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Hydrochemical characteristics and salinization processes of groundwater in the shallow aquifer of Eastern Laizhou Bay, China
Author(s) -
Wen Xiaohu,
Diao Meina,
Wang De,
Gao Meng
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.8362
Subject(s) - groundwater , aquifer , soil salinity , geology , salinity , facies , hydrology (agriculture) , dolomite , weathering , gypsum , seawater , sulfate , environmental science , geochemistry , geomorphology , chemistry , oceanography , structural basin , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Groundwater salinization has become a crucial environmental problem worldwide and is considered the most widespread form of groundwater contamination in the coastal zone. In this study, a hydrochemical investigation was conducted in the eastern coastal shallow aquifer of Laizhou Bay to identify the hydrochemical characteristics and the salinity of groundwater using ionic ratios, deficit or excess of each ions, saturation indices and factor analysis. The results indicate that groundwater in the study area showed wide ranges and high standard deviations for most of hydrochemical parameters and can be classified into two hydrochemical facies, Ca 2+ ‐Mg 2+ ‐Cl ‐ facies and Na + ‐Cl ‐ facies. The ionic ratio, deficit or excess of each ions and SI were applied to evaluate hydrochemical processes. The results obtained indicate that the salinization processes in the coastal zones were inverse cation exchange, dissolution of calcite and dolomite, and intensive agricultural practices. Factor analysis shows that three factors were determined (Factor 1: TDS, EC, Cl ‐ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , Ca 2+ and SO 4 2‐ ; Factor 2: HCO 3 ‐ and pH; Factor 3: NO 3 ‐ and pH), representing the signature of seawater intrusion in the coastal zone, weathering of water–soil/rock interaction, and nitrate contamination, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.