Modelling small groundwater systems: experiences from the Braunton Burrows and Ainsdale coastal dune systems, UK

Abesser, Corinna; Clarke, Derek; Hughes, Andrew G.; Robins, Nick S.. 2017 Modelling small groundwater systems: experiences from the Braunton Burrows and Ainsdale coastal dune systems, UK. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 21 (5). 595-614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0525-5

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0525-5

Abstract/Summary

Coastal dunes are delicate systems that are under threat from a variety of human and natural influences. Groundwater modelling can provide a better understanding of how these systems operate and can be a useful tool towards the effective management of a coastal dune system, e.g. by identifying strategically important locations for flora and fauna and guiding the planning of management operations through predicting impacts from climatic change, sea level rise and land use management. Most dune systems are small, typically of the size 10–100 km2, compared with inland groundwater systems. Applying conventional groundwater modelling approaches to these small systems presents a number of challenges due to the local scale of the system and the fact that the system boundaries (sea, drains, ponds etc.) are close to the main body of the aquifer. In this paper, two case studies will be presented using different modelling approaches to understand the groundwater balance in two dune systems in the UK. The studies demonstrate that, although conventional hydraulic models can describe the general system behaviour, a fuller understanding of the recharge mechanisms and system boundaries is needed to represent adequately system dynamics of small groundwater systems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0525-5
ISSN:	1400-0350
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater modelling
Date made live:	14 Sep 2017 13:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517809

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0525-5

ISSN:

1400-0350

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Groundwater modelling

Date made live:

14 Sep 2017 13:43 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517809