Managing saltwater intrusion in coastal arid regions and its societal implications for agriculture

Abstract. Coastal aquifers in arid and semiarid regions are particularly at risk due to intrusion of salty marine water. Since groundwater is predominantly used in irrigated agriculture, its excessive pumping – above the natural rate of replenishment – strengthen the intrusion process. Using this increasingly saline water for irrigation, leads to a destruction of valuable agricultural resources and the economic basis of farmers and their communities. The limitation of resources (water and soil) in these regions requires a societal adaptation and change in behaviour as well as the development of appropriate management strategies for a transition towards stable and sustainable future hydrosystem states. Besides a description of the system dynamics and the spatial consequences of adaptation on the resources availability, the contribution combines results of an empirical survey with stakeholders and physically based modelling of the groundwater-agriculture hydrosystem interactions. This includes an analysis of stakeholders' (farmers and decision makers) behaviour and opinions regarding several management interventions aiming on water demand and water resources management as well as the thinking of decision makers how farmers will behave. In this context, the technical counter measures to manage the saltwater intrusion by simulating different groundwater pumping strategies and scenarios are evaluated from the economic and social point of view and if the spatial variability of the aquifer's hydrogeology is taken into consideration. The study is exemplarily investigated for the south Batinah region in the Sultanate of Oman, which is affected by saltwater intrusion into a coastal aquifer system due to excessive groundwater withdrawal for irrigated agriculture.

Download Full-text

Twenty five years of operational experience using GW modeling to evaluate sustainable use of coastal aquifers for major water supplies

Water Practice & Technology ◽

10.2166/wpt.2015.053 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 465-473

Author(s):

B. M. Harley ◽

M. Gamache ◽

K. K. Masterson ◽

R. H. Fitzgerald

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Coastal Aquifers ◽

Saltwater Intrusion ◽

Large Scale ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Operational Experience ◽

Aquifer System ◽

Southeastern Us ◽

Groundwater Supply

The sustainable development and management of groundwater resources in coastal aquifers is complex and, historically, challenging to accomplish. Groundwater models play an essential role in addressing these complexities and providing the basis for planning future sustainable development. For more than 25 years, the authors have applied three-dimensional groundwater models to manage large scale coastal aquifers. The paper will present case studies demonstrating the application of groundwater models to evaluate conditions in complex coastal environments and to develop sustainable groundwater management strategies. These studies include Long Island, a sole source aquifer system in New York serving nearly 3 million people; aquifers in Southern California where injection barriers are used to prevent saltwater intrusion; and Savannah, Georgia in the southeastern US, where concentrated groundwater pumping has contributed to saltwater intrusion at a nearby resort island, and planning is underway to ensure a sustainable groundwater supply to both local industries and municipalities.

Download Full-text

Trained meta-models and evolutionary algorithm based multi-objective management of coastal aquifers under parameter uncertainty

Journal of Hydroinformatics ◽

10.2166/hydro.2018.087 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 1247-1267 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dilip Kumar Roy ◽

Bithin Datta

Keyword(s):

Coastal Aquifers ◽

Parameter Uncertainty ◽

Saltwater Intrusion ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Groundwater Extraction ◽

Aquifer Recharge ◽

Meta Model ◽

Aquifer System ◽

Multi Objective ◽

Input Parameters

Abstract Meta-model based coupled simulation-optimization methodology is an effective tool in developing sustainable saltwater intrusion management strategies for coastal aquifers. Such management strategies largely depend on the accuracy, reliability, and computational feasibility of meta-models and the numerical simulation model. However, groundwater models are associated with a certain amount of uncertainties, e.g. parameter uncertainty and uncertainty in prediction. This study addresses uncertainties related to input parameters of the groundwater flow and transport system by using a set of randomized input parameters. Three meta-models are compared to characterize responses of water quality in coastal aquifers due to groundwater extraction patterns under parameter uncertainty. The ensemble of the best meta-model is then coupled with a multi-objective optimization algorithm to develop a saltwater intrusion management model. Uncertainties in hydraulic conductivity, compressibility, bulk density, and aquifer recharge are incorporated in the proposed approach. These uncertainties in the physical system are captured by the meta-models whereas the prediction uncertainties of meta-models are further addressed by the ensemble approach. An illustrative multi-layered coastal aquifer system is used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. Evaluation results indicate the capability of the proposed approach to develop accurate and reliable management strategies for groundwater extraction to control saltwater intrusion.

