Document Details

The Ecological Significance of the Submarine Discharge of Groundwater

R.E. Johannes | December 15th, 1980


Discharge of groundwater into the sea is widespread. Overlooking it may lead to serious misinterpretations of ecological data in studies of coastal pollution, of benthic zonation and productivity, and of the flux of dissolved substances within and between bottom sediments and overlying water. Data are presented indicating that in the Perth region of Western Australia, submarine groundwater discharge delivers several times as much nitrate to coastal waters as does river runoff.

Keywords

benthic macroinvertebrates, coastal aquifers, Groundwater Exchange, nitrates, seawater intrusion, water quality