Groundwater,Acid and Carbon Dioxide Dynamics Along a Coastal Wetland,Lake and Estuary Continuum

Coastal wetlands are hotspots for biodiversity and biological productivity, yet the hydrology and carbon cycling within these systems remains poorly understood due to their complex nature. By using a novel spatiotemporal approach, this study quantified groundwater discharge and the related inputs of acidity and CO₂ along a continuum of a modified coastal acid sulphate soil (CASS) wetland, a coastal lake and an estuary under highly contrasting hydrological conditions. To increase the resolution of spatiotemporal data and advance upon previous methodologies, we relied on automated observations from four simultaneous time-series stations to develop multiple radon mass balance models to estimate groundwater discharge and related groundwater inputs of acidity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), along with surface water to atmosphere CO₂ fluxes. Spatial surveys indicated distinct acid hotspots with minimum surface water pH of 2.91 (dry conditions) and 2.67 (flood conditions) near a non-remediated (drained) CASS area. Under flood conditions, groundwater discharge accounted for ～14.5 % of surface water entering the lake. During the same period, acid discharge from the acid sulphate soil section of the continuum produced ～4.8 kg H₂SO₄?ha^?1 day^?1, a rate much higher than previous studies in similar systems. During baseflow conditions, the low pH water was rapidly buffered within the estuarine lake, with the pH increasing from 4.22 to 6.07 over a distance of ～250 m. The CO₂ evasion rates within the CASS were extremely high, averaging 2163?±?125 mmol m^?2 day^?1 in the dry period and 4061?±?259 mmol m^?2 day^?1 under flood conditions. Groundwater input of DIC could only account for 0.4 % of this evasion in the dry conditions and ～5 % during the flood conditions. We demonstrated that by utilising a spatiotemporal (multiple time-series stations) approach, the study was able to isolate distinct zones of differing hydrology and biogeochemistry, whilst providing more reasonable groundwater acid input estimates and air–water CO₂ flux estimates than some traditional sampling designs. This study highlights the notion that modified CASS wetlands can release large amounts of CO₂ to the atmosphere because of high groundwater acid inputs and extremely low surface water pH.     

Geochemical,isotopic and hydrological mass balance approaches to constrain the lake water–groundwater interaction in Dal Lake,Kashmir Valley

It is important to have qualitative as well as quantitative understanding of the hydraulic exchange between lake and groundwater for effective water resource management. Dal, a famous urban fresh water lake, plays a fundamental role in social, cultural and economic dynamics of the Kashmir Valley. In this paper geochemical, isotopic and hydrological mass balance approaches are used to constrain the lake water–groundwater interaction of Dal Lake and to identify the sources of lake water. Water samples of precipitation (n = 27), lake water (n = 18) and groundwater (n = 32) were collected across the lake and its catchment for the analysis of δ¹⁸O and δ²H. A total of 444 lake water samples and 440 groundwater samples (springs, tube wells and dug wells) were collected for the analysis of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HCO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?, Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, Na⁺ and K⁺. Water table and lake water level were monitored at 40 observation locations in the catchment. Water table map including pH and EC values corroborate and verify the gaining nature of the Dal Lake. Stable isotopes of lake water in Boddal and Gagribal basins showed more deviation from the global meteoric water line than Hazratbal and Nigeen basins, indicating the evaporation of lake water. The isotopic and geochemical mass balance suggested that groundwater contributes a significant proportion (23–40%) to Dal Lake. The estimated average groundwater contribution to Dal Lake ranged from 31.2 × 10³ to 674 × 10³ m³ day^?1 with an average of 276 × 10³ m³ day^?1. The study will be useful to delineate the possible sources of nutrients and pollutants entering the lake and for the management of lake water resources for sustainable development.     

Using multiple environmental methods to estimate groundwater discharge into an arid lake (Dakebo Lake,Inner Mongolia,China)

It is important to have both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the hydraulic exchange between groundwater and surface water to support the development of effective management plans for sustainable use of water resources. Groundwater is a major source of surface-water recharge and plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of ecosystems, especially within wetlands in semi-arid regions. The Ordos Desert Plateau of Inner Mongolia (China) is a vulnerable ecosystem that suffers from an extreme lack of water. The hydraulic exchange between groundwater and lake water in Dakebo Lake (the largest of hundreds of lakes on the Ordos Desert Plateau) was evaluated using multiple environmental methods. Continuous monitoring of the groundwater and lake-water levels indicated that the lake was recharged vertically by groundwater. Application of hydrodynamic and temperature tracing methods to the western side of the lake indicated that the rate of groundwater discharge to the lake was about 2?×?10^?6 to 3?×?10^?6 m/s in spring, summer, and autumn, but that there was no recharge in winter because the hypolentic zone (HZ) was frozen. Mixing ratios of groundwater and lake water in the HZ, estimated from the ¹⁸O and ²H ratios, showed that there were spatial variations in the hydrodynamic exchange between groundwater and lake water within the HZ.     

