Environmental hazard from saltwater intrusion in the Laizhou Gulf, Shandong Province of China

Coastal areas play an important role in the socioeconomic development of the coastal zones based on the different land uses. These regions are vulnerable to hydrogeological hazards and are seriously affected by coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion in the phreatic aquifer, and sea level rise, which are worsened by human action, thereby increasing the risk of land degradation in the coastal regions. Saltwater intrusion in the Laizhou Gulf located in northern part of Shandong Province of China was the main natural hazard. Manmade interventions and actions (i.e., exploitation of aquifers without adequate knowledge of the hydrology setting and an adequate management program) worsen this natural hazard. Irrational human activity induces environmental hazard to the overall coastal areas.