Groundwater and nutrient discharge through karstic coastal springs (Castelló, Spain)
Garcia-Solsona, Ester (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Garcia-Orellana, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Masqué Barri, Pere (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Rodellas, Valentí (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Mejías, M. (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)
Ballesteros, Bruno (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)
Domínguez, J. A. (Instituto Geológico y Minero de España)

Date:	2010
Abstract:	Discharge of groundwater and associated chemical compounds into coastal karstic regions, which are abundant in the Mediterranean basin, is envisaged to be significant. In this study, we evaluate the groundwater discharge and its nutrient load to the open karstic site of Badum (Castelló, East Spain). Salinity profiles evidenced that groundwater discharge from coastal brackish springs causes a buoyant fresher layer, as identified with thermal infrared images. Chemical tracers (radium isotopes, dissolved inorganic silicate and seawater major elements) have been used to determine a brackish groundwater proportion in coastal waters of 36% in October 2006 and 44% in June 2007. Based on a radium-derived residence time of 2. 7 days in October 2006 and 2. 0 days in June 2007, total SGD fluxes have been estimated in 71 500 and 187 000m³ d⁻¹, respectively, with fresh-SGD contributions representing 71% and 85%. The calculated SGD-associated nutrient fluxes, most likely of natural origin, were 1500 and 8300 μmolm⁻² d⁻¹ of DIN and 19 and 40 μmolm⁻² d⁻¹ of DIP in October 2006 and June 2007, respectively. These inputs may actually lead to or enhance P limitation, thereby altering the structure of biological communities in the area.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL2006-09274/HID
Note:	Altres ajuts: Support from the Fulbright Commission for a post-doctoral fellowship to J.G-O. (ref 2007-0516) is gratefully acknowledged. Support for the research of PM was received through the prize ICREA Academia, funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Groundwater ; Springs ; Karstic coastal ; Biological communities ; Castelló
Published in:	Biogeosciences, Vol. 7 No. 9 (September 2010) , p. 2625-2638, ISSN 1726-4189

DOI: 10.5194/bg-7-2625-2010

14 p, 2.4 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles