Application of geochemical and stable isotopic tracers to investigate groundwater salinity in the Ochi-Narkwa Basin,Ghana |
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| Authors: | Samuel Y Ganyaglo Shiloh Osae Tetteh Akiti Thomas Armah Laurence Gourcy Tomas Vitvar |
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| Institution: | 1. Nuclear Chemistry and Environmental Research Centre, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission/National Nuclear Research Institute, Legon-Accra, Ghana;2. School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), University Of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana;3. School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), University Of Ghana, Kwabenya, Ghana;4. Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana;5. BRGM, Orleans, France;6. Faculty of Environmental Science, Department of Applied Ecology, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic;7. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Rainwater, groundwater and soil-water samples were analysed to assess groundwater geochemistry and the origin of salinity in the Ochi-Narkwa basin of the Central Region of Ghana. The samples were measured for major ions and stable isotopes (δ18O, δ2H and δ13C). The Cl? content in rainwater decreased with distance from the coast. The major hydrochemical facies were Na-Cl for the shallow groundwaters and Ca-Mg-HCO3, Na-Cl and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 for the deep groundwaters. Groundwater salinization is caused largely by halite dissolution and to a minor extent by silicate weathering and seawater intrusion. Stable isotope composition of the groundwaters followed a slope of 3.44, suggesting a mixing line. Chloride profiles in the soil zone revealed the existence of salt crusts, which support halite dissolution in the study area. A conceptual flow model developed to explain the mechanism of salinization showed principal groundwater flow in the NW–SE direction. EDITOR D. KoutsoyiannisASSOCIATE EDITOR K. Heal |
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| Keywords: | geochemistry stable isotopes salinity sources Ghana |
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