Studying Submarine Groundwater Discharge at the Cape Ayia: a Multi-Tracer Approach

Abstract

Purpose. The study of submarine groundwater discharge is one of the most pressing issues of modern hydrogeology and oceanography. The purpose of the paper is to provide a comprehensive study of the submarine groundwater discharge at Cape Ayia using the hydrological, hydrochemical and radiochemical methods, and to determine the flux of submarine groundwater including the nutrients. Methods and Results. The research werecarried out during the coastal expeditions nearby Cape Ayia on March 24, 2019, and on April 22–24, 2019 during the 106th RV “Professor Vodyanitsky” cruise (April 18 – May 13, 2019). The isotopes 226Ra, 228Ra were extracted using the proprietary MnO2-based fibers. After concentration, the sorbent was squeezed to remove excess water, dried and ashed. Then the ash was placed in the Petri dishes and poured with epoxy resin. Activity of the radionuclides was measured on a low-background semiconductor γ-spectrometer with a detector of high-purity germanium (GC3020) 3 weeks after the resin casting. The activity of 226Ra was determined by the daughter radionuclide 214Pb with the energy 351.9 keV (qγ = 37.2 %), and that of 228Ra – by the daughter 228Ac (T1/2 = 6.1 h, qγ = 27.7 %) with the energy 911.6 keV. The basic elements of the main nutrient cycle were determined photocolorimetrically: mineral phosphorus – by molybdenum blue, silicon – by silicon-molybdenum complex. Nitrates (reduced to nitrites) and nitrites were determined by azo dye; ammonium – by indophenol blue also by the photocolorimetric method. Conclusions. Distribution of hydrophysical, hydrochemical and radiochemical parameters in the water area connected with the known submarine groundwater discharges was studied. The distribution of the 226Ra, 228Ra isotopes was studied for the first time. The data on salinity, specific activity of 226Ra, 228Ra and the nutrients concentration permitted to determine the flows of submarine groundwaters in the Cape Ayia area, which amounted to 8220 ± 1200 m3/day. The anthropogenic contribution to pollution of the groundwater forming the submarine sources is shown.