Tropical urbanized coastal regions are hotspots for the discharge of nutrient-enriched groundwater, which can affect sensitive coastal ecosystems. Here, we investigated how a beach modifies groundwater nutrient loads in southern India (Varkala Beach), using flux measurements and stable isotopes. Fresh groundwater was highly enriched in NO3 from sewage or manure. Submarine groundwater discharge and nearshore groundwater discharge were equally important contributors to coastal NO3 fluxes with 303 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in submarine and 334 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in nearshore groundwater discharge. However, N/P ratios in nearshore groundwater discharge were up to 3 orders of magnitude greater than that in submarine groundwater, which can promote harmful algae blooms. As groundwater flowed through the beach, N/P ratios decreased toward Redfield ratios due to the removal of 30–50% of NO3 due to denitrification and production of PO4 due to mineralization of organic matter. Overall, tropical beaches can be important natural biogeochemical reactors that attenuate nitrogen pollution and modify N/P ratios in submarine groundwater discharge.
Oehler T., Ramasamy M., George M.E., Babu S.D.S., Dähnke K., Ankele M., Böttcher M.E., Santos I.R. and Moosdorf N. (2021) Tropical Beaches Attenuate Groundwater Nitrogen Pollution Flowing to the Ocean. Environmental Science & Technology 55(12): 8432-8438. 10.1021/acs.est.1c00759
@article{Oehler2021,
Title = {Tropical Beaches Attenuate Groundwater Nitrogen Pollution Flowing to the Ocean},
Author = {Oehler, Till and Ramasamy, Murugan and George, Mintu E. and Babu, Suresh D. S. and Dähnke, Kirstin and Ankele, Markus and Böttcher, Michael E. and Santos, Isaac R. and Moosdorf, Nils},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Environmental Science & Technology},
Year = {2021},
Pages = {8432-8438},
Volume = {55},
Doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c00759},
Abstract = {Tropical urbanized coastal regions are hotspots for the discharge of nutrient-enriched groundwater, which can affect sensitive coastal ecosystems. Here, we investigated how a beach modifies groundwater nutrient loads in southern India (Varkala Beach), using flux measurements and stable isotopes. Fresh groundwater was highly enriched in NO3 from sewage or manure. Submarine groundwater discharge and nearshore groundwater discharge were equally important contributors to coastal NO3 fluxes with 303 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in submarine and 334 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in nearshore groundwater discharge. However, N/P ratios in nearshore groundwater discharge were up to 3 orders of magnitude greater than that in submarine groundwater, which can promote harmful algae blooms. As groundwater flowed through the beach, N/P ratios decreased toward Redfield ratios due to the removal of 30–50% of NO3 due to denitrification and production of PO4 due to mineralization of organic matter. Overall, tropical beaches can be important natural biogeochemical reactors that attenuate nitrogen pollution and modify N/P ratios in submarine groundwater discharge.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Oehler, Till
AU - Ramasamy, Murugan
AU - George, Mintu E.
AU - Babu, Suresh D. S.
AU - Dähnke, Kirstin
AU - Ankele, Markus
AU - Böttcher, Michael E.
AU - Santos, Isaac R.
AU - Moosdorf, Nils
TI - Tropical Beaches Attenuate Groundwater Nitrogen Pollution Flowing to the Ocean
T2 - Environmental Science & Technology
PY - 2021
SP - 8432-8438
VL - 55
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.1c00759
AB - Tropical urbanized coastal regions are hotspots for the discharge of nutrient-enriched groundwater, which can affect sensitive coastal ecosystems. Here, we investigated how a beach modifies groundwater nutrient loads in southern India (Varkala Beach), using flux measurements and stable isotopes. Fresh groundwater was highly enriched in NO3 from sewage or manure. Submarine groundwater discharge and nearshore groundwater discharge were equally important contributors to coastal NO3 fluxes with 303 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in submarine and 334 mmol NO3 m–1 day–1 in nearshore groundwater discharge. However, N/P ratios in nearshore groundwater discharge were up to 3 orders of magnitude greater than that in submarine groundwater, which can promote harmful algae blooms. As groundwater flowed through the beach, N/P ratios decreased toward Redfield ratios due to the removal of 30–50% of NO3 due to denitrification and production of PO4 due to mineralization of organic matter. Overall, tropical beaches can be important natural biogeochemical reactors that attenuate nitrogen pollution and modify N/P ratios in submarine groundwater discharge.
ER -
