MOnitoring Sea-water intrusion in coastal aquifers and Testing pilot projects for its mitigation
MoST – Monitoring salt intrusion into coastal aquifers and testing pilot projects for its mitigation.
Seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers is a global problem and is linked to multiple causes, including human activities, such as water abstraction for water supply and irrigation, hydraulic reclamation of areas below sea level, and climate change, which contributes to reducing natural aquifer recharge.
The Adriatic coastal regions of Italy and Croatia are significantly impacted by salt contamination, with serious consequences for agricultural activities and tourism that can become dramatic in a relatively short time due to the effects of climate change.
The primary objective of MoST is to monitor salt intrusion, recommend and test appropriate countermeasures, in order to address the transnational assessment of the vulnerability of coastal areas to aquifer salinization and the conservation of strategic freshwater resources.
Geophysical surveys will be conducted and pilot monitoring sites established, as well as laboratory experiments and numerical models that will lead to an appropriate coastal aquifer management plan.
MoST will involve the collaboration and involvement of local communities and authorities, who are the main stakeholders in the project's results and its impact on agriculture and tourism.
– Project coordinator: Prof. Paolo Salandin, University of Padua, ICEA Department
– CNR Scientific Director: Dr. Luigi Tosi, CNR-IGG