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Ice sheet dynamics drive pronounced changes in the subsurface freshwater-saltwater interface

Julia Guimond·Aaron Mohammed·Barret L. Kurylyk·Michelle A. Walvoord·Victor F. Bense
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Abstract

Saltwater is migrating into freshwater aquifers globally with water quality and biogeochemical implications, yet saltwater intrusion in glaciated regions is sparsely investigated. Field observations suggest that groundwater head in glaciated systems is influenced by ice sheet forcings and provides evidence that seawater infiltrated into offshore aquifers during past deglaciation events. To understand links between ice sheet dynamics, groundwater head, and saltwater intrusion, we use numerical models to explore the effects of deglaciation on nearshore head and salinity distributions. We find that ice sheet thinning diminishes groundwater head, and the resulting shift in subsurface pressure gradients drives rapid landward movement of the subsurface freshwater-saltwater interface up to 4.0 km or 1.3 m per m ice sheet loss. Results highlight an overlooked saltwater intrusion mechanism that aligns with field observations and affects glaciated coastlines undergoing ice sheet retreat, underscoring the need to consider this mechanism in studies of contemporary coastal water quality.

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Geophysical Research LettersArticle

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Julia Guimond, Aaron Mohammed, Barret L. Kurylyk, Michelle A. Walvoord, Victor F. Bense. 2026-03-16. Ice sheet dynamics drive pronounced changes in the subsurface freshwater-saltwater interface. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl120376

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