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。苏门答腊岛地震引发的海啸袭击了该岛北部、东部和南部海岸线。由于巨浪导致咸水迅速向内陆移动，对沿海地区的水源和其他自然资源造成了影响。一个与PI协调的油井除污自愿项目有关的技术外地小组目前正在参与东北和南部海岸线油井的海水淡化和测绘工作。初步评估表明，有些井的水位上升了近一米，而且有迹象表明，地下盐锋已经蔓延到含水层。在今后的任何地下水开发和利用战略中，都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，目前还没有协调一致的努力来评估海啸对地下水资源的影响。显然，迫切需要评估实地情况，以确定科学和技术问题，以帮助在直接受海啸影响并有可能在未来受到影响的地区制定未来的地下水利用战略。需要资金来召集一个地下水科学家专家小组，访问并评估海啸对斯里兰卡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机构的研究人员。一些小组成员通过他们过去和正在进行的研究活动和合作熟悉该区域的情况。这个来自美国的访问小组的主要目标是提供受斯里兰卡沿海地区海啸影响的地下水资源评估和恢复方面的专业知识。然而，预计从这一努力中获得的经验将广泛适用于管理印度尼西亚和印度的其他沿海含水层。该小组将访问斯里兰卡东北部和东南部的受灾地区。他们将与大学和其他政府和非政府机构的当地研究人员会面，研究和评估海啸的影响。该小组计划在斯里兰卡花一周时间访问受灾地区并进行其他信息收集活动。将对用于评估问题程度和复杂性的现有方法、技术和战略进行评估。将查明过去没有观察到或记录的与咸水入侵和含水层流动有关的任何现象。将在大学、水机构以及国际和非政府机构的当地合作者的协助下，在一个中心地点组织一个讲习班，供专家小组交流、分享和收集与该问题有关的信息。将确定美国科学界可以帮助当地科学家和工程师的技术需求。将审查现有数据是否存在数据差距。将确定未来的数据需求，并就利用新技术收集和处理新数据的战略提出建议。将对现有技术能力进行评估，并确定需要立即和长期培训的领域。该小组对海啸对沿海含水层的影响的评估和结论以及关于行动和未来活动的建议将列入一份报告，该报告将作为交付成果提交给国家科学基金会。我们希望，该小组的发现将有助于确定研究领域，并可能与美国科学家进行技术合作。将对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建议，当地科学家和规划者将从中受益。

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.