Global coastal springs dataset

This dataset represents the first extensive global inventory of coastal springs, including both nearshore springs, discharging close to the shoreline, and offshore springs, also known as submarine springs, discharging directly onto the ocean floor. The data was gathered through a systematic bibliographic search following PRISMA guidelines. The final list of studies used to compile the data is presented in the Excel file "References". The spring’s locations were identified directly from documents, and in cases where maps were provided, they were extracted, georeferenced in QGIS, and their coordinates recorded. Additional data on coastal springs, including altitude, lithology, discharge patterns, discharge rates, and salinity, were collected when available. In total, 1,123 springs were identified, comprising 645 offshore springs and 478 nearshore springs, with a significant concentration in the Mediterranean region. The accuracy of each spring's location was verified using Google Earth. To provide context, various geological, hydrological, climatic, land use, and oceanic variables of the coastal watersheds where the springs are located (listed in the Excel file "CWD") were extracted from available global datasets. The inventoried springs and related coastal watersheds are also provided in ESRI shapefile format for quick visualization in GIS platforms. Most of these springs are located in Europe and North America, with fewer found in Africa, South America, and southern Asia. This dataset is valuable for hydrogeologists investigating the dynamics of coastal springs across diverse climatic, hydrological, and hydrogeological settings. By analysing the context of these coastal springs, researchers and water managers can identify potential zones for coastal springs and incorporate them into water resource assessments and vulnerability studies. Additionally, the dataset serves as a crucial resource for calibrating and validating geospatial methods used for identifying springs, such as remote sensing techniques. This dataset is intended to serve as a foundational resource for the development of a more detailed global inventory of coastal springs, and it welcomes contributions and updates from researchers worldwide.

本数据集为首个大规模全球海岸泉眼普查成果，涵盖近岸泉眼（即紧邻海岸线出露的泉眼）与离岸泉眼（亦称海底泉眼，指直接向洋底喷涌的泉眼）。本数据集的数据按照PRISMA指南开展系统文献检索后收集得到。用于汇编该数据集的最终文献列表已收录于Excel文件"References"中。泉眼的位置直接从文献中提取；若文献附带地图，则对地图进行提取并在QGIS中完成地理配准，同时记录其坐标。若有可用数据，还会额外收集海岸泉眼的相关参数，包括海拔、岩性、涌水模式、涌水量与盐度。本次普查共识别出1123处泉眼，其中离岸泉眼645处、近岸泉眼478处，且在地中海区域分布高度集中。所有泉眼的位置精度均通过Google Earth进行了验证。为提供背景信息，研究人员从现有全球数据集提取了泉眼所在海岸流域的各类地质、水文、气候、土地利用与海洋变量（变量列表收录于Excel文件"CWD"中）。本次普查的泉眼及相关海岸流域数据同样以ESRI shapefile格式提供，以便在GIS平台中快速可视化展示。该数据集的泉眼主要分布于欧洲与北美，非洲、南美与南亚的分布数量相对较少。本数据集可为水文地质学家在不同气候、水文与水文地质背景下开展海岸泉眼动力学研究提供重要支撑。通过分析这些海岸泉眼的背景信息，研究人员与水资源管理者可识别潜在的海岸泉眼分布区域，并将其纳入水资源评估与脆弱性研究范畴。此外，本数据集可作为校准与验证泉眼识别空间方法（如遥感技术）的关键资源。本数据集旨在为构建更精细的全球海岸泉眼普查成果提供基础支撑，同时欢迎全球研究人员提供数据贡献与更新内容。