Journal of Ecohydrology

Journal of Ecohydrology

Effectiveness of saltwater intrusion control approaches in coastal aquifers under climate change conditions

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Mohammad Salah Jaffari 1
Hamid kardan moghaddam 2
Ahmad Sharafati 3
1 Civil Engineering Department, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad
2 Department of Water resources research, Water research institute, Ministry of energy, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad
10.22059/ije.2025.397627.1874
Abstract
Research Topic: Evaluation of climate change in saltwater intrusion.
 
Objective: In this study, the assessment of climate change adaptation strategies in the Sari-Neka coastal aquifer was analyzed using the qualitative sustainability index.
 
Method: The results of the climate simulation showed that the temperature and precipitation in the region have increased. Given the characteristics of the region, increasing temperature is effective in increasing the humidity of the region and increasing precipitation. Quantitative simulation of the aquifer was performed using the MODFLOW model, and to simulate the effect of saltwater intrusion in the outlet section of the aquifer, quantitative and qualitative simulations were performed simultaneously. Accordingly, the MT3DMs qualitative model was used to simulate the chloride concentration at the surface, and the SEAWAT model was used to simulate the concentration at the depth of the aquifer.
 
Results: The results obtained showed that in the current situation, there is saltwater intrusion of 660 meters.The results of the aquifer simulation, considering 3 release scenarios, showed that in the SSP 126 scenario, the invasion rate was estimated to be 710 meters, in the SSP 245 scenario, the invasion rate was 740 meters, and in the SSP 585 scenario, the invasion rate was estimated to be 820 meters.Due to the increase in saltwater intrusion in the aquifer, 8 adaptation strategies were examined in the form of two issues: reducing aquifer exploitation and increasing recharge to the aquifer.The results showed that the strategies related to the outlet section of the aquifer had the most effects due to the short distance, and the two strategies of reducing 30% of withdrawal from the aquifer in the outlet section and artificial recharge in the outlet section had the most effects compared to other strategies.
 
Conclusions: The results showed that the strategy of reducing 30% of withdrawals in the outlet section of the aquifer led to a 53% improvement in the quality sustainability index. 
Keywords
Climate change
saltwater intrusion
SEAWAT model
quality sustainability index
Sari-Naka aquifer
Subjects
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Journal of Ecohydrology
Volume 12, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 964-981

  • Receive Date 05 October 2025
  • Revise Date 15 November 2025
  • Accept Date 09 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 09 December 2025
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025