts.
• Analysis of permeability variations across landward, shoreline, and seaward zones.

Main Results:

• CoPerm 1.0 includes data for four million coastal segments globally.
• Rocky shores are the most common shoreline type, followed by mangroves, beaches, and muddy coasts.
• Median permeability values differ across zones: shoreline (10⁻¹².³ m²), seaward (10⁻¹³.³ m²), and landward (10⁻¹³ m²).

Conclusions:

• The CoPerm 1.0 dataset offers crucial input for global and regional coastal groundwater studies.
• This dataset will enhance assessments of saltwater intrusion risks and submarine groundwater discharge.
• Understanding coastal permeability is key to ensuring the sustainable use of coastal freshwater resources.