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Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4274-3
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Title (Primary) Evaluation and source attribution of freshwater contributions to Kinvarra Bay, Ireland, using 222Rn, EC and stable isotopes as natural indicators
Author Schubert, M.; Knoeller, K.; Rocha, C.; Einsiedl, F.
Source Titel Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Year 2015
Department GWS; CATHYD
Volume 187
Issue 3
Page From art. 105
Language englisch
Keywords Coastal freshwater discharge; Submarine groundwater discharge; Radon; Stable isotopes of water; Environmental tracers
UFZ wide themes RU2;
Abstract Freshwater discharge into the coastal sea is of general interest for two reasons: (i) It acts as vehicle for the transport of contaminants or nutrients into the ocean, and (ii) it indicates the loss of significant volumes of freshwater that might be needed for irrigation or drinking water supply. Due to the large-scale and long-term nature of the related hydrological processes, locating and quantitatively assessing freshwater discharge into the sea require naturally occurring tracers that allow fast, inexpensive and straightforward detection. In several studies, the standard water parameters electrical conductivity (EC) and pH have proven their suitability in this regard. However, while distribution patterns of EC and pH in the coastal sea indicate freshwater discharge in general, a separation between discharging surface water and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is not possible with these alone. The naturally occurring radionuclide radon-222 has been shown to be useful in the quantification of SGD and its distinction from surface runoff. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the informative value of the three parameters—EC, pH and radon concentration—in detecting and quantifying SGD by carrying out a case study in a bay located in western Ireland. The results reveal that radon activity is the most sensitive parameter for detecting SGD. However, only the combined evaluation of radon, EC and pH allows a quantitative allocation of groundwater and surface water contributions to the overall freshwater discharge into the sea. This conclusion is independently supported by stable isotope data measured on selected samples.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15925
Schubert, M., Knoeller, K., Rocha, C., Einsiedl, F. (2015):
Evaluation and source attribution of freshwater contributions to Kinvarra Bay, Ireland, using 222Rn, EC and stable isotopes as natural indicators
Environ. Monit. Assess. 187 (3), art. 105 10.1007/s10661-015-4274-3