Esperance Coastal Aquifer Salinity Distribution 2020-2021

November 2020 to November 2021 data shows the distribution of fresh and saline water 10 meters below the water table in the Esperance groundwater area's Superficial aquifer. The dataset is derived from monitoring bores, downhole logging, and airborne electromagnetic surveys, with salinity categorized relative to a 6,000 mg/L saltwater interface threshold.

Use Cases

• Map the spatial distribution of the saltwater interface (6,000 mg/L threshold) across the Esperance coastal aquifer.
• Analyze changes in salinity categories relative to factors like tidal movements and abstraction noted in the dataset description.
• Integrate this derived location data with continuous static groundwater level (SWL) measurements from data loggers for hydrological modeling.
• Use the dataset with Electrical Conductivity (EC) depth profiling data to calibrate regional groundwater salinity models.

Strengths

• Derived from a multi-year project running from April 2020 to March 2023, incorporating data from November 2020 to November 2021.
• Integrates multiple data sources including seawater interface monitoring bores, downhole logging, and an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey.
• Provides a defined salinity categorization using a 6,000 mg/L threshold to represent the saltwater interface.

Limitations

• Salinity categories are not defined beyond the single 6,000 mg/L threshold, limiting granular analysis.
• The derived interface location is subject to change due to temporal factors like season and tidal movements, indicating potential temporal instability.
• Specific quantitative metrics like row count, column count, and sample size are unavailable.

Provenance

Source

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Statewide Seawater Interface Project.

Collection Method

Derived from assessment of monitoring bore data, downhole logging, EC profiling, and 2016 AEM survey interpretation.

Time Range

Primary assessment period November 2020 to November 2021; project runs April 2020 to March 2023.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026, indicating ongoing maintenance.

Geography

Esperance groundwater area, Western Australia.