Sustainable management of water resources is quickly increasing in importance on a global scale. An important piece of the puzzle is the characterization of marine water and determining its importance to geochemical budgets. To do this, submarine groundwater discharges must be carefully studied. Comprehensively exploring the subject, Submarine G

Sustainable management of water resources is quickly increasing in importance on a global scale. An important piece of the puzzle is the characterization of marine water and determining its importance to geochemical budgets. To do this, submarine groundwater discharges must be carefully studied. Comprehensively exploring the subject, Submarine Groundwater presents quantitative data relating groundwater contribution to the water/salt balance of regional and global bodies of water. The authors examine different data-supported methods for studying submarine groundwater flow and discharge through case studies contributed by leading international scientists. They discuss the maintenance of optimal water, salt, temperature and hydrobiological regimes of inland seas and large lakes. The book covers subsurface water exchange between the land and sea as well as groundwater discharge to the seas. It also provides a review of experimental methods and numerical modeling that can be used for the evaluation of specific discharge data and the effect of groundwater on the salt balance of seas and oceans. Defining the field of marine hydrogeology as a science that studies submarine groundwater, its properties, circulation, and distribution, Submarine Groundwater delineates the role of quantitative assessment of subsurface water exchange between land and sea in predicting its changes under the influence of natural factors and human activity. It provides a framework for assessing different methods and making the best choice for various situations.

Offers a comprehensive volume discussing groundwater problems in coastal areas, spanning fundamental science to practical water management.

The book provides a review of experimental methods and presents the worldwide newest literature regarding chemical substances fluxes via submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Thus, the book characterizes both the distribution of chemicals in groundwater impacted areas in the Baltic Sea and their fluxes via SGD to the Baltic Sea. This book presents the state of art regarding the SGD and detailed studies on SGD characterization in the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is an example of a region highly influenced by a variety of human activities that affect the ecosystem. It is shown that SGD has been proven to be one of the important sources introducing dissolved substances into the Baltic Sea. The loads of chemical substances delivered to the Baltic sea with SGD have not been quantified so far.

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a spatially pervasive phenomenon that adds freshwater, nutrients, dissolved metals, bacteria, and other constituents to the coastal ocean. This dissertation investigated SGD-related inputs of nutrients and fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp.) to coastal waters in two Hawaiian locations, the north shore of Kaua'i and the Kona coast of Hawai'i. Concentrations of caffeine, which has been used previously as a wastewater tracer, were measured in groundwater and surface water on the north shore of Kaua'i. Both study areas have relatively light levels of urban and agricultural development, and maintaining good water quality is essential for their tourism-based economies, coral reefs, fisheries, and traditional way of life. Radium (Ra), an element with naturally elevated concentrations in coastal groundwater, was used as an SGD tracer and a mass-balance approach was used to quantify SGD. On the north shore of Kaua'i, agriculture was associated with higher nitrate + nitrite concentrations in the fresh SGD component, while phosphate and silica appeared to be controlled by geological differences in aquifer substrate. High ammonium concentrations in the fresh SGD component at one site may have been caused by a leaky cesspool. In Kona, no relation between urban development or agriculture and groundwater nutrient concentrations was observed, but bare lava rock was associated with higher nitrate + nitrite and silica concentrations in fresh SGD. Sites closer to golf courses also had higher nitrate + nitrite concentrations. Conservative estimates of total SGD on the north shore of Kaua'i ranged from 1.3 to 7.8 L per meter per minute, or up to 10% of Hanalei River discharge, and SGD contributed significant nitrate + nitrite inputs to Hanalei Bay. Estimates of SGD in Kona ranged from 5 to 1200 L per meter per minute, with between 10 and 100% of the brackish SGD comprised by the fresh SGD component. SGD-related water and nutrient fluxes on the Kona Coast -- where no rivers and streams are present -- were large compared to those reported for other sites worldwide. Caffeine concentrations in environmental waters on the north shore of Kaua'i ranged from 0-88 ng/L, on the low end of what has been reported for other locations. Metribuzin, an herbicide, was also detected at concentrations from 4-11 ng/L in five groundwater and surface water samples. A sensitivity analysis of Ra-based methods of estimating water ages and coastal mixing rates revealed that water ages shorter than 3 d cannot be estimated with confidence using Ra-based methods, even if the only uncertainty considered is analytical error. In conclusion, this dissertation provides new data about SGD and related inputs of nutrients and bacteria to Hawaiian coastal waters, suggests that even low levels of development may influence nutrient concentrations in coastal groundwater, presents the first caffeine concentrations measured in environmental water samples collected in a tropical setting, and explores the limits of applicability of Ra-based methods of estimating water ages and coastal mixing rates, providing guidance for researchers conducting Ra-based SGD studies in the future.