Delineating the characteristics of saline water intrusion in the coastal aquifers of Tamil Nadu, India by analysing the Dar-Zarrouk parameters

  • Somvir SINGH Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti), India
  • Param K. GAUTAM Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India
  • Prashant KUMAR Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
  • Arkoprovo BISWAS Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, U.P., India
  • Tandrila SARKAR Indian Institute of Technology (Indian Schol of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India
Keywords: Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), Dar-Zarrouk (D-Z) parameters, coastal aquifers, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Tuticorin, located in the southeastern part of Tamil Nadu, is a coastal aquifer on which Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was conducted, thereby analysing the interpreted subsurface resistivity layer parameters covering around 112 km2 area of the study region. VES is an essential tool for investigating hard rock terrains of coastal aquifers and perceive an idea about the groundwater quality. In this study, Dar-Zarrouk (D-Z) parameters like longitudinal conductance (Sc), transverse resistance (Tr) and anisotropy (λ) are analysed as these are well-established parameters in delineating the occurrence and distribution of both fresh and saline water aquifers. These parameters are also very persuasive in investigating complex subsurface parameters (resistivity and conductivity) within saline water intruded coastal region environment. After conducting a thorough survey, the resistivity results reflect that the sediments are enriched with saltwater, clay with moderate freshwater and freshwater-bearing formations. The analysis shows that the D-Z parameters offer a helpful and assured answer in demarcating the saline, moderate fresh, and freshwater aquifers. Therefore, the behaviour and patterns of the D-Z parameters in space established the existence of saline water and freshwater aquifer structures in the coastal aquifers over a vast area.

Author Biographies

Prashant KUMAR, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, U.P., India

Department of Geology

Arkoprovo BISWAS, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, U.P., India

Department of Geology

Published
2021-06-29
How to Cite
SINGH, S., GAUTAM, P. K., KUMAR, P., BISWAS, A., & SARKAR, T. (2021). Delineating the characteristics of saline water intrusion in the coastal aquifers of Tamil Nadu, India by analysing the Dar-Zarrouk parameters. Contributions to Geophysics and Geodesy, 51(2), 141-163. https://doi.org/10.31577/congeo.2021.51.2.3
Section
original research papers