Energy Environment and Economy
Energy, Environment and Sustainable Sciences | online ISSN 3069-0935
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Volume 3 Number 1 2025
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Systems: Integrated Evidence from Hydrological, Agricultural, and Socioeconomic Analyses
Zahir Uddin1*, Ismath Tarin2, Md. Sazzad Hosen Raju3, Ahsan Habib3*
Energy Environment and Economy 3 (1) 1-8 https://doi.org/10.25163/energy.3110569
Submitted: 23 October 2025 Revised: 12 December 2025 Accepted: 25 December 2025 Published: 27 December 2025
Abstract
Saltwater intrusion (SWI) is an increasingly critical challenge for coastal regions, driven by climate change, sea-level rise, and escalating groundwater extraction. Its consequences extend beyond aquifer salinization, influencing agricultural productivity, ecosystem functioning, and community resilience. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from five multidisciplinary studies that examined SWI through hydrological modeling, seasonal hydrochemical monitoring, geospatial analysis, agricultural impact assessments, and management scenario evaluation. Following PRISMA guidelines, data were extracted from numerical simulations, empirical field measurements, and assessment frameworks. Standardized effect sizes were calculated for comparable group contrasts and pooled using fixed-effect meta-analytic techniques. Across all studies, SWI-related outcomes demonstrated remarkably consistent magnitudes (yi = 3.00; SE = 0.50). The pooled effect size was 3.00 (95% CI: 2.57–3.43), with no observed heterogeneity (I² = 0%), indicating that diverse methodological approaches converged on highly similar effect estimates. Forest plots revealed complete overlap of confidence intervals, while funnel plots showed symmetrical clustering—although limited by the small, homogeneous dataset. Despite differences in research objectives, ranging from marsh-migration modeling to seasonal TDS monitoring, the convergence of findings highlights a consistent and measurable influence of SWI across environmental and socioeconomic domains. This review underscores the substantial and predictable impacts of SWI on coastal systems and emphasizes the need for integrated monitoring, modeling, and management strategies. The strong consistency across varied methodologies strengthens confidence in SWI indicators and provides a quantitative foundation for future adaptation planning in vulnerable coastal regions.
Keywords: Saltwater intrusion; Coastal groundwater; Hydrogeochemistry; Environmental modeling
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