Groundwater Discharge as a Source of Dissolved Carbon and Greenhouse Gases in a Subtropical Estuary

Groundwater may be highly enriched in dissolved carbon species, but its role as a source of carbon to coastal waters is still poorly constrained. Exports of deep and shallow groundwater-derived dissolved carbon species from a small subtropical estuary (Korogoro Creek, Australia, latitude ?31.0478°, longitude 153.0649°) were quantified using a radium isotope mass balance model (²³³Ra and ²²⁴Ra, natural groundwater tracers) under two hydrological conditions. In addition, air-water exchange of carbon dioxide and methane in the estuary was estimated. The highest carbon inputs to the estuary were from deep fresh groundwater in the wet season. Most of the dissolved carbon delivered by groundwater and exported from the estuary to the coastal ocean was in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC; 687 mmol m^?2 estuary day^?1; 20 mmol m^?2 catchment day^?1, respectively), with a large export of alkalinity (23 mmol m^?2 catchment day^?1). Average water to air flux of CO₂ (869 mmol m^?2 day^?1) and CH₄ (26 mmol m^?2 day^?1) were 5- and 43-fold higher, respectively, than the average global evasion in estuaries due to the large input of CO₂- and CH₄-enriched groundwater. The groundwater discharge contribution to carbon exports from the estuary for DIC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), alkalinity, CO₂, and CH₄ was 22, 41, 3, 75, and 100 %, respectively. The results show that CO₂ and CH₄ evasion rates from small subtropical estuaries surrounded by wetlands can be extremely high and that groundwater discharge had a major role in carbon export and evasion from the estuary and therefore should be accounted for in coastal carbon budgets.     

Estimating groundwater inflow and leakage outflow for an intermontane lake with a structurally complex geology: Georgetown Lake in Montana,USA

Stable isotopes of the water molecule (δ¹⁸O and δD) for groundwater, lake water, streams, and precipitation were coupled with physical flux measurements to investigate groundwater–lake interactions and to establish a water balance for a structurally complex lake. Georgetown Lake, a shallow high-latitude high-elevation lake, is located in southwestern Montana, USA. The lake is situated between two mountain ranges with highlands primarily to the east and south of the lake and a lower valley to the west. An annual water balance and (δ¹⁸O and δD) isotope balance were used to quantify annual groundwater inflows of 2.5?×?10⁷ m³/year and lake leakage outflows of 1.6?×?10⁷ m³/year. Roughly, 57% of total inflow to the lake is from groundwater, and 37% of total outflow at Georgetown Lake is groundwater. Stable isotopes of groundwater and springs around the lake and surrounding region show that the east side of the lake contains meteoric water recharged annually from higher mountain sources, and groundwater discharge to the lake occurs through this region. However, springs located in the lower western valley and some of the surrounding domestic wells west of the lake show isotopic enrichment indicative of strong to moderate evaporation similar to Georgetown Lake water. This indicates that some outflowing lake water recharges groundwater through the underlying west-dipping bedrock in the region.     

Groundwater sustainability and groundwater/surface-water interaction in arid Dunhuang Basin,northwest China

The Dunhuang Basin, a typical inland basin in northwestern China, suffers a net loss of groundwater and the occasional disappearance of the Crescent Lake. Within this region, the groundwater/surface-water interactions are important for the sustainability of the groundwater resources. A three-dimensional transient groundwater flow model was established and calibrated using MODFLOW 2000, which was used to predict changes to these interactions once a water diversion project is completed. The simulated results indicate that introducing water from outside of the basin into the Shule and Danghe rivers could reverse the negative groundwater balance in the Basin. River-water/groundwater interactions control the groundwater hydrology, where river leakage to the groundwater in the Basin will increase from 3,114?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 11,875?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 17,039?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2036. In comparison, groundwater discharge to the rivers will decrease from 3277?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2017 to 1857?×?10⁴ m³/year in 2021, and to 510?×?10⁴ m³/year by 2036; thus, the hydrology will switch from groundwater discharge to groundwater recharge after implementing the water diversion project. The simulation indicates that the increased net river infiltration due to the water diversion project will raise the water table and then effectively increasing the water level of the Crescent Lake, as the lake level is contiguous with the water table. However, the regional phreatic evaporation will be enhanced, which may intensify soil salinization in the Dunhuang Basin. These results can guide the water allocation scheme for the water diversion project to alleviate groundwater depletion and mitigate geo-environmental problem.     

