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Title: ''A ground water resources study of a Pacific Ocean atoll - Tarawa, Gilbert Islands,'' by J. W. Lloyd, J. C. Miles, G. R. Chessmand, and S. F. Bugg

Abstract

Several inherent problems in the methodology employed in the ground water resource study of Tarawa Atoll (Lloyd, et al., 1981) are described. Studies of Enewetak Atoll have provided data that require a significantly different conceptual model of the atoll hydrogeology system. Comparison of well, lagoon, and ocean tidal observations with a mathematical model that assumes horizontal tidal propagation indicates that the observed results are more consistent with a system that is controlled by vertical coupling between the unconsolidated surface aquifer and an underlying aquifer of more permeable limestone. This indicates that most fresh water recharged to the aquifer migrates downward and mixes with the sea water in a deeper aquifer providing easy exchange with the ocean. Lloyd, et al., do not take tidal mixing or vertical transport into account and it therefore seems likely that fresh water inventories are significantly overestimated. Failure to include these significant loss terms in the island water budget may also account for calculated heads above ground level. (JMT)

Authors:
 [1];
  1. Desert Reseach Inst., Reno, NV
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7073133
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ENIWETOK; GEOLOGY; HYDROLOGY; GROUND WATER; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; AQUIFERS; MIXING; SEAWATER; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; ISLANDS; MARSHALL ISLANDS; MICRONESIA; OCEANIA; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; WATER; 520100* - Environment, Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Wheatcraft, S W, and Buddemeier, R W. ''A ground water resources study of a Pacific Ocean atoll - Tarawa, Gilbert Islands,'' by J. W. Lloyd, J. C. Miles, G. R. Chessmand, and S. F. Bugg. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb01315.x.
Wheatcraft, S W, & Buddemeier, R W. ''A ground water resources study of a Pacific Ocean atoll - Tarawa, Gilbert Islands,'' by J. W. Lloyd, J. C. Miles, G. R. Chessmand, and S. F. Bugg. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb01315.x
Wheatcraft, S W, and Buddemeier, R W. 1981. "''A ground water resources study of a Pacific Ocean atoll - Tarawa, Gilbert Islands,'' by J. W. Lloyd, J. C. Miles, G. R. Chessmand, and S. F. Bugg". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb01315.x.
@article{osti_7073133,
title = {''A ground water resources study of a Pacific Ocean atoll - Tarawa, Gilbert Islands,'' by J. W. Lloyd, J. C. Miles, G. R. Chessmand, and S. F. Bugg},
author = {Wheatcraft, S W and Buddemeier, R W},
abstractNote = {Several inherent problems in the methodology employed in the ground water resource study of Tarawa Atoll (Lloyd, et al., 1981) are described. Studies of Enewetak Atoll have provided data that require a significantly different conceptual model of the atoll hydrogeology system. Comparison of well, lagoon, and ocean tidal observations with a mathematical model that assumes horizontal tidal propagation indicates that the observed results are more consistent with a system that is controlled by vertical coupling between the unconsolidated surface aquifer and an underlying aquifer of more permeable limestone. This indicates that most fresh water recharged to the aquifer migrates downward and mixes with the sea water in a deeper aquifer providing easy exchange with the ocean. Lloyd, et al., do not take tidal mixing or vertical transport into account and it therefore seems likely that fresh water inventories are significantly overestimated. Failure to include these significant loss terms in the island water budget may also account for calculated heads above ground level. (JMT)},
doi = {10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb01315.x},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7073133}, journal = {Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 17:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}