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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
environmental science
Isotopic, geophysical and biogeochemical investigation of submarine groundwater discharge: IAEA-UNESCO intercomparison exercise at Mauritius Island
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 104, No. 1, Year 2012
Notification
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Description
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into a shallow lagoon on the west coast of Mauritius Island (Flic-en-Flac) was investigated using radioactive ( 3H, 222Rn, 223Ra, 224Ra, 226Ra, 228Ra) and stable ( 2H, 18O) isotopes and nutrients. SGD intercomparison exercises were carried out to validate the various approaches used to measure SGD including radium and radon measurements, seepage rate measurements using manual and automated meters, sediment bulk conductivity and salinity surveys. SGD measurements using benthic chambers placed on the floor of the Flic-en-Flac Lagoon showed discharge rates up to 500 cm/day. Large variability in SGD was observed over distances of a few meters, which were attributed to different geomorphological features. Deployments of automated seepage meters captured the spatial and temporal variability of SGD with a mean seepage rate of 10 cm/day. The stable isotopic composition of submarine waters was characterized by significant variability and heavy isotope enrichment and was used to predict the contribution of fresh terrestrially derived groundwater to SGD (range from a few % to almost 100%). The integrated SGD flux, estimated from seepage meters placed parallel to the shoreline, was 35 m 3/m day, which was in reasonable agreement with results obtained from a hydrologic water balance calculation (26 m 3/m day). SGD calculated from the radon inventory method using in situ radon measurements were between 5 and 56 m 3/m per day. Low concentrations of radium isotopes observed in the lagoon water reflected the low abundance of U and Th in the basalt that makes up the island. High SGD rates contribute to high nutrients loading to the lagoon, potentially leading to eutrophication. Each of the applied methods yielded unique information about the character and magnitude of SGD. The results of the intercomparison studies have resulted a better understanding of groundwater-seawater interactions in coastal regions. Such information is an important pre-requisite for the protection and management of coastal freshwater resources. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Povinec, Pavel Peter
Slovakia, Bratislava
Univerzita Komenského V Bratislave
Burnett, William C.
United States, Tallahassee
Florida State University
Beck, Aaron Joseph
United States, Stony Brook
Stony Brook University
Bokuniewicz, H.
United States, Stony Brook
Stony Brook University
Charette, Matthew A.
United States, Woods Hole
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Gonneea, M. E.
United States, Woods Hole
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Groening, Manfred
Austria, Vienna
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
Ishitobi, T.
Japan, Kyoto
National Institutes for the Humanities, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
Kontar, E.
Russian Federation, Moscow
P.p.shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Liong Wee Kwong, L.
Monaco
Iaea Marine Environment Laboratory Monaco
Marie, Daniel E.P.
Mauritius, Avenue
Mauritius Oceanography Institute
Moore, W. S.
United States, Columbia
University of South Carolina
Oberdorfer, J. A.
United States, San Jose
San Jose State University
Peterson, Richard N.
United States, Tallahassee
Florida State University
Ramessur, Roshan Teewary
Mauritius, Reduit
University of Mauritius
Rapaglia, J.
United States, Stony Brook
Stony Brook University
Stieglitz, T.
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Australia, Townsville
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Top, Z.
United States, Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Statistics
Citations: 63
Authors: 18
Affiliations: 15
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.09.009
ISSN:
0265931X
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Mauritius