Changes in water chemistry along the newly formed High Arctic fluvial–lacustrine system of the Brattegg Valley (SW Spitsbergen,Svalbard)

Changes in water chemistry along the High Arctic fluvial–lacustrine system located in Wedel Jarlsberg Land in the SW Spitsbergen (Svalbard) were investigated during the summer season of 2010 and 2011. The newly formed river–lake system consists of three lakes connected with the Brattegg River. The first bathymetric measurements of these lakes were made by the authors in 2010. The Brattegg River catchment represents a partly glaciered Arctic water system. The studied lakes are characterized by low mineralization and temperature of water. The value of the electrolytic conductivity (EC) ranges from 30.2 to 50.5 μS cm^?1 and the temperature of surface water from 1.5 to 7.8 °C. The temperature increase takes place downstream starting from Upper Lake to the outflow from Myrktjørna Lake. The waters of lakes have higher temperatures than the stream. The predominant ions are HCO₃ ^? (up to 16.5 mg L^?1), Cl^? (6.66–8.53 mg L^?1), Ca²⁺ (2.40–4.45 mg L^?1) and Na⁺ (2.65–3.36 mg L^?1). The highest values of ammonium and DOC found in the lowest Myrktjørna Lake seem to be related to the presence of aquatic organisms and also birds. From the group of 10 analyzed microelements, increased concentrations of aluminum, up to almost 500 μg L^?1, are present in the lakes’ water. Water isotopic composition ranges for δ¹⁸O and δ²H, from ?10.6 to ?10.9‰ and from ?70.8 to ?72.3‰, respectively. The vertical zonality of lake waters is manifested in a decrease in the temperature and increase in EC and chemical elements concentrations.     

Submarine Groundwater Discharge Estimates Using Radium Isotopes and Related Nutrient Inputs into Tauranga Harbour (New Zealand)

Land-based pollutants such as fertilizers and wastewater can infiltrate into aquifers and discharge into surrounding coastal water bodies as submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Oceanic islands, with a large coast length to land area ratio, may be hot spots of SGD into the global ocean. Although SGD may be a major pathway of dissolved nutrients, carbon and metals to coastal waters, studies have been limited due to the difficulties in measuring this often diffuse process. This study used radium isotopes (²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra) to investigate SGD and the associated fluxes of nutrients into Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand. We calculated the apparent water mass ages of the harbour to be between ~4.1 and 7.8 days, which was similar to a previous numerical model of ~2–8 days. A ²²⁶Ra mass balance was constructed to quantify SGD fluxes at the harbour scale. A minimum SGD flux rate of 0.53 cm day^?1 was calculated by using the maximum groundwater end-member value from 22 sample sites. However, using the geometric mean from these samples as a representative end-member, a final value of 2.83 cm day^?1 or a flux of 3.09 × 10⁶ m³ day^?1 was calculated. These values were between ~1 and 2.8 times greater than all the major river and creeks discharging into the harbour during the sampling period. Due to the higher observed nutrient concentrations in groundwater, the SGD-derived dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) fluxes were calculated to be 1.07, 0.87 and 0.05 mmol m² day^?1, respectively. These SGD inputs were ~5 times (for nitrogen) and ~8 times (for phosphorus) greater than the input from surrounding rivers and streams. The average N:P ratio in groundwater samples was 36:1 (which was greatly in excess of the Redfield ratio of 16). The harbour water had a N:P ratio of ~17:1. A positive relationship between radium isotopes and N:P ratios in the harbour further supported the hypothesis that SGD can have major implications for primary production, including recurrent algal bloom events which occur in the harbour. We suggest SGD as a major driver of nutrient dynamics in Tauranga Harbour and potentially other similar coastal lagoon systems and estuaries on oceanic islands.     

