Salt intrusion at a submarine spring in a fringing reef lagoon

Parra, Sabrina M.; Valle‐Levinson, Arnoldo; Mariño‐Tapia, Ismael; Enríquez, Cecilia

doi:10.1002/2014jc010459

Cited by 33 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(107 reference statements)

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“…However, the high hydraulic conductivity (describes water movement through soils) of point‐source SGDs suggests that conduit flow dynamics might apply. The conduit dynamics can be examined from the energetics perspective of the Bernoulli energy equation modified by frictional losses (Parra et al ). Frictional losses should be included because flow within the conduits and caves of highly conductive carbonate aquifers is considered turbulent (Worthington ; White ; Beddows et al ) and is affected by the conduit walls.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Persistent Trade winds drive onshore wind‐waves with mean annual significant wave heights of 0.8 m ± 0.4 m at the forereef of the lagoon (Coronado et al ). Wave energy variations between the forereef and Pargos spring tend to be qualitatively similar, but the significant wave heights and wave energy can be four times smaller at Pargos spring than at the forereef (Parra et al ). The lagoon circulation is divided into two main patterns dependent on incident wave characteristics.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In South Korea and Japan, seepage SGD was greater during syzygy than during quadrature tides (Kim and Hwang ; Taniguchi ). In contrast, a submarine spring (jet discharge) in the Yucatán Peninsula showed maximum net discharge velocities (low passed signal) at quadrature tides, with the greatest intratidal velocities appearing at low tides (Parra et al ). Quadrature tides produced larger subtidal velocities even though syzygy had greater discharge velocity fluctuations because flow reversals were observed at high syzygy tides.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Seasonal variability of saltwater intrusion at a point‐source submarine groundwater discharge

Parra

Valle‐Levinson

Mariño‐Tapia

et al. 2016

Limnology & Oceanography

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Submarine groundwater discharge provides freshwater and nutrients to coastal environments. In some places throughout the world, this direct connection between aquifers and oceans may also allow saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion was studied at a submarine spring within a fringing reef lagoon on the eastern Yucat an Peninsula by observing its intratidal and synoptic-scale variations during wet and dry periods. Saltwater intrusion was linked to wave-driven setup, no rain, high tides, and sea-level rise caused by remote forcing from Yucat an Current variability. Jet discharge velocities were inversely related to tidal oscillations, with maximum velocities at low tides. The wet period produced saltwater intrusion at high tides associated with three different conditions: syzygy tides, wave setup, and Yucat an Current weakening. During the dry period, saltwater intrusion occurred throughout most high tides and was aided by Yucat an Current weakening and wind-driven setup within the lagoon. These results suggested that seasonal precipitation was most important in modulating spring discharge, followed by syzygy tides, Yucat an Current variability, and wave events. The spring discharge was modeled with a modified Bernoulli energy equation that included a friction term. Aquifer elevation and a friction factor were used as free parameters. The dry period produced the best model results because of infrequent rainfall that yielded a relatively steady aquifer level. Precipitation during the wet period most likely led to a more variable aquifer level, reducing the variance explained by the model that assumes a constant aquifer elevation. Nevertheless, the model predicted saltwater intrusion events reasonably well using simplified physics.It has been proposed that submarine groundwater discharges (SGDs) provide 3-4 times more discharge (including freshwater and recirculated saltwater) into the global oceans than riverine inputs (Kwon et al. 2014). The discharges from these coastal aquifers not only represent freshwater fluxes but also provide dissolved nutrients to the coastal seas and global oceans commonly in higher concentrations than surface waters (Hamner and Wolanski 1988;Li et al. 1999;Null et al. 2014). Coastal aquifers are hydraulically connected to coastal seas through the seabed. These connections are achieved through SGDs when the pressure head within the aquifer is greater than at sea (Johannes 1980). Two main types of SGDs occur on the basis of coastal geology: slow diffuse discharges (<1 m d 21 ) through sandy sediments or fast point-source discharges (1 m s 21 ) through conduits (Zektser and Everett 2000). Point-source discharges (submarine springs/jets) often occur in karst topography, characterized by limestone or dolomite bedrock. Groundwater flows can dissolve channels and caves into the mainly calcium carbonate substrate (Shuster and White 1971;Beddows et al. 2007;Valle-Levinson et al. 2011). The flux rate of submarine springs generally depends on the water level slope between the ocean and aquifer wat...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal variability of saltwater intrusion at a point‐source submarine groundwater discharge

Parra

Valle‐Levinson

Mariño‐Tapia

et al. 2016

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Puerto Morelos is characterised by a semi-diurnal microtidal regime with a tidal range of less than 0.4 m (Parra et al, 2015). There is also evidence of a low frequency, energetic oscillation (~ 0.4 m), associated with the Yucatan Current and atmospheric pressure which has a period of ~15 days (Coronado et al, 2007;Parra et al, 2014).…”