Download Full-text

Exploring and Prioritization of Mobile-Based Self-Management Strategies for HIV Care

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526518666181022113900 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 288-296

Author(s):

Esmaeil Mehraeen ◽

Reza Safdari ◽

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽

Niloofar Mohammadzadeh

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Point Of View ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Self Management ◽

Second Phase ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Management Interventions

Background: Appropriate mobile-based self-management strategies can be as new approaches to decelerate the HIV infection progression and improve the quality of life. This study aims at (i) identifying in the literature mobile-based self-management strategies for HIV care and (ii) prioritizing those from the point of view of infectious diseases specialists. This study provides some clues to design useful mobile-based self-management tools for HIV patients, from the point of view of practitioners. Methods: This mixed methods study was done in two main phases. In the first phase, a review was conducted in: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, and Ovid. In this manner, related studies published between 2010 and 2017 and in the English language were reviewed. In the second phase, identified mobile-based self-management strategies were scored and prioritized by 23 participants. Frequency distribution and mean reports were calculated using SPSS statistical software. Results: By detailed reviewing of 24 related articles, the HIV mobile-based self-management strategies were identified in 47 categories and subcategories. According to the findings, "enhance the quality of life" was the main self-management strategy addressed by reviewed studies. However, "antiretroviral therapy and medication adherence" was reported at a higher rate to be a more helpful strategy than "enhance the quality of life". Conclusion: In this study, helpful HIV mobile-based self-management strategies were identified that can be used to guide self-management interventions which have the potential to improve the healthcare services for people living with HIV.

Download Full-text

Application and evaluation of electromagnetic methods for imaging saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers: Seaside Groundwater Basin, California

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/geo2012-0004.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. B77-B88 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Vanessa Nenna ◽

Daan Herckenrath ◽

Rosemary Knight ◽

Nick Odlum ◽

Darcy McPhee

Keyword(s):

Coastal Aquifers ◽

Saltwater Intrusion ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Geophysical Methods ◽

Unconfined Aquifer ◽

Data Sets ◽

Data Set ◽

Aquifer System ◽

Spatial Coverage

Developing effective resource management strategies to limit or prevent saltwater intrusion as a result of increasing demands on coastal groundwater resources requires reliable information about the geologic structure and hydrologic state of an aquifer system. A common strategy for acquiring such information is to drill sentinel wells near the coast to monitor changes in water salinity with time. However, installation and operation of sentinel wells is costly and provides limited spatial coverage. We studied the use of noninvasive electromagnetic (EM) geophysical methods as an alternative to installation of monitoring wells for characterizing coastal aquifers. We tested the feasibility of using EM methods at a field site in northern California to identify the potential for and/or presence of hydraulic communication between an unconfined saline aquifer and a confined freshwater aquifer. One-dimensional soundings were acquired using the time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) and audiomagnetotelluric (AMT) methods. We compared inverted resistivity models of TDEM and AMT data obtained from several inversion algorithms. We found that multiple interpretations of inverted models can be supported by the same data set, but that there were consistencies between all data sets and inversion algorithms. Results from all collected data sets suggested that EM methods are capable of reliably identifying a saltwater-saturated zone in the unconfined aquifer. Geophysical data indicated that the impermeable clay between aquifers may be more continuous than is supported by current models.

Download Full-text

Liquid waste management strategies for coastal areas

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2002.0173 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 46 (8) ◽

pp. 169-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.N. Alpaslan ◽

D. Dölgen ◽

A. Akyarli

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Liquid Waste ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Point Of View ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Challenging Issue

Liquid waste management in coastal areas is a challenging issue, because recipe solutions applied so far have not met the expectations fully. Therefore decision-makers, planners, engineers as well as the inhabitants of these places are looking for a better approach that will adequately handle the problem and perform reliable solutions. It is the aim of this paper to review the recent situation of liquid waste management for coastal areas in general, and discuss it from the point of view of Turkey in particular. A simple and applicable waste management strategy is also proposed in the paper and its merits are illustrated in a case study. Finally, anticipating the wide applications of such systems in coastal establishments, some recommendations are forwarded.