Sensitivity analysis of lake mass balance in discontinuous permafrost: the example of disappearing Twelvemile Lake, Yukon Flats, Alaska (USA)

Many lakes in northern high latitudes have undergone substantial changes in surface area over the last four decades, possibly as a result of climate warming. In the discontinuous permafrost of Yukon Flats, interior Alaska (USA), these changes have been non-uniform across adjacent watersheds, suggesting local controls on lake water budgets. Mechanisms that could explain the decreasing mass of one lake in Yukon Flats since the early 1980s, Twelvemile Lake, are identified via a scoping analysis that considers plausible changes in snowmelt mass and infiltration, permafrost distribution, and climate warming. Because predicted changes in evaporation (2  cmyr^?1) are inadequate to explain the observed 17.5 cmyr^?1 reduction in mass balance, other mechanisms are required. The most important potential mechanisms are found to involve: (1) changes in shallow, lateral groundwater flow to the lake possibly facilitated by vertical freeze-thaw migration of the permafrost table in gravel; (2) increased loss of lake water as downward groundwater flow through an open talik to a permeable subpermafrost flowpath; and (3) reduced snow meltwater inputs due to decreased snowpack mass and increased infiltration of snowmelt into, and subsequent evaporation from, fine-grained sediment mantling the permafrost-free lake basin.     

Watershed-scale response of groundwater recharge to inter-annual and inter-decadal variability in precipitation (Alberta,Canada)

Groundwater recharge sets a constraint on aquifer water balance in the context of water management. Historical data on groundwater and other relevant hydrological processes can be used to understand the effects of climatic variability on recharge, but such data sets are rare. The climate of the Canadian prairies is characterized by large inter-annual and inter-decadal variability in precipitation, which provides opportunities to examine the response of groundwater recharge to changes in meteorological conditions. A decadal study was conducted in a small (250 km²) prairie watershed in Alberta, Canada. Relative magnitude of annual recharge, indicated by water-level rise, was significantly correlated with a combination of growing-season precipitation and snowmelt runoff, which drives depression-focussed infiltration of meltwater. Annual precipitation was greater than vapour flux at an experimental site in some years and smaller in other years. On average precipitation minus vapour flux was 10 mm y^?1, which was comparable to the magnitude of watershed-scale groundwater recharge estimated from creek baseflow. Average baseflow showed a distinct shift from a low value (4 mm y^?1) in 1982–1995 to a high value (15 mm y^?1) in 2003–2013, indicating the sensitivity of groundwater recharge to a decadal-scale variability of meteorological conditions.     

Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Radon in the Choptank River and Its Tributaries: Implications for Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Inputs

The Choptank River, Chesapeake Bay’s largest eastern-shore tributary, is experiencing increasing nutrient loading and eutrophication. Productivity in the Choptank is predominantly nitrogen-limited, and most nitrogen inputs occur via discharge of high-nitrate groundwater into the river system’s surface waters. However, spatial patterns in the magnitude and quality of groundwater discharge are not well understood. In this study, we surveyed the activity of ²²²Rn, a natural groundwater tracer, in the Choptank’s main tidal channel, the large tidal tributary Tuckahoe Creek, smaller tidal and non-tidal tributaries around the basin, and groundwater discharging into those tributaries, measuring nitrate and salinity concurrently. ²²²Rn activities were <100 Bq m^?3 in the main tidal channel and 100–700 Bq m^?3 in the upper Choptank River and Tuckahoe Creek, while the median Rn activities of fresh tributaries and discharging groundwater were 1,000 and 7,000 Bq m^?3, respectively. Nitrate-N concentrations were <0.01 mg L^?1 throughout most of the tidal channel, 1.5–3 mg L^?1 in the upper reaches, up to 13 mg L^?1 in tributary samples, and up to 19.6 mg L^?1 in groundwater. Nitrate concentrations in tributary surface water were correlated with Rn activity in three of five sub-watersheds, indicating a groundwater nitrate source. ²²²Rn and salinity mass balances indicated that Rn-enriched groundwater discharges directly into the Choptank’s tidal waters and suggested that it consists of a mixture of fresh groundwater and brackish re-circulated estuarine water. Further sampling is necessary to constrain the Rn activity and nitrate concentration of discharging groundwater and quantify direct discharge and associated nitrogen inputs.     

