Investigating Contaminant Inputs via Submarine Groundwater Discharge to Coastal Waters Using Radium Isotopes
نویسندگان
چکیده
Our long-term goal is to determine if submarine groundwater discharge (SGWD) is an important mechanism for delivering contaminants (i.e. heavy metals, organics) to harbors. We plan to accomplish this goal using a suite of naturally-occurring radium isotopes as tracers of SGWD and the dispersion of contaminants from the embayment (Buesseler/WHOI). In addition, we plan to develop a comprehensive hydrological model (Harvey/MIT) to determine the importance of SGWD in the transport of pollutants to coastal harbors.
منابع مشابه
The importance of submarine groundwater discharge to the nearshore nutrient supply in the Gulf of Aqaba (Israel)
We used two short-lived radium isotopes (223Ra, 224Ra) and a mass balance approach applied to the radium activities to determine the nutrient contribution of saline submarine groundwater discharge to the coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Israel). Radium isotope activities were measured along transects during two seasons at a site that lacked any obvious surficial water input. An ons...
متن کاملSubmarine groundwater discharge of total mercury and monomethylmercury to central California coastal waters.
Fluxes of total mercury (Hg(T)) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) associated with submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) at two sites onthe central California coast were estimated by combining measurements of Hg(T) and MMHg in groundwater with the use of short-lived, naturally occurring radium isotopes as tracers of groundwater inputs. Concentrations of Hg(T) were relatively low, ranging from 1.2 to ...
متن کاملEstimating the dynamics of groundwater input into the coastal zone via continuous radon-222 measurements.
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into the coastal zone has received increased attention in the last few years as it is now recognized that this process represents an important pathway for material transport. Assessing these material fluxes is difficult, as there is no simple means to gauge the water flux. To meet this challenge, we have explored the use of a continuous radon monitor to mea...
متن کاملSubmarine groundwater discharge: An important source of new inorganic nitrogen to coral reef ecosystems
Using radium (Ra) isotopes and nutrient analyses, we found that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important source of ‘‘new’’ nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to coral reefs around the world. Nitrogen input estimates associated with SGD range from 3 to 800 mmol h21 per meter of shoreline. The use of Ra isotopes allows us to quantify the inorganic nitrogen input from this source of nu...
متن کاملSubmarine groundwater discharge in Northern Monterey Bay, California: Evaluation by mixing and mass balance models
Article history: Received 28 July 2015 Received in revised form 19 January 2016 Accepted 20 January 2016 Available online 26 January 2016 Monterey Bay, California (CA) receives nutrients from multiple sources, including river discharge, upwelling of deep water, and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Here we evaluate the relative importance of these sources to Northern Monterey Bay with a mi...
متن کامل