Loveless,A.M. and Oldham,C.E.(2010): Natural attenuation of nitrogen in groundwater discharging through a sandy beach. Biogeochemistry, 98, 75-87.

『砂質浜を通して放出される地下水中の窒素の自然減衰』


Abstract
 This paper presents an uncomplicated approach to improve estimates of groundwater nutrient load to marine embayment. A two-dimensional chemical profile of shallow groundwater was analysed in a sandy beach in three seasons (early summer, late summer and mid winter) and an adjusted estimate of groundwater nutrient discharge was derived that accounts for a complex biogeochemical environment and non-conservative behaviour of nutrients in the pre-discharge beach groundwater. The study was conducted at Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, where there has been significant groundwater contamination and associated marine ecological degradation. Losses in nitrogen and increases in phosphorus were observed along the discharge pathway beyond that expected from mixing with marine water, and the changes were attributed to chemically and biologically mediated reactions. A slow groundwater velocity (0.14-0.18 m day-1), high organic carbon (TOC=0.35-4.9 mmol l-1, DOC=0.28-4.6 mmol l-1) and low to sub-oxic conditions (DO=0.4-24% saturation) were deemed suitable for chemically and biologically mediated reactions to occur and subsequently alter regional estimates of groundwater nutrient concentration. Accounting for this environment, groundwater loads were calculated that were 1-2 orders of magnitude less than previous regional-based estimates: 0.4-13 kg NOx- day-1, 0.2-24 kg NH4+ day-1 and 0.004-0.8 kg FRP day-1. This paper applies knowledge of recent research and presents scope to marine managers or modellers to account for groundwater inputs to the marine environment.

Keywords: Groundwater nitrogen; Permeable sand; Coastal aquifer; Submarine groundwater discharge』

Introduction
Materials and methods
 Study site
 Sample collection
 Beach sediment characterisation
Results
 Beach sediment profile
 Sea water
 Integrated and deep groundwater
 Shallow groundwater
Discussion
 Controls on beach groundwater quality
  Water level
  Salinity
  Temperature
  Chemistry
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References


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