NDLI: Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Radon in the Choptank River and Its Tributaries: Implications for Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Inputs

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Knee, Karen L. Jordan, Thomas E.
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	The Choptank River, Chesapeake Bay’s largest eastern-shore tributary, is experiencing increasing nutrient loading and eutrophication. Productivity in the Choptank is predominantly nitrogen-limited, and most nitrogen inputs occur via discharge of high-nitrate groundwater into the river system’s surface waters. However, spatial patterns in the magnitude and quality of groundwater discharge are not well understood. In this study, we surveyed the activity of $^{222}$Rn, a natural groundwater tracer, in the Choptank’s main tidal channel, the large tidal tributary Tuckahoe Creek, smaller tidal and non-tidal tributaries around the basin, and groundwater discharging into those tributaries, measuring nitrate and salinity concurrently. $^{222}$Rn activities were <100 Bq m$^{−3}$ in the main tidal channel and 100–700 Bq m$^{−3}$ in the upper Choptank River and Tuckahoe Creek, while the median Rn activities of fresh tributaries and discharging groundwater were 1,000 and 7,000 Bq m$^{−3}$, respectively. Nitrate-N concentrations were <0.01 mg L$^{−1}$ throughout most of the tidal channel, 1.5–3 mg L$^{−1}$ in the upper reaches, up to 13 mg L$^{−1}$ in tributary samples, and up to 19.6 mg L$^{−1}$ in groundwater. Nitrate concentrations in tributary surface water were correlated with Rn activity in three of five sub-watersheds, indicating a groundwater nitrate source. $^{222}$Rn and salinity mass balances indicated that Rn-enriched groundwater discharges directly into the Choptank’s tidal waters and suggested that it consists of a mixture of fresh groundwater and brackish re-circulated estuarine water. Further sampling is necessary to constrain the Rn activity and nitrate concentration of discharging groundwater and quantify direct discharge and associated nitrogen inputs.
Starting Page	1237
Ending Page	1252
Page Count	16
File Format	PDF
ISSN	15592723
Journal	Estuaries
Volume Number	36
Issue Number	6
e-ISSN	15592731
Language	English
Publisher	Springer US
Publisher Date	2013-04-09
Publisher Place	New York
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Groundwater discharge Radon Choptank River Chesapeake Bay Nitrate Environment Ecology Freshwater & Marine Ecology Environmental Management Coastal Sciences Water and Health
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Detecting Freshwater Inputs via Groundwater Discharge to Marina Lagoon, Mediterranean Coast, Egypt

Submarine Groundwater Discharge-Derived Nutrient Loads to San Francisco Bay: Implications to Future Ecosystem Changes

Predicting dissolved oxygen in the Chesapeake Bay: applications and implications

Wind Modulation of Dissolved Oxygen in Chesapeake Bay

Phytoplankton index of biotic integrity for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries

Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries: Worsening effects on Macrobenthic Community Structure in the York River

Determining Spatial and Temporal Inputs of Freshwater, Including Submarine Groundwater Discharge, to a Subtropical Estuary Using Geochemical Tracers, Biscayne Bay, South Florida

Chemical Flux Associated with Spatially and Temporally Variable Submarine Groundwater Discharge, and Chemical Modification in the Subterranean Estuary at Gloucester Point, VA (USA)

Natural Radon and Radium Isotopes for Assessing Groundwater Discharge into Little Lagoon, AL: Implications for Harmful Algal Blooms

Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Radon in the Choptank River and Its Tributaries: Implications for Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Inputs

Similar Documents

Detecting Freshwater Inputs via Groundwater Discharge to Marina Lagoon, Mediterranean Coast, Egypt

Submarine Groundwater Discharge-Derived Nutrient Loads to San Francisco Bay: Implications to Future Ecosystem Changes

Predicting dissolved oxygen in the Chesapeake Bay: applications and implications

Wind Modulation of Dissolved Oxygen in Chesapeake Bay

Phytoplankton index of biotic integrity for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries

Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries: Worsening effects on Macrobenthic Community Structure in the York River

Determining Spatial and Temporal Inputs of Freshwater, Including Submarine Groundwater Discharge, to a Subtropical Estuary Using Geochemical Tracers, Biscayne Bay, South Florida

Chemical Flux Associated with Spatially and Temporally Variable Submarine Groundwater Discharge, and Chemical Modification in the Subterranean Estuary at Gloucester Point, VA (USA)

Natural Radon and Radium Isotopes for Assessing Groundwater Discharge into Little Lagoon, AL: Implications for Harmful Algal Blooms

Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Radon in the Choptank River and Its Tributaries: Implications for Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Inputs