Thermal effects on flow and salinity distributions in heterogeneous coastal aquifers with fixed-flux inland boundaries

Freshwater-seawater (FW-SW) temperature contrasts widely exist in natural coastal aquifers. The significant effects of thermal forcing on water flow and salinity distributions for homogeneous aquifers have been demonstrated recently, however, the impact heterogeneous remains unclear. This study conducted simulations variable-density flow, heat salt transport with Monte-Carlo realizations log-normally distributed permeability fields to examine such impacts. averaged results showed that warmer freshwater could lead a landward intrusion freshwater-seawater interface aquifer. random increased thus facilitated seawater intrusion. Furthermore, under conditions, dispersion was enhanced density were reduced aquifers, altering two opposing circulation cells induced by double diffusion heat. clockwise strengthened whereas anticlockwise one weakened. Sensitivity analyses an variance field further inhibited cell caused mainly diffusion. A larger correlation length effect distribution, increasing associated uncertainty range FW-SW contrasts.