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 SCOR/LOICZ
Working Group 112
"MAGNITUDE OF SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE AND
ITS INFLUENCE ON COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROCESSES"
Sponsored by
the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)
and
the Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ)
programme element of the
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
Table of Contents:
- Objectives and Terms of
Reference
- Members, Associate Members, Participating
Scientists
- Organizational Structure and Work Plan
- Summary
- Scientific Background and Issues
- Bibliography
- News Article on WG-112
SCOR and LOICZ Examine Submarine
Groundwater Discharge
People have been curious about offshore
springs and seeps since at least the days of the Romans. In spite of
many centuries of both casual and serious observations, there has been
relatively little scientific study concerning the magnitude and effects
of groundwater flow into the sea. Rather studies were performed mostly
to address water resource issues. Investigations over the past decade
or so have now shown that groundwater discharge, at least in some
cases, may be important for geochemical budgets and ecological
effects.
The Scientific Committee on Oceanic
Research (SCOR) and the Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ)
Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) have
recently established a working group of experts to examine questions
relating specifically to groundwater discharge in the coastal zone