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Environmental impact of nutrient fluxes associated with submarine groundwater discharge at an urbanized tropical coast

Departments

Global Change Impacts and Adaptation

Abstract

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) can transport substantial amounts of nutrients from coasts into the ocean. Southeast Asia has been hypothesized to be a hotspot of SGD. However, studies focusing on nutrient fluxes by SGD in this region are scarce compared to other locations around the world. In this study, 222Rn was used to assess SGD along the sedimentary coast of two beaches, Awur and Bandengan, in northern Java (Indonesia). In addition, fluxes of DIN, PO4, and DSi discharging in the coastal area were investigated. The average SGD rate in Awur Beach was 37 cm d−1 compared to 52 cm d−1 in Bandengan Beach. 40% of total SGD in Awur was fresh groundwater, while in Bandengan it only composed 3% of the total SGD. Fresh SGD-derived DIN, PO4, and DSi fluxes were 19 mmol m−2 d−1, 2.9 mmol m−2 d−1, and 40 mmol m−2 d−1 in Awur Beach, and 3.2 mmol m−2 d−1, 0.1 mmol m−2 d−1, 3.8 mmol m−2 d−1 in Bandengan Beach, respectively. The high estimated SGD-derived nutrient fluxes from Awur Beach resulted from a combination of the geology and the land use in the hinterland and the coastal area. The results from this study provide a basis for environmental authorities that include the land containment of SGD-driven nutrient fluxes in the coastal area.

Cite this activity

Adyasari D., Oehler T., Afiati N. and Moosdorf N. (2019) Environmental impact of nutrient fluxes associated with submarine groundwater discharge at an urbanized tropical coast. 221: 30-38. 10.1016/j.ecss.2019.03.009

Details

Date 21.03.2019
Volume 221
Pages 30-38
Open Access Closed Access
Open Access Status Closed Access
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/1752
Peer-Reviewed

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