Το work with title Utilizing successive linearization optimization to control the saltwater intrusion phenomenon in unconfined coastal aquifers in Crete, Greece by Dokou Zoi, Dettoraki Maria, Karatzas Giorgos, Varouchakis Emmanouil, Pappa Athina is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Bibliographic Citation
Z. Dokou, M. Dettoraki, G. P. Karatzas, E. A. Varouchakis and A. Pappa, "Utilizing successive linearization optimization to control the saltwater intrusion phenomenon in unconfined coastal aquifers in Crete, Greece," Environ. Model. Assess., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 115-128, April 2017. doi: 10.1007/s10666-016-9529-z
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-016-9529-z
In the present work, a simulation-optimization method is employed in order to manage saltwater intrusion in two unconfined coastal aquifers in Crete, Greece. The optimization formulation seeks to maximize groundwater withdrawal rates while maintaining the saltwater intrusion front at the current location or inhibiting it at locations closer to the coast. A combination of a groundwater flow model (MODFLOW) with the Ghyben-Herzberg saltwater front approximation and a sequential implementation of the Simplex algorithm (GWM) are employed. The results show that under the current pumping strategies, the saltwater intrusion front will continue to move inland, posing a serious threat to the groundwater quality of these regions. Optimal groundwater withdrawal scenarios that take into consideration the water needs of the local communities and environmental concerns are presented and discussed. In both case studies, significant reductions in pumping are required in order for the saltwater intrusion front to retract closer to the shoreline.