Download Full-text

Limnological characteristics, community metabolism and management strategies of a coastal sinkhole in Cuba (Cenote Jennifer)

Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology ◽

10.1051/limn/2020022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Roberto González-De Zayas ◽

Liosban Lantigua Ponce de León ◽

Liezel Guerra Rodríguez ◽

Felipe Matos Pupo ◽

Leslie Hernández-Fernández

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Sulfide ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Major Ions ◽

Saline Water ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Tourist Destination ◽

Community Metabolism ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Made In ◽

Limnological Parameters

The Cenote Jennifer is an important and unique aquatic sinkhole in Cayo Coco (Jardines del Rey Tourist Destination) that has brackish to saline water. Two samplings were made in 1998 and 2009, and 4 metabolism community experiments in 2009. Some limnological parameters were measured in both samplings (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen major ions, hydrogen sulfide, nutrients and others). Community metabolism was measured through incubated oxygen concentration in clear and dark oxygen bottles. Results showed that the sinkhole limnology depends on rainfall and light incidence year, with some stratification episodes, due to halocline or oxycline presence, rather than thermocline. The sinkhole water was oligotrophic (total nitrogen of 41.5 ± 22.2 μmol l−1 and total phosphorus of 0.3 ± 0.2 μmol l−1) and with low productivity (gross primary productivity of 63.0 mg C m−2 d−1). Anoxia and hypoxia were present at the bottom with higher levels of hydrogen sulfide, lower pH and restricted influence of the adjacent sea (2 km away). To protect the Cenote Jennifer, tourist exploitation should be avoided and more resources to ecological and morphological studies should be allocated, and eventually use this aquatic system only for specialized diving. For conservation purposes, illegal garbage disposal in the surrounding forest should end.

Download Full-text

Morphometric analysis and prioritization of upper Benue River watershed, Northern Nigeria

Applied Water Science ◽

10.1007/s13201-021-01364-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Caleb Akoji Odiji ◽

Olaide Monsor Aderoju ◽

Joseph Bisong Eta ◽

Idris Shehu ◽

Adama Mai-Bukar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Order System ◽

Hydrological Process ◽

Drainage Pattern ◽

River Watershed ◽

Digital Elevation ◽

Hypsometric Integral ◽

Cumulative Length ◽

Elevation Model

AbstractThe upper Benue River watershed is undergoing remarkable modifications due to man-made and natural phenomena. Hence, an evaluation is required to understand the hydrological process of the watershed for planning and management strategies. This study aimed to assess the morphometric characteristics and prioritize the upper Benue River watershed. The boundary of the watershed and sub-watersheds, as well as stream networks, was extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM) coupled with hydrological and topographic maps. Twenty-eight morphometric parameters under three categories, i.e. linear, areal, and relief aspects were computed and mapped. Findings from the study revealed that the watershed is a seventh stream order system characterized by a dendritic drainage pattern. The result also showed that 4821 streams were extracted with a cumulative length of 30,232.84 km. The hypsometric integral of the watershed was estimated to be 0.22, indicating that it is in the old stage. In the prioritization of the watershed, the morphometric variables were utilized to calculate and classify the compound factor. The result showed that sub-watersheds 12, 16, 18, 24, 26, and 27 were ranked as very high priority for which conservation measures are required to mitigate the risk of flood and erosion. The outcome of this study can be used by decision-makers for sustainable watershed management and planning.

