APPLICATION OF O-H-B-Sr ISOTOPE SYSTEMATICS TO THE EXPLORATION OF SALINIZATION AND FLUSHING IN COASTAL AQUIFERS : PRELIMINARY DATA FROM THE PIALASSA BAIONA ECOSYSTEM (ADRIATIC SEA)

Authors

  • Riccardo Petrini Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Trieste, Trieste
  • Maddalena Pennisi Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, CNR, Pisa
  • Alessandra Adorni Braccesi Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, CNR, Pisa
  • Barbara Stenni Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Ambientali e Marine, Università di Trieste, Trieste
  • Onelio Flora Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Ambientali e Marine, Università di Trieste, Trieste
  • Umberto Aviani Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Trieste, Trieste

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/3811

Keywords:

Stable-isotope geochemistry, saltwater intrusion, coastal aquifers, Pialassa Baiona

Abstract

O, H, B and Sr isotopes were identified from surface-waters, ground-waters and waters percolating in soils at the Pialassa Baiona lagoon and nearby inland areas. The preliminary data demonstrate the occurrence of both conservative mixtures between seawater and freshwaters and cation exchange at the salt/fresh water interface during the intrusion. The O and H isotopes indicate that the freshwater component in the binary mixing had the isotopic features of the rainwater from Apennine catchments. Coupled O-H-B isotopes also show that the major contribution of the moving seawater was confined to the deeper aquifers and some of the soil waters. The Sr isotopes highlight the role of cation exchanges when seawater flushes freshwater aquifers, and allow the recognition of the different components of the solute. Deviations from these processes as revealed by B isotopes are interpreted as the evidence of possible anthropogenic inputs.

References

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Published

2009-06-20

How to Cite

Petrini, R., Pennisi, M., Adorni Braccesi, A., Stenni, B., Flora, O., & Aviani, U. (2009). APPLICATION OF O-H-B-Sr ISOTOPE SYSTEMATICS TO THE EXPLORATION OF SALINIZATION AND FLUSHING IN COASTAL AQUIFERS : PRELIMINARY DATA FROM THE PIALASSA BAIONA ECOSYSTEM (ADRIATIC SEA). EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, 1(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2281-4485/3811

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