Release characteristics of molasses from a well-type barrier system in groundwater: a large test tank study for nitrate removal

A pilot-scale study was conducted to characterize the performance of molasses' release from a well-type barrier system harboring solidifying molasses named slowly released molasses (SRM) as a reactive medium to promote indigenous denitrifying activity. A SRM rod was made by mixing molasses with paraffin wax, cellulose, and silica sands in a cylindrical mold. Two SRM systems harboring 30 and 60 SRM rods, referred to as Systems A and B, respectively, were constructed in a large flow tank (L × W × D = 8 m × 4 m × 2 m) filled with natural sands. These two systems continuously delivered molasses with groundwater flow over 96 days, with decreasing molasses' concentrations ranging from 763 to 95 and 1,150 to 183 mg L^?1 as chemical oxygen demand values (COD) for Systems A and B, respectively. From simulation results with an aid of the upscaled mass transfer function (MTF) model, the molasses' mass flux was slowly decreased with time, exhibiting 57, 11, and 3 mg COD day^?1 in 10, 100, and 365 days in System A, and 138, 25, and 6 mg COD day^?1 in System B, respectively; 90, 70, and 50 % of total molasses' mass remained after 12, 63, and 267 days in System A and 12, 65, and 291 days in System B, respectively. This study demonstrates that SRM system can provide a remedial alternative for long-term in situ treatment of nitrate-contaminated groundwater.     

An assessment of the potential and impacts of winter water banking in the Sokh aquifer, Central Asia

The dynamics of artificial recharge of winter surface flows coupled with increased summer groundwater use for irrigation in the Sokh aquifer (Central Asia) have been investigated. Water release patterns from the giant Toktogul reservoir have changed, as priority is now given to hydropower generation in winter in Kyrgyzstan. Winter flows have increased and summer releases have declined, but the Syr Darya River cannot pass these larger winter flows and the excess is diverted to a natural depression, creating a 40?×?10⁹m³ lake. A water balance study of all 18 aquifers feeding the Fergana Valley indicated the feasibility of winter groundwater recharge in storage created by summer abstraction. This modeling study examines the dynamics of the process in one aquifer over a 5-year period, with four scenarios: the current situation; increased groundwater abstraction of around 625 million (M) m³/year; groundwater abstraction with an artificial recharge of 144 Mm³/year, equivalent to the volume available in low flow years in the Sokh River; and with a larger artificial recharge of 268 Mm³/year, corresponding to high flow availability. Summer surface irrigation diversions can be reduced by up to 350 Mm³ and water table levels can be lowered.     

Groundwater/surface-water interactions on deeply weathered surfaces of low relief: evidence from Lakes Victoria and Kyoga, Uganda

Little is known of the interactions between groundwater and surface water on deeply weathered landscapes of low relief in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (GLRA). The role of groundwater in sustaining surface-water levels during periods of absent rainfall is disputed and groundwater is commonly excluded from estimations of surface-water balances. Triangulated piezometers installed beside lake gauging stations on Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga in Uganda provide the first evidence of the dynamic interaction between groundwater and surface water in the GLRA. Stable isotope ratios (²H:¹H, ¹⁸O:¹⁶O) support piezometric evidence that groundwater primarily discharges to lakes but show further that mixing of groundwater and lake water has occurred at one site on Lake Victoria (Jinja). Layered-aquifer heterogeneity, wherein fluvial-lacustrine sands overlie saprolite, gives rise to both rapid and slow groundwater fluxes to lakes which is evident from the recession of borehole hydrographs following recharge events. Darcy throughflow calculations suggest that direct contributions from groundwater to Lake Victoria comprise <1% of the total inflows to the lake. Groundwater/surface-water interactions are strongly influenced by changing drainage base (lake) levels that are controlled, in part, by regional climate variability and dam releases from Lake Victoria (Jinja).     

