In this research highlight, researchers explored the impacts of storm surge overwash and sea-level rise on groundwater salinization at Assateague Island, a low-lying barrier island on the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. The study used HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate the coupled surface and subsurface flow processes that influence the island’s aquifer system. By modelling future sea-level rise and storm-surge events, the researchers aimed to better understand the long-term effects of climate change on groundwater resources, particularly the vulnerability of freshwater lenses to salinization.

The research investigates how land subsidence and mitigation measures, specifically pumping stations and ditch systems in Shirako Town, Japan's lower Nabaki River region, interact. Land subsidence, caused by natural and human factors, heightens flood risks in coastal areas, challenging infrastructure stability and environmental sustainability. While pumping stations and ditches aim to manage surface water levels and reduce floods, their impact on groundwater salinity near tidal rivers is unclear. Using a coupled surface-subsurface model, the study reveals potential risks like saline water intrusion into groundwater.