Enhancing Capabilities for Integrated Onshore and Offshore Freshened Groundwater Modeling: A Case Study in the Maltese Islands

The AquaINFRA project, aimed at fostering collaboration and data accessibility in marine and freshwater research, serves as the backdrop for a targeted study focusing on the Maltese Islands. Our research within the AquaINFRA framework involves a comprehensive approach to improve the understanding of freshwater dynamics, bridging the gap between onshore and offshore environments. We initiate the project by retrieving baseline geological, hydrological, and remote sensing data from both onshore and coastal waters surrounding the Maltese Islands. This dataset forms the foundation for subsequent analyses and model development. Leveraging a novel virtual environment, we assess and test the developed services in both inland and coastal water environments of the Maltese Islands in collaboration with local water resource authorities. This phase ensures the applicability and effectiveness of the infrastructure in diverse settings. Building upon previous hydrogeological studies, this study will integrate the enhanced dataset in a virtual environment to develop an improved model. This model aims to quantify the likelihood of offshore freshened groundwater surrounding the Maltese Islands. Additionally, we investigate the probability of a deeper freshwater lens beneath the island, contributing valuable insights into the island's hydrogeological dynamics. By aligning our study objectives with the AquaINFRA project's overarching goals, we strive to contribute not only to the advancement of integrated freshwater and marine research but also to the effective utilization of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) as a unifying research infrastructure for scientists and stakeholders.