Debris flows triggered from non-stationary glacier lake outbursts: the case of the Teztor Lake complex (Northern Tian Shan,Kyrgyzstan)

One of the most far-reaching glacier-related hazards in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan is glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and related debris flows. An improved understanding of the formation and evolution of glacial lakes and debris flow susceptibility is therefore essential to assess and mitigate potential hazards and risks. Non-stationary glacier lakes may fill periodically and quickly; the potential for them to outburst increases as water volume may change dramatically over very short periods of time. After the outburst or drainage of a lake, the entire process may start again, and thus these non-stationary lakes are of particular importance in the region. In this work, the Teztor lake complex, located in Northern Kyrgyzstan, was selected for the analysis of outburst mechanisms of non-stationary glacial lakes, their formation, as well as the triggering of flows and development of debris flows and floods downstream of the lakes. The different Teztor lakes are filled with water periodically, and according to field observations, they tend to outburst every 9–10 years on average. The most important event in the area dates back to 1953, and another important event occurred on July 31, 2012. Other smaller outbursts have been recorded as well. Our study shows that the recent GLOF in 2012 was caused by a combination of intense precipitation during the days preceding the event and a rapid rise in air temperatures. Analyses of features in the entrainment and depositional zones point to a total debris flow volume of about 200,000 m³, with discharge ranging from 145 to 340 m³ s^?1 and flow velocities between 5 and 7 m s^?1. Results of this study are key for a better design of sound river corridor planning and for the assessment and mitigation of potential GLOF hazards and risks in the region.     

Quantification of the water balance and hydrogeological processes of groundwater–lake interactions in the Pampa Plain, Argentina

This paper gives an account of the assessment and quantification of the water balance and the hydrogeological processes related to lake–groundwater interaction in the Pampa Plain by using hydrogeochemical, isotopic and flow numerical modeling techniques. La Salada is a permanent shallow lake, with an area of 5.8 km², located on the SE of Buenos Aires Province. A total of 29 lake water samples and 15 groundwater samples were collected for both hydrochemical analysis and environmental stable isotope determination. Water table depths were measured in wells closed to the lake. Groundwater samples appear grouped on the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting a well-mixed system and that rainfall is the main recharge source to the aquifer. Water evaporation process within La Salada is also corroborated by its isotopic composition. The model that best adjusts to La Salada Lake hydrochemical processes includes evaporation from groundwater, calcite precipitation with CO₂ release and cationic exchange. The annual water balance terms for the lake basin indicates for each hydrological component the following values: 1.16 E⁰⁸ m³ rainfall, 8.15 E⁰⁷ m³ evapotranspiration, 1.90 E⁰⁶ m³ runoff, 1.55 E⁰⁷ m³ groundwater recharge, 6.01 E⁰⁶ m³ groundwater discharge to the lake, 9.54 E⁰⁶ m³ groundwater discharge to the river, 5.00 E⁰⁵ m³ urban extraction and 4.90 E⁰⁶ m³ lake evaporation. Integrated analysis of hydrochemical and isotopic information helped to calibrate the groundwater flow model, to validate the conceptual model and to quantitatively assess the basin water balance.     

A hydrological simulation of the water regime in two playa lakes located in southern Spain

The subject of this paper is the detailed hydrological simulation of two playa lakes located in southern Spain from January 2011 to March 2012 on a daily basis. These playas are placed over a 400-km ² shallow aquifer, which is exposed to an increasing stress caused by agricultural activities, mainly olive grove plantations. The objective of the paper is to elaborate a detailed numeric model that simulates the water regime of each playa lake on a daily scale. The simulation is compared to measured water level (WL) data of the playas in order to characterize the groundwater–surface interactions. The ultimate objective of this paper is to assess the environmental impact of the increasing anthropogenic water consumption within the area of research. The results of the GW–surface interaction were very consistent with previous works. One of the playa lakes is groundwater-dependent and the other one is presumably a perched playa lake. The GW discharge of the former playa (214 mm) during the research period stands in sharp contrast to no regional GW discharge in the latter. Water level data prove that the hydrological year (2011–2012) had a very negative water budget. The evapotranspiration estimation was almost as high as double the sum of the precipitation, the run-off, and the groundwater discharge. The simulation of an anthropologically altered water regime proves that water retrieval has a harmful impact on the WL of the playa lakes as well as on the aquifer.     

