Coupling of Numerical Groundwater and Ocean Models

This research article presents a study on the coupling of numerical groundwater and ocean models to enhance the understanding of coastal zone interactions. The coastal zone is identified as a dynamic and fragile ecosystem affected by human activities and land-ocean interactions. The study introduces an integrated modeling approach that combines groundwater flow and physical oceanographic models to simulate coastal-ocean-groundwater interactions accurately. A TELEMAC-3D-based hydrodynamic model and a MODFLOW 6 groundwater model were developed and coupled using FloPy and TelApy, allowing for precise co-simulation. The model's validation against empirical data demonstrated high fidelity. Key innovations include dynamic boundary conditions that address traditional model limitations, facilitating improved simulation of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and seawater intrusion (SWI). The article emphasizes the importance of bidirectional feedback mechanisms in analyzing interactions between ocean and groundwater systems, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of water-salt exchange mechanisms in coastal environments.