SGER- Assessment of Tsunami Impacts on Coastal Aquifers in Sri Lanka

2004年12月26日，斯里兰卡经历了其已知历史上最严重的自然灾害之一。 苏门答腊地震引发的海啸袭击了该岛的北方、东部和南部海岸线。由于巨大的海浪，盐水迅速向内陆移动，影响了沿海地区的供水来源和其他自然资源。一个技术现场小组与一个由PI协调的水井净化自愿项目有关，目前正在参与东北和南部海岸线威尔斯的海水淡化和绘图工作。 初步评估表明，有些威尔斯井的水位上升了近一米，有迹象表明，地下盐锋已扩展到含水层。在今后开发和利用地下水的任何战略中，有必要评估海啸对这些沿海含水层水质的短期和长期影响。据我们所知，在评估海啸对地下水资源的影响方面，还没有作出协调良好的努力。显然，迫切需要对实地情况进行评估，以查明科学和技术问题，帮助制定直接受海啸影响和今后可能受影响地区的地下水利用未来战略。请求提供资金，以组建一个地下水科学家专家小组，访问斯里兰卡，并评估海啸对沿海含水层供水的影响。 该小组包括来自美国大学、联邦研究实验室、美国地质调查局和州政府机构的研究人员。 一些小组成员通过其过去和正在进行的研究活动和合作，熟悉该区域的情况。来自美国的这个访问小组的主要目标是为斯里兰卡沿海地区受海啸影响的地下水资源的评估和恢复提供专业知识。 不过，预计从这一努力中获得的经验将广泛适用于印度尼西亚和印度其他沿海含水层的管理。专家组将访问斯里兰卡东北部和东南部的受灾地区。 他们将与当地大学和其他政府及非政府机构的研究人员会晤，研究和评估海啸的影响。专家组计划在斯里兰卡逗留一周，访问受影响地区并开展其他信息收集活动。将评价目前用于评估问题的程度和复杂性的方法、技术和战略。将查明过去未观察到或记录到的与盐水侵入和流入含水层有关的任何现象。将在大学、水机构和国际及非政府机构的当地合作者的协助下，在一个中心地点举办一个讲习班，供该小组交流、分享和收集与该问题有关的信息。将确定美国科学界可以协助当地科学家和工程师的技术需求。将对现有数据进行审查，以找出数据差距。将确定未来的数据需求，并就使用新技术收集和处理新数据的战略提出建议。将评估现有的技术能力， 将确定所需的短期和长期培训。该小组关于海啸对沿海含水层影响的评估和调查结果以及关于行动和未来活动的建议将列入一份报告，作为交付成果提交给国家科学基金会。我们希望该小组的研究结果将有助于确定研究领域以及与美国科学家进行技术合作的可能性。当地科学家和规划人员将受益于为评估和恢复斯里兰卡沿海地区地下水供应所需的短期和长期战略提出的建议。

0519490IllangasekareOn December 26th, 2004, Sri Lanka experienced one of the worst natural disasters in its known history. The tsunami generated by the earthquake in Sumatra hit the northern, eastern and southern coastlines of the island. The rapid movement of saline water inland due to massive waves has impacted water supply sources and other natural resources in the coastal regions. A technical field team associated with a voluntary project on well decontamination coordinated by the PI is currently involved in desalination and mapping of wells in the northeast and southern coastlines. Initial assessment indicates that that in some of the wells the water level has risen by almost a meter and the indications are that a subsurface salt front has propagated into the aquifer. In any future strategies for development and use of groundwater, it is necessary to get an assessment of both short-term and long-term effects of the tsunami on the water quality of these coastal aquifers. To our knowledge, there has not been a well-coordinated effort to evaluate the impact of tsunami on groundwater resources. Clearly, an urgent need exists to assess the situation in the field to identify science and technical issues to help to develop future strategies for groundwater use in the areas that are directly affected by the tsunami and also has the potential to be affected in the future. Funds are requested to assemble an expert panel of groundwater scientists to visit and provide an assessment of tsunami impacts on water supplies in coastal aquifers in Sri Lanka. The panel includes researchers from US universities, federal research laboratories, and US Geological Survey and state agencies. Some panel members are familiar with the conditions in the region through their past and ongoing research activities and collaborations. The primary goal of this visiting panel from the US is to provide expertise on the assessment and restoration of groundwater resources impacted by tsunami in Sri Lanka's coastal regions. However, it is expected that the experience gained from this effort will be broadly applicable for managing other costal aquifers in Indonesia and India. The panel will visit the affected areas in the northeast and southeast in Sri Lanka. They will meet with local researchers in universities and other governmental and non-governmental agencies to study and assess the impact of the tsunami. The panel plans to spend a week in Sri Lanka visiting the affected areas and other information gathering activities. The current methods, technologies and the strategies that are used to assess the extent and complexity of the problem will be evaluated. Any phenomena that have not been observed or recorded in the past in relation to saltwater intrusion and flow in aquifers will be identified. A workshop at a central location for the panel to exchange, share, and gather information related to the problem will be organized with the assistance of local collaborators from universities, water agencies and international and non-governmental agencies. The technical needs where US scientific community can assist local scientists and engineers will be identified. Existing data will be reviewed for data gaps. Future data needs will be identified and recommendations for strategies for collecting and processing new data using new technologies will be made. Existing technical capabilities will be assessed and areas where immediate and long-term training are required will be identified. The panel's assessments and findings of the effect of tsunami on coastal aquifers and recommendations on action and future activities will be included in a report that will be submitted to NSF as a deliverable. It is our expectation that the panel's findings will help to identify areas of research and possible technical collaboration with US scientists. The local scientist and planners will benefit from recommendations that will be made for both short-term and long-term strategies needed for assessment and restoration of ground water supplies in coastal regions of Sri Lanka.