A Mini-Review of the Contribution of Benthic Microalgae to the Ecology of the Continental Shelf in the South Atlantic Bight

Benthic microalgae (BMA) inhabit the upper few centimeters of shelf sediments. This review summarizes the current information on BMA communities in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) region of the Southeastern US continental shelf to provide insights into the potential role of these communities in the trophodynamics and biogeochemical cycling in shelf waters. Benthic irradiance is generally 2–6% of surface irradiance in the SAB region, providing sufficient light to support BMA primary production over 80–90% of the shelf width. BMA biomass greatly exceeds that of integrated phytoplankton biomass in the overlying water column on an areal basis. The SAB appears to have lower BMA biomass, but higher production than most temperate continental shelves. Annual production estimates average 101 and 89 g C m^?2 year^?1 for 5–20 and >?20 depth intervals, respectively. However, high variation in rates and biomass in time and space make comparisons between studies difficult. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) rather than the water column or in situ N regeneration from organic matter maybe the major “new” N source for BMA. The estimated supply of N (1.2 mmol N m^?2 day^?1) by SGD closely approximates the rates needed to support BMA primary production (3.1 to 1.6 mmol N m^?2 day^?1) in the sediments of the SAB. Identifying the source(s) of fixed N supporting the BMA community is essential for understanding the carbon dynamics and net ecosystem metabolism within the large area (76,000 km²) of the continental shelf in the SAB as well other temperate shelves worldwide.     

Seasonal Oxygen Dynamics in a Warm Temperate Estuary: Effects of Hydrologic Variability on Measurements of Primary Production,Respiration, and Net Metabolism

Seasonal responses in estuarine metabolism (primary production, respiration, and net metabolism) were examined using two complementary approaches. Total ecosystem metabolism rates were calculated from dissolved oxygen time series using Odum’s open water method. Water column rates were calculated from oxygen-based bottle experiments. The study was conducted over a spring-summer season in the Pensacola Bay estuary at a shallow seagrass-dominated site and a deeper bare-bottomed site. Water column integrated gross production rates more than doubled (58.7 to 130.9 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1) from spring to summer, coinciding with a sharp increase in water column chlorophyll-a, and a decrease in surface salinity. As expected, ecosystem gross production rates were consistently higher than water column rates but showed a different spring-summer pattern, decreasing at the shoal site from 197 to 168 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1 and sharply increasing at the channel site from 93.4 to 197.4 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1. The consistency among approaches was evaluated by calculating residual metabolism rates (ecosystem ? water column). At the shoal site, residual gross production rates decreased from spring to summer from 176.8 to 99.1 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1 but were generally consistent with expectations for seagrass environments, indicating that the open water method captured both water column and benthic processes. However, at the channel site, where benthic production was strongly light-limited, residual gross production varied from 15.7 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1 in spring to 86.7 mmol O₂ m^?2 day^?1 in summer. The summer rates were much higher than could be realistically attributed to benthic processes and likely reflected a violation of the open water method due to water column stratification. While the use of sensors for estimating complex ecosystem processes holds promise for coastal monitoring programs, careful attention to the sampling design, and to the underlying assumptions of the methods, is critical for correctly interpreting the results. This study demonstrated how using a combination of approaches yielded a fuller understanding of the ecosystem response to hydrologic and seasonal variability.     

Hydrogeochemical characterization and evolution of a regional karst aquifer in the Cuatrociénegas area,Mexico

The Cuatrociénegas area is useful for the investigation of the effect of groundwater extraction in the Chihuahuan freshwater xeric ecoregion. It has been investigated at this time using a selection of geochemical indicators (major, minor and trace elements) and δ³⁴S data, to characterize the origin of groundwater, the main geochemical processes and the mineral/groundwater interactions controlling the baseline geochemistry. The area is composed of limestones of Mesozoic age, with a composite thickness of about 500 m, overlaid by basin fill (poorly consolidated young sediments). Substantial water extraction and modification of natural discharges from the area along the last century have produced a detrimental impact on ecosystem structure and function. Water–rock interactions, mixing and evaporative processes dominate the baseline groundwater quality. Natural recharge is HCO₃–Ca type in equilibrium with calcite, low salinity (TDS?<?500 mg/L), Cl^? lower than 11 mg/L and average Li⁺ concentration of 0.005 mg/L. Along the groundwater flow systems, δ³⁴S evidence and mass transfer calculations indicate that Cretaceous gypsum dissolution and dedolomitization reactions adjust water composition to the SO₄–Ca type. The increase of water–rock interaction is reflected by Cl^? values increase (average 68 mg/L), TDS up to about 1500 mg/L and an average Li⁺ concentration of 0.063 mg/L. Calculations with chemical geothermometers indicate that temperature at depth could be at maximum of 15–20 °C higher than field-measured temperature for pozas. After groundwater is discharged to the surface, chemical evolution continues; water evaporation, CO₂ degassing and precipitation of minerals such as gypsum, calcite and kaolinite represent the final processes and reactions controlling water chemical composition.