Contribution of groundwater discharge to the coastal dissolved nutrients and trace metal concentrations in Majorca Island: Karstic vs detrital systems

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Faculty

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School

Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research

RAS ID

19177

Comments

Tovar-Sanchez A., Basterretxea G., Rodellas V., Sanchez-Quiles D., Garcia-Orellana J., Masque P., Jordi A., Lopez J.M., & Garcia-Solsona E. (2014). Contribution of groundwater discharge to the coastal dissolved nutrients and trace metal concentrations in Majorca Island: Karstic vs detrital systems. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(20), 11819-11827. Available here

Abstract

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and derived nutrient (NO2 -, NO3 -, NH4 +, PO4 3-, and SiO2) and trace element (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) loadings to the coastal sea were systematically assessed along the coast of Majorca Island, Spain, in a general survey around the island and in three representative coves during 2010. We estimated that brackish water discharges through the shoreline are important contributors to the DIN, SiO2, Fe, and Zn budgets of the nearshore waters. Furthermore, our results showed that SGD-derived elements are conditioned by the hydrogeological formations of the aquifer and discharge type. Thus, while rapid discharges through karstic conduits are enriched in SiO2 and Zn, the large detrital aquifers of the island typically present enhanced concentrations of Fe. The estimated total annual inputs of chemicals constituents discharged by SGD to the coastal waters were as follows: DIN: 610 × 103 kg yr-1, SiO2: 1400 × 103 kg yr-1, Fe: 3.2 × 103 kg yr-1, and Zn: 2.0 × 103 kg yr-1. Our results provide evidence that SGD is a major contributor to the dissolved pool of inorganic nutrients and trace metals in the nearshore waters of Majorca.

DOI

10.1021/es502958t

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