T78 The Role of Groundwater in the Eutrophication of Surface Waters

Sunday, 19 October 2014
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
109

INFLUENCE OF OCEANIC FORCING ON NUTRIENT PROCESSING IN A NEARSHORE AQUIFER

Paper number: T78-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:35 PM – 1:50 PM

Authors

Abstract

The role of the nearshore subterranean estuary in regulating nutrient fluxes to coastal waters is well recognized. Complex interacting physical flow and biogeochemical processes determine whether a nearshore subterranean estuary will be a net source or sink of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). A numerical model was applied to evaluate the influence of varying oceanic forcing (tides and waves) on the nutrient biogeochemistry in a permeable homogeneous nearshore aquifer. Simulations were performed using the variable-density groundwater flow model SEAWAT-2005 combined with the reactive multi-component transport model PHT3D v2.10. The model considered the transport and transformation of both marine- and land-derived chemical species (NH4+, NO3-, PO43-, Fe2+, DOM and O2). Reactions considered include DOM oxic mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, Fe oxidation, and P adsorption. Varying DOM concentrations and mineralization rates were also examined for the different oceanic conditions simulated.

Although steady wave forcing caused higher seawater recirculation, tides led to greater seawater-freshwater mixing in the nearshore aquifer and subsequently greater transformation of land-derived nutrients. Nutrient processing was strongly controlled by the availability and reactivity of marine DOM as its degradation consumed O2, released inorganic N and P, and altered redox conditions in the salt-freshwater mixing zones. For the simulations without marine DOM considered, NO3- discharge to the sea increased by 32% for the tidal case (A = 0.5 m) compared to only 13% and 8% for the wave (Hrms = 1 m) and no oceanic forcing cases. With labile marine DOM considered, the NO3- discharge decreased by 90% relative to the land-derived flux for the tidal case (A = 0.5 m). For all simulations PO43- removal was high due to adsorption to Fe oxide minerals that precipitated along redox boundaries in the subterranean estuary.