Open questions about the hydrodynamic behaviour of the deep, coastal aquifer of the Salento peninsula (south-eastern Italy): Coupling expert knowledge, data, and numerical modelling for testing hydrogeological conceptual models.

This paper investigates the role of numerical models for testing the suitability of Hydrogeological Conceptual Models (HCMs). This approach has been applied to model the hydrodynamics of the deep, karst aquifer of the Adriatic portion of the Salento peninsula (south-eastern Italy), focusing on a coastal sub-area between Lecce and Otranto. The scope was to test two HCMs for the explanation of anomalous piezometric levels close to the coast (from 4.

Seawater intrusion in karstic, coastal aquifers: Current challenges and future scenarios in the Taranto area (southern Italy).

Mediterranean areas are characterized by complex hydrogeological systems, where management of freshwater resources, mostly stored in karstic, coastal aquifers, is necessary and requires the application of numerical tools to detect and prevent deterioration of groundwater, mostly caused by overexploitation. In the Taranto area (southern Italy), the deep, karstic aquifer is the only source of freshwater and satisfies the main human activities. Preserving quantity and quality of this system through management policies is so necessary and such task can be addressed through modeling tools which take into account human impacts and the effects of climate changes.