Niue Island Hydrogeology and Freshwater Lens Analysis

Niue Island, a 259 km² raised coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, is documented with data on its geological structure and freshwater aquifer characteristics. The Australian Ocean Data Network published this analysis, which was last updated in April 2026. It details findings from drilling, gravity and magnetic surveys, and aquifer tests.

Use Cases

• Model freshwater lens thickness and configuration using resistivity probe data indicating 40 80 m thick layers in the island center.
• Estimate groundwater safe yield from reported recharge conditions, calculating approximately 4000 m³ per year per hectare for a 50 m thick layer.
• Analyze aquifer performance using specific capacity data of about 12 L/s per meter of drawdown from bore tests.
• Study geological subsurface structure integrating drilling data proving Miocene limestone over 200 m deep with inferred volcanic bedrock at ~300 m depth.
• Assess coastal saltwater intrusion dynamics based on the finding that the freshwater layer decreases to 0 within 500 m of the coast.

Strengths

• Includes specific geophysical measurements, such as freshwater lens thickness ranging from 40 170 m.
• Provides quantitative aquifer test results, including a safe long term pumping rate of about 8 L/s.
• Describes a well defined geographic area of 259 km² with clear geological context.

Limitations

• Sample data and specific column schema are unavailable, limiting direct computational analysis.
• Primary data formats are HTML and PDF, requiring extraction for structured use.
• The dataset's row count and temporal coverage for time series analysis are not provided.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Data gathered from drilling, electrical resistivity depth probes, gravity and magnetic surveys, and aquifer tests on constructed bores.

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

Niue Island, South Pacific Ocean