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Novel geophysical and geochemical techniques used to study submarine groundwater discharge in Biscayne Bay, Florida

Fact Sheet 2004-3117
By: , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20043117

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Introduction

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a problem of major proportions on a world-wide scale. The ubiquitous nature of SGD along varied coastlines and its importance to coastal water and geochemical budgets have recently been thrust into the global spotlight . For example, the discharge of nutrient-enriched groundwater into coastal waters may cause nutrient imbalances that can lead to eutrophication or near-shore micro-organism blooms . Similarly, SGD can also directly affect threatened coastal freshwater resources and impact fragile coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs.

Recently, much effort has been devoted to developing and adapting new tracer techniques and methods for the identification and quantification of SGD. As the discharge of coastal groundwater most often occurs as diffuse seepage rather than through a single vent feature, assessing SGD has remained difficult for both oceanographers and hydrologists alike. Burnett and colleagues have developed a systematic approach to investigate SGD by using a combination of both physical seepage measurements and a suite of naturally occurring isotopic tracers in the U/Th decay chain – 222Rn and 223,224,226,228Ra. Manheim et al. further extended SGD investigations by adapting geophysical resistivity techniques to examine fine-scale change in conductivity fields within coastal sediments. Such streaming resistivity profiling has been successfully applied to identify sites of SGD, as well as the dynamic position of the fresh water/saltwater interface.

Suggested Citation

Swarzenski, Peter W., Burnett, Bill, Reich, C., Dulaiova, H., Peterson, R., and Meunier, J., 2004, Novel geophysical and geochemical techniques used to study submarine groundwater discharge in Biscayne Bay, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2004–3117, 4., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20043117.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Biscayne Bay
  • Radon-222
  • Streaming Resistivity Profiling
  • Electromagnetic Seepage Meter Deployments
  • Summary
  • References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Novel geophysical and geochemical techniques used to study submarine groundwater discharge in Biscayne Bay, Florida
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2004-3117
DOI 10.3133/fs20043117
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center
Description 4 p.
Country United States
State Florida
Other Geospatial Biscayne Bay
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