The Chalk Aquifers of Northern Europe
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS

The Cretaceous Chalk aquifers of Northern Europe underlie and support many sensitive ecosystems whilst at the same time being an important source of drinking water. This volume brings together the outcomes of numerous projects and case studies to provide the latest applied and theoretical understanding of all aspects of Chalk hydrogeology in Northern Europe.
Characteristics of the chalk groundwater along the Picardy coast and its relationship with wetlands Available to Purchase
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Published:September 07, 2023
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CiteCitation
Violaine Bault, Laurence Gourcy, Lise Cary, Anne Winckel, Bernard Bourgine, 2023. "Characteristics of the chalk groundwater along the Picardy coast and its relationship with wetlands", The Chalk Aquifers of Northern Europe, R. P. Farrell, N. Massei, A. E. Foley, P. R. Howlett, L. J. West
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Abstract
Water resource management is a major concern in Marquenterre, a maritime plain located in the western part of the Somme department. Water management is particularly indispensable for protecting wetlands in Marquenterre, regulating water usage and avoiding saline intrusion into aquifers. Various approaches including geological modelling and hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical studies were used to prepare a conceptual model of the Marquenterre hydrosystem and to provide better water management in this sector. The conceptual model shows that the chalk aquifer and the various Quaternary deposit aquifers are in hydrogeological continuity. No seawater intrusion has been discovered in groundwater. Salinization discovered at depth is a result of the most recent marine transgressions. Finally, wetlands are primarily supplied by the chalk groundwater or by rainfall. The study results are used to direct policies for surface and subsurface water resource management. The proposed conceptual model may be useful for other coastal aquifers along the English Channel in order to address challenges of managing the chalk groundwater and backshore swamps.
- alkaline earth metals
- aquifers
- Atlantic Ocean
- B-11/B-10
- boron
- Cenozoic
- coastal aquifers
- D/H
- English Channel
- Europe
- France
- ground water
- hydraulic head
- hydrogen
- hydrology
- isotope ratios
- isotopes
- metals
- mires
- North Atlantic
- O-18/O-16
- oxygen
- physicochemical properties
- Picardy
- pressuremeters
- Quaternary
- rainfall
- salinization
- sea water
- sea-level changes
- Somme France
- Sr-87/Sr-86
- stable isotopes
- strontium
- surface water
- swamps
- transgression
- water management
- water resources
- water use
- Western Europe
- wetlands
- Marquenterre France
- Ponthieu France