Section: Site and Data Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wave climate is dominated by wind waves from the Caribbean (South-southeast, SSE) generated by the trade winds. The waves have an average annual significant wave height, H s , of 0.8 m and a dominant spectral peak period, T p , between 6 and 8 s (Coronado 20 et al, 2007;Parra et al, 2015). In this region, waves exceeding a height of 2 m are considered high-energy waves, which often occur during the northerlies season, locally known as "Nortes", when anticyclonic cold fronts descend over the Gulf of Mexico into the Caribbean Sea during the winter months (Coronado et al, 2007;Mariño-Tapia et al, 2011;Appendini et al, 2013).…”

Section: Site and Data Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of the reef-dune system in coastal protection in Puerto Morelos (Mexico)

Franklin

Torres-Freyermuth

Medellín

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. Reefs and sand dunes are critical morphological features providing natural coastal protection. Reefs dissipate around 90% of the incident wave energy through wave breaking, whereas sand dunes provide the final natural barrier against coastal flooding. The storm impact on coastal areas with these features depends on the relative elevation of the extreme water levels with respect to the sand dune morphology. However, despite the importance of the barrier reefs and dunes in 15 coastal protection, poor management practices have degraded these ecosystems, increasing their vulnerability to coastal flooding. The present study aims to investigate the role of the reef-dune system in coastal protection under current climatic conditions at Puerto Morelos, located in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. Firstly, a nonlinear non-hydrostatic numerical model (SWASH) is validated with experimental data from a physical model of a fringing reef. The numerical model predicts both energy transformation and runup statistics as compared with experimental results for two different reef crest geometries 20 conducted in a physical model. Thus, the numerical model is further used to investigate the role of the reef-dune degradation in coastal vulnerability. Wave hindcast information, tidal level, and a measured beach profile of the reef-dune system in Puerto Morelos are employed to predict extreme runup and estimate the storm impact scale for different scenarios. The numerical results show that ecosystem degradation has important implications for coastal protection against storms with return periods of less than 10 years. This highlights the importance of conservation of the system as a mitigation measure to 25 decrease coastal vulnerability and infrastructure losses in coastal areas in the short to medium term.

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Organic carbon inputs, common ions and degassing: rethinking mixing dissolution in coastal eogenetic carbonate aquifers

Gulley

Martin

Brown

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Caves deliver freshwater from coastal carbonate landscapes to estuaries but how these caves form and grow remains poorly understood. Models suggest fresh and salt water mixing drives dissolution in eogenetic limestone, but have rarely been validated through sampling of mixing waters. Here we assess controls on carbonate mineral saturation states using new and legacy geochemical data that were collected in vertical profiles through three cenotes and one borehole in the Yucatan Peninsula. Results suggest saturation states are primarily controlled by carbon fluxes rather than mixing. Undersaturation predicted by mixing models that rely on idealized end members is diminished or eliminated when end members are collected from above and below actual mixing zones. Undersaturation due to mixing is limited by CO 2 degassing from fresh water in karst windows, which results in calcite supersaturation. With respect to saline groundwater, controls on capacity for mixing dissolution were more varied.Oxidation of organic carbon increased pCO 2 of saline groundwater in caves (pCO 2 = 10 -2.06 to 10 -0.96 atm) relative to matrix porosity (10 -2.39 atm) and local seawater (10 -3.12 atm). The impact of increased pCO 2 on saturation state, however, depended on the geochemical composition of the saline water and the magnitude of organic carbon oxidation. Carbonate undersaturation due to mixing was limited where gypsum dissolution (Cenote Angelita) or sulfate reduction (Cenote Calica) increased concentrations of common ions (Ca 2+ or HCO 3 -, respectively). Maximum undersaturation was found to occur in mixtures including salineThis article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.water that had ion concentrations and ratios similar to seawater, but with moderately elevated pCO 2 (Cenote Eden). Undersaturation, however, was dominated by the initial undersaturation of the saline end member, mixing was irrelevant. Our results add to a growing body of literature that suggests oxidation of organic carbon, and not mixing dissolution, is the dominant control on cave formation and enlargement in coastal eogenetic karst aquifers..

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Salt intrusion at a submarine spring in a fringing reef lagoon

Cited by 33 publications

References 47 publications

Seasonal variability of saltwater intrusion at a point‐source submarine groundwater discharge

Seasonal variability of saltwater intrusion at a point‐source submarine groundwater discharge

The role of the reef-dune system in coastal protection in Puerto Morelos (Mexico)

Organic carbon inputs, common ions and degassing: rethinking mixing dissolution in coastal eogenetic carbonate aquifers

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