Estimating the dynamics of groundwater input into the coastal zone via continuous radon-222 measurements

Burnett, William C.; Dulai, Henrietta

doi:10.1016/s0265-931x(03)00084-5

Cited by 501 publications

(389 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Our previous research showed that quantitative estimates of the magnitude of 38 submarine groundwater discharge on a local scale can be obtained from tracer studies 39 (Burnett and Dulaiova, 2003;Burnett et al, 2006). Due to their enrichment in 40 groundwater relative to surface water, radon and methane serve as universal indicators of 41 both fresh groundwater and recirculated seawater inputs into the coastal zone.…”

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Groundwater becomes enriched in 51 radon independently of its composition (fresh water or seawater) so radon is a tracer of 52 total SGD driven by both terrestrial and marine forces (Dulaiova et al, 2008). If a 53 groundwater source is present in a coastal environment it is likely to be the only radon 54 input of significant magnitude to surface water, which makes this tracer very useful for 55 identifying areas of groundwater input into lakes, rivers and the coastal ocean (Cable et 56 al., 1996;Burnett et al, 2002;Burnett and Dulaiova, 2003). 57 Methane has successfully been employed as a tracer of groundwater inputs into 58 near-shore waters along the coast of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (Bugna et al, 1996 59 and Cable et al, 1996), Florida Bay (Corbett at al., 2000), Long Island (Dulaiova et al,60 2006), and Korea (Kim and Hwang, 2002).…”

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Being subject to biological processing, 61 methane is not a conservative tracer though it has proven to be useful where its 62 concentration in groundwater highly exceeds methane inventories in the water column. 63 using radon monitors have been previously applied (Burnett and Dulaiova, 2003) but 66 only as qualitative surveys to identify SGD hot-spots; none of these studies derived 67…”

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Dulai

Camilli

Henderson

et al. 2010

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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1We constructed a survey system of radon/methane/nitrate/salinity to find sites of 2 submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and groundwater nitrate input. We deployed 3 the system in Waquoit Bay and Boston Harbor, MA where we derived SGD rates using a 4 mass balance of radon with methane serving as a fine resolution qualitative indicator of 5 groundwater. In Waquoit Bay we identified several locations of enhanced groundwater 6 discharge, out of which two (Childs and Quashnet Rivers) were studied in more detail. 7The Childs River was characterized by high nitrate input via groundwater discharge, 8 while the Quashnet River SGD was notable but not a significant source of nitrate. Our 9 radon survey of Boston Harbor revealed several sites with significant SGD, out of these 10Inner Harbor and parts of Dorchester Bay and Quincy Bay had groundwater fluxes 11 accompanied by significant water column nitrogen concentrations. The survey system 12 has proven effective in revealing areas of SGD and non-point source pollution. 13 14

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Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction 18mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Dulai

Camilli

Henderson

et al. 2010

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…Several approximations have to be made for estimation of SGD fluxes from measured 222 Rn concentrations (Burnett and Dulaiova, 2003;Burnett et al, 2008;Povinec et al, 2008). SGD rates estimated from the continuous alpha-spectrometry measurements of 222 Rn decay products had a similar pattern (Fig.…”

Section: Estimation Of Sgd Fluxesmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…It is a direct decay product of 226 Ra from the 238 U natural radioactive chain, and due to short half-life (3.83 d), it is a suitable tracer for studying dynamic systems. Temporal and spatial monitoring of SGD has recently been possible due to new technologies that are based on the analysis of 222 Rn decay products emitting either alpha-rays (Burnett et al, 2001b;Burnett & Dulaiova, 2003, 2006 or gamma-rays ). (IHP).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotope tracing of submarine groundwater discharge offshore Ubatuba, Brazil: results of the IAEA–UNESCO SGD project

Povinec

Bokuniewicz

Burnett

et al. 2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Results of groundwater and seawater analyses for radioactive ( 3 H, 222 Rn, 223 Ra, 224 Ra, 226 Ra, 228 Ra) and stable ( 2 H, 18 O) isotopes are presented together with in situ spatial mapping and time-series 222 Rn measurements in seawater, direct seepage measurements using manual and automated seepage meters, pore water investigations using different tracers and piezometric techniques, and geoelectric surveys probing the coast. This study represents first time that such a new complex arsenal of radioactive and non-radioactive tracer techniques and geophysical methods have been used for simultaneous submarine groundwater discharge negative correlation between the SGD rates and tidal stage. This is likely caused by sea level changes as tidal effects induce variations of hydraulic gradients. The geoelectric probing and piezometric measurements contributed to better understanding of the spatial distribution of different water masses present along the coast. The radium isotope data showed scattered distributions with offshore distance, which imply that seawater in a complex coast with many small bays and islands was influenced by local currents and groundwater/seawater mixing. This has also been confirmed by a relatively short residence time of 1-2 weeks for water within 25 km offshore, as obtained by short-lived radium isotopes. The irregular distribution of SGD seen at Ubatuba is a characteristic of fractured rock aquifers, fed by coastal groundwater and recirculated seawater with small admixtures of groundwater, which is of potential environmental concern and has implications on the management of freshwater resources in the region.

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Drivers of pCO₂ variability in two contrasting coral reef lagoons: The influence of submarine groundwater discharge

Cyronak

Santos

Erler

et al. 2014

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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The impact of groundwater on pCO 2 variability was assessed in two coral reef lagoons with distinct drivers of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Diel variability of pCO 2 in the two ecosystems was explained by a combination of biological drivers and SGD inputs. In Rarotonga, a South Pacific volcanic island, 222 Rn-derived SGD was driven primarily by a steep terrestrial hydraulic gradient, and the water column was influenced by the high pCO 2 (5501 μatm) of the fresh groundwater. In Heron Island, a Great Barrier Reef coral cay, SGD was dominated by seawater recirculation through the sediments (i.e., tidal pumping), and pCO 2 was mainly impacted through the stimulation of biological processes. The Rarotonga water column had a higher average pCO 2 (549 μatm) . Over the course of this study, both systems were sources of CO 2 to the atmosphere with SGD-derived free-CO 2 most likely contributing a large portion to the air-sea CO 2 flux. Studies measuring the carbon chemistry of coral reefs (e.g., metabolism and calcification rates) may need to consider the effects of groundwater inputs on water column carbonate chemistry. Local drivers of coral reef carbonate chemistry such as SGD may offer more approachable management solutions to mitigating the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs.

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Estimating the dynamics of groundwater input into the coastal zone via continuous radon-222 measurements

Cited by 501 publications

References 16 publications

Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Isotope tracing of submarine groundwater discharge offshore Ubatuba, Brazil: results of the IAEA–UNESCO SGD project

Drivers of pCO₂ variability in two contrasting coral reef lagoons: The influence of submarine groundwater discharge

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Estimating the dynamics of groundwater input into the coastal zone via continuous radon-222 measurements

Cited by 501 publications

References 16 publications

Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Coupled radon, methane and nitrate sensors for large-scale assessment of groundwater discharge and non-point source pollution to coastal waters

Isotope tracing of submarine groundwater discharge offshore Ubatuba, Brazil: results of the IAEA–UNESCO SGD project

Drivers of pCO2 variability in two contrasting coral reef lagoons: The influence of submarine groundwater discharge

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Drivers of pCO₂ variability in two contrasting coral reef lagoons: The influence of submarine groundwater discharge