A Borehole-Based Approach for Seawater Intrusion in Heterogeneous Coastal Aquifers, Eastern Part of Jeju Island, Korea

A novel borehole-based approach challenges the traditional Ghyben-Herzberg model by revealing that seawater intrusion in Jeju Island's coastal aquifers occurs through multilayered, lithologically distinct pathways rather than uniformly from the bottom depth. The study, conducted in the eastern part of Jeju Island, utilized electrical conductivity and temperature logs alongside thermal line sensor monitoring to demonstrate that freshwater and saltwater flow through independent channels with weak vertical connections. This finding highlights the heterogeneity of basaltic aquifer systems on volcanic islands, where lithological boundaries play a crucial role in groundwater dynamics. The research suggests refining conceptual models of coastal aquifers using advanced hydrodynamic measurements.

Shin, J., & Hwang, S. (2020). A Borehole-Based Approach for Seawater Intrusion in Heterogeneous Coastal Aquifers, Eastern Part of Jeju Island, Korea. Water, 12(2), 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020609