Seawater will invade coastal aquifers and reduce drinking water, study says

Another tragedy publicized as a result of climate change was revealed in a study conducted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Seawater expected to occupy large portions of coastal aquifers by 2100This could endanger 77% of these areas in river basins worldwide.

The phenomenon known as saltwater intrusion occurs when seawater invades the groundwater supply. This could occur due to reduced freshwater recharge caused by rising sea levels and/or warmer weather conditions, which would increase saltwater pressure into the interior of the continent, according to the study published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Disturbance of the balance of opposing forces that naturally exist in the transition zones between fresh water and salt water, not only makes water unfit for consumption and agriculturebut it also seriously endangers coastal ecosystems and infrastructure.

Possible effects from salt water leakage

To map saltwater seepage around the world, researchers used data from the HydroSHEDS database, which is based on satellite images. According to study co-author Ben Hamlington, the impact of saltwater intrusion is comparable to coastal flooding.

The biggest impact will be on countries that are less prepared, he says in a statement. For this reason, Establishing a uniform global model is essential to develop effective strategies against climate impacts..

Only coordinated global action will be able to confront the challenges of climate change and protect coastal populations, according to the research.

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