Speaker: Prof Ling Li, Westlake University, Cina

Oceanic oscillations influence significantly coastal groundwater systems. How these oscillations propagate in coastal aquifers to generate groundwater waves is not a trivial question, let alone impacts on the flow and solute (salt) transport. Salt itself adds further complication to coastal groundwater dynamics, as an active solute that affects the fluid density and can produce density/hydraulic gradients to drive the flow. Yet the density gradients are not only due to the salinity contrast but also temperature differences between seawater and groundwater. In intertidal wetlands, the complexity of the groundwater system is further exacerbated by hydro-ecological interactions, which in turn underpin the functionality of these ecosystems. In this talk, I will present our recent studies that aimed to explore these complexities of coastal groundwater systems. I will discuss the implications of our findings for research on submarine groundwater discharge and coastal wetlands at different scales.