Submarine Groundwater

Zektser, I. S.; Everett, Lorne G.; Dzhamalov, R. G.

doi:10.1201/9781420005257

Cited by 43 publications

(63 citation statements)

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“…Terrestrial groundwater discharge to the ocean from the main island of Japan (Honshu) has been estimated at 44.5 × 10 3 m 3 ·d −1 ·km −1 (25), which is equivalent to 3.5 × 10 6 m 3 ·d −1 when scaled to our 80-km shoreline length. The 137 Cs activities were relatively low in terrestrial groundwater, 2.3 Bq·m −3 on average in irrigation wells and in the natural spring, likely due to the strong affinity of Cs for clay particles in low ionic strength fluids, which limits its mobility in most inland freshwater aquifers (20).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexpected source of Fukushima-derived radiocesium to the coastal ocean of Japan

Sanial

Buesseler

Charette

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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There are 440 operational nuclear reactors in the world, with approximately one-half situated along the coastline. This includes the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), which experienced multiple reactor meltdowns in March 2011 followed by the release of radioactivity to the marine environment. While surface inputs to the ocean via atmospheric deposition and rivers are usually well monitored after a nuclear accident, no study has focused on subterranean pathways. During our study period, we found the highest cesium-137 (137Cs) levels (up to 23,000 Bq⋅m−3) outside of the FDNPP site not in the ocean, rivers, or potable groundwater, but in groundwater beneath sand beaches over tens of kilometers away from the FDNPP. Here, we present evidence of a previously unknown, ongoing source of Fukushima-derived 137Cs to the coastal ocean. We postulate that these beach sands were contaminated in 2011 through wave- and tide-driven exchange and sorption of highly radioactive Cs from seawater. Subsequent desorption of 137Cs and fluid exchange from the beach sands was quantified using naturally occurring radium isotopes. This estimated ocean 137Cs source (0.6 TBq⋅y−1) is of similar magnitude as the ongoing releases of 137Cs from the FDNPP site for 2013–2016, as well as the input of Fukushima-derived dissolved 137Cs via rivers. Although this ongoing source is not at present a public health issue for Japan, the release of Cs of this type and scale needs to be considered in nuclear power plant monitoring and scenarios involving future accidents.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexpected source of Fukushima-derived radiocesium to the coastal ocean of Japan

Sanial

Buesseler

Charette

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…The estimate is based on the best currently-available data; however, there is substantial uncertainty inherent in the estimate, much of which cannot be evaluated at this time. For example, we use an estimate of 435 meteoric SGD for which no associated uncertainties were reported (Zektser et al, 2006). This makes it difficult to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the calculated SGD Sr flux, and some caution is warranted when viewing the results.…”

Section: Sgd-driven Sr Flux -Meteoric Groundwater Dischargementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The volumetric discharge of meteoric groundwater was taken from the regionally-440 delineated hydrogeologic assessment of Zektser et al (2006 Gibbs and Kump (1994) that is based on the paleolithologic maps of Ronov (1989). Groundwater Sr composition was approximated according to patterns reported in the literature (see Fig.…”

Section: Sgd-driven Sr Flux -Meteoric Groundwater Dischargementioning

confidence: 99%

Dissolved strontium in the subterranean estuary – Implications for the marine strontium isotope budget

Beck¹,

Charette²,

Cochran³

et al. 2013

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

100

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15Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the ocean supplies Sr with less radiogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr than seawater, and thus constitutes an important term in the Sr isotope budget in the modern ocean. However, few data exist for Sr in coastal groundwater or in the geochemically dynamic subterranean estuary (STE). We examined Sr concentrations and isotope ratios from nine globally-distributed coastal sites and characterized the behavior of Sr in the STE. Dissolved Sr 20 generally mixed conservatively in the STE, although large differences were observed in the meteoric groundwater end-member Sr concentrations among sites (0.1 -24 µM Sr). Strontium isotope exchange was observed in the STE at five of the sites studied, and invariably favored the meteoric groundwater end-member signature. Most of the observed isotope exchange occurred in the salinity range 5-15, and reached up to 40% exchange at salinity 10.

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“…Estimative based on hydrogeological model has been conducted for the entire South America coast by Zektser et al 60 These authors estimated fluxes of fresh groundwater into the ocean using an integrated hydrologichydrogeological approach. This approach assumes that specific hydrogeological provinces have the groundwater input to rivers similar to groundwater discharge to the ocean.…”

Section: South America Sgd Investigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances of Submarine Groundwater Discharge Studies in South America

Paiva¹,

Niencheski²

2017

J. Braz. Chem. Soc.

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Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the hidden portion of water that discharges into the ocean across the ocean-land interface, and it is considered one of the hydrological cycle's major components. Two decades ago, SGD in South America was undocumented, and significant advances on this field has occurred since then. This paper presents the results of SGD investigations, a compilation of the SGD estimations, and the areas lacking of data in South America. The compilation of observed SGD in South America shows that groundwater seepage from the land to the ocean occurs in many environments along the coast. Considering only the few regions for which the total SGD flux was estimated, the SGD flux (ca. 1.2 × 10 8 m 3 day -1 ) is equivalent in volume to almost 70% of Amazon River discharge. Although the study of SGD in South America has greatly advanced, many uninvestigated sites and key questions remain.

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Submarine Groundwater

Cited by 43 publications

References 0 publications

Unexpected source of Fukushima-derived radiocesium to the coastal ocean of Japan

Unexpected source of Fukushima-derived radiocesium to the coastal ocean of Japan

Dissolved strontium in the subterranean estuary – Implications for the marine strontium isotope budget

Advances of Submarine Groundwater Discharge Studies in South America

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