Distributions of Dissolved Organic Matter in Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) in Jeju Island

Abstract

We observed the concentrations of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in coastal seawater and groundwater around a volcanic island, Jeju, Korea. The sampling of surface seawater and coastal groundwater was conducted in Woljeongri, Pyoseon, and Kwakgi beaches, in three sampling campaigns (June, July, and October 2016). The concentrations of DOC in groundwater were relatively higher in June and October than in July. Salinity and DOC concentrations in the coastal groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon beaches did not show a marked relationship, whereas those in Kwakgi beach showed a good positive correlation (July: R = 0.64, P < 0.01; October: R = 0.95, P < 0.01). In addition, the concentrations of CDOM (C and M peaks) in the groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon beaches, where saline groundwater discharge dominates, were relatively higher than those of Kwakgi beach, where fresh groundwater discharge dominates. The relatively higher DOC concentrations in the coastal groundwater of Woljeongri and Pyoseon, with higher CDOM concentrations, seem to be mainly from anthropogenic sources such as local pollution sources (i.e., aquaculture wastewater or domestic sewage). In order to understand the behavior of DOC in the coastal groundwater of a volcanic island, extensive studies are necessary in the future over a larger-area and greater time-scales using various isotopic tracers.