Groundwater Resources Analysis Of Atoll Islands In The Federated States Of Micronesia Using An Algebraic Model

Bailey, Ryan T.; Jenson,, John W. (October 2011). Groundwater Resources Analysis Of Atoll Islands In The Federated States Of Micronesia Using An Algebraic Model (Report). Mangilao, Guam: Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific. p. 36.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)

• Has attachment: File:HXB4YIIE.pdf

Abstract: Investigates the groundwater resources of atoll islands in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) by applying an algebraic model to determine the thickness of freshwater lenses under average and drought-induced conditions.

The study is motivated by the limited hydrologic data available and the high costs of obtaining detailed data sets for hydrologic analysis. As a result, the authors employ a recently-developed algebraic model based on numerical modeling results to estimate groundwater resources. The model specifically provides estimates of the freshwater lens thickness during normal and drought conditions.

Crucially, the model is validated for use under average climatic conditions in the FSM through comparison with available data, and under El Niño-induced conditions by comparison with data from the 1998 drought in Majuro Atoll. The results show that only 6 out of 105 atoll islands would retain sufficient groundwater to sustain their communities during a drought similar to that of 1998. This finding provides essential insights for water resources managers and policymakers regarding the sustainability of atoll island communities.

Additionally, the study highlights that large leeward islands are primarily able to maintain a substantial freshwater lens, whereas windward islands generally have a thin lens, regardless of rainfall. This information is valuable for planning and managing resources sustainably in atoll island communities.