Surface water–groundwater exchange in transitional coastal environments by airborne electromagnetics: The Venice Lagoon example

A novel application of airborne electromagnetics (AEM) reveals critical hydrogeological features in the Venice Lagoon, offering unprecedented insights into saltwater intrusion and freshwater transitions in coastal aquifers. The study demonstrates that AEM, combined with spatially constrained inversion (SCI), can accurately map subsurface processes to depths of 200 meters, distinguishing between salt-saturated and fresher sediments beneath the lagoon floor. This method provides a cost-effective and rapid alternative to traditional techniques, enhancing our understanding of groundwater dynamics in transitional coastal environments worldwide. The findings underscore AEM's potential to improve hydrogeological characterization in lagoons, wetlands, and deltas, which are ecologically and socio-economically vital.

Viezzoli, A., Tosi, L., Teatini, P., & Silvestri, S. (2010). Surface water–groundwater exchange in transitional coastal environments by airborne electromagnetics: The Venice Lagoon example. Geophysical Research Letters, 37(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009gl041572