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Aquifer-ocean temperature contrasts are common worldwide. Their effects on flow and salinity distributions in unconfined coastal aquifers are, however, poorly understood. Based on laboratory experiments and numerical simulations, we examined the responses of flow processes in tidally influenced aquifers to aquifer-ocean temperature differences. The extent of seawater intrusion and seawater circulation were found to vary with the aquifer-ocean temperature contrast. Compared with the isothermal case, an increase of up to 40% of the tide-induced seawater circulation rate in the intertidal zone was observed when seawater is warmer than groundwater. In contrast, saltwater circulation in the lower saltwater wedge declines notably no matter whether the seawater is warmer or colder than groundwater. As the seawater temperature rises, the contribution of tide-induced circulation to the overall increase of submarine groundwater discharge becomes more important compared with that of density-driven seawater circulation. Both the upper saline plume and the freshwater discharge zone expand significantly with warmer seawater whereas the lower saltwater wedge contracts.

Key Points

The upper saline plume expands whereas the saltwater wedge retreats with increasing seawater temperature Warmer seawater enhances the submarine groundwater discharge by intensifying the seawater circulation Thermal effects intensify with increased tidal amplitude