GIS-based Modeling of Salinity in Guam

Yuming Wen*, John Jenson, Nathan Habana

Water and Environmental Research Institute

University of Guam
Mangilao, GU 96923, USA
*
Email: ywen@triton.uog.edu
Outline

•Objectives
•Data sources and data processing
•GIS-based analysis of salinity
•Conclusions and discussions
•Future work
 Objectives

1. To geo-code ground water quality data from

Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA)
2. To analyze chloride data, and locate wells
with water quality problems with salinity
 Data sources and data processing

 Water quality data from GWA

 GIS data for well locations
Physiographic divisions of Guam

(Tracey et. al, 1964)

Clock diagrams
are analogous to “rose diagrams” often used to depict
wind direction or strike direction in geologic applications.
The clock diagram method consists of three steps: (1)
sample location data; (2) all data is read into a computer
code, and clock diagram graphics are created; and (3)
clock diagram graphics are placed on the map according to
geographic location of a specific object where samples
were collected.

Courtesy: ESRI
Chloride
Chloride
Chloride
Chloride
Chloride
 Conclusions and discussions

 Most wells with salinity problems were

located in the northwest (Dededo) and
central east (Mangilao) of Guam.
 The general trends of salinity levels
indicate increase of salinity in NGLA.
 GIS can be applied to process, visualize
and analyze the salinity data in space and
over time.
 Future Work

Continue to work on a GIS model to automate the procedures for

analyzing salinity levels, patterns and trends.
Analyze other groundwater contaminants.
Assess surface water quality.
Evaluate impacts of extreme climate events, sea level change,
and human induced activities etc. on groundwater quality.
Visible satellite image of Pongsona as seen by the Japanese Geostationary
Meteorological Satellite (GMS-5) at 4:30 p.m., December 8, 2002. The island of
Rota is located just north of the eye. (Courtesy of the Wisconsin Co-operative
Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies)
Total rainfall (in inches) midnight-to-midnight December 7-8, 2002. Maximum rainfall
occurred in a swath across central Guam that experienced the heaviest rain rates for the
longest possible time. Areas in the northeast spent as much as 2 hours in the eye, and
rainfall totals were slightly less there. Also, rainfall totals dropped off rapidly to the
southwest because of increasing distance from the eye wall and decreasing time spent
within the region of high rain rates. (NOAA)
Super Typhoon Pongsona’s track for December 1-11, 2002, as obtained from JTWC’s
warning graphics. Looking at the track, the open circles are the tropical depression stage, the
open center of the tropical cyclone symbol is the tropical storm stage, and the red center is
the typhoon stage. Certain benchmarks in the life of Pongsona are indicated. The inset is a
closeup of Pongsona’s passage between Guam and Rota. The three red rings are the
approximate locations of the inner edge of the eyewall at 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.,
December 8, 2002. The black dots are the positions of the eye center at these times. The
intensities indicated are from the NOAA Meteorological Assessment of Super Typhoon
Pongsona. (NOAA)
Distribution of Pongsona peak wind gusts on Guam on December 8,
2002. Contour values are in mph. (NOAA)
 Acknowledgements
This research is funded by U.S. Geological Survey National
Water Resource Institute 104(B) Program and Guam
Hydrological Survey.
GWA for providing data.