Download Full-text

Effectiveness of self-management interventions in inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review informing the 2021 EULAR recommendations for the implementation of self-management strategies in patients with inflammatory arthritis

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001647 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. e001647

Author(s):

Andréa Marques ◽

Eduardo Santos ◽

Elena Nikiphorou ◽

Ailsa Bosworth ◽

Loreto Carmona

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Full Text ◽

Inflammatory Arthritis ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Self Management ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Management Interventions

ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review (SR) on the effectiveness of self-management interventions, in order to inform the European League Against Rheumatism Recommendations for its implementation in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA).MethodsThe SR was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook and included adults (≥18 years) with IA. The search strategy was run in Medline through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and PEDro. The assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis were performed by two reviewers independently. A narrative Summary of Findings was provided according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation.ResultsFrom a total 1577 references, 57 were selected for a full-text review, and 32 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria (19 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 13 SRs). The most studied self-management components were specific interactive disease education in ten RCTs, problem solving in nine RCTs, cognitive–behavioural therapy in eight RCTs, goal setting in six RCTs, patient education in five RCTs and response training in two RCTs. The most studied interventions were multicomponent or single exercise/physical activity in six SRs, psychosocial interventions in five SRs and education in two SRs. Overall, all these specific components and interventions of self-management have beneficial effects on IAs-related outcomes.ConclusionsThe findings confirm the beneficial effect of the self-management interventions in IA and the importance of their implementation. Further research should focus on the understanding that self-management is a complex intervention to allow the isolation of the effectiveness of its different components.

Download Full-text

E-Commerce Calls for Cyber-Security and Sustainability: How European Citizens Look for a Trusted Online Environment

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126752 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6752

Author(s):

Idiano D’Adamo ◽

Rocío González-Sánchez ◽

Maria Sonia Medina-Salgado ◽

Davide Settembre-Blundo

Keyword(s):

Cyber Security ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Point Of View ◽

Decision Makers ◽

European Countries ◽

Business Strategies ◽

Public Authorities ◽

Regulatory Policies ◽

Critical Issues ◽

Different Levels

The pandemic has changed the citizens’ behavior, inducing them to avoid any real contact. This has given an incredible impulse to e-commerce; however, the complexity of the topic has not yet been adequately explored in the literature. To fill this gap, this study has a twofold purpose: (1) to investigate how European countries comparatively perform in e-commerce, and (2) to describe what are the most important challenges for the further expansion of e-commerce. To this end, we adopted a hybrid methodology based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and a Likert scale survey. The first method allows to us rank the e-commerce performance of different European countries, while the second one looks at the problems and barriers that characterize online shopping. The results of the study show that European countries have different sensitivities to the issue of cyber-security, and among them it is possible to identify three groups with different levels of attention to the critical issues of e-commerce. The Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark belong to the group of countries most responsive to e-commerce. This request is part of a broader framework of transition toward sustainable development, i.e., a reliable digital environment where citizens and businesses can exercise their rights and freedoms in complete security. Finally, from a theoretical perspective, this paper adds a new baseline to the literature on the state of the art of e-commerce in Europe that addresses the effects of the pandemic. From a managerial point of view, decision makers can find in the results of this analysis a support for the setting of business strategies for the expansion of firms in certain markets and guidance for public authorities when defining regulatory policies for e-commerce.

Download Full-text

Theoretical and contextual considerations for self-management strategies of children and adolescents with chronic diseases: An integrative review

Journal of Child Health Care ◽

10.1177/13674935211013697 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136749352110136

Author(s):

Logan J Camp-Spivey ◽

Ayaba Logan ◽

Michelle Nichols

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Integrative Review ◽

Self Management ◽

Intervention Delivery ◽

Management Interventions ◽

Technological Platforms ◽

Management Behaviors

The primary aim of this integrative review was to critically evaluate and synthesize published, peer-reviewed research to better understand self-management strategies of children and adolescents with chronic diseases. This review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl’s methodological framework. The Pediatric Self-management Model provided the theoretical framework for understanding how self-management behaviors operate within the domains of individual, family, community, and healthcare systems. In June 2019, the electronic databases of EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Scopus, along with reference lists of applicable studies, were searched for appropriate publications. The initial searches yielded 920 citations. Of these, 11 studies met inclusion criteria. A key finding was that involving children and adolescents in the design and delivery phases of interventions was most effective in improving self-management when the interventions did not outweigh cognitive ability or maturity level. In addition, incorporating self-efficacy promotion into self-management interventions may lead to greater sense of responsibility and improved health outcomes. In terms of intervention delivery of self-management strategies, the use of technological platforms and devices was revealed as a promising avenue for youth. A final implication was the importance of family members, peers, and healthcare providers in supporting children and adolescents in adopting self-management behaviors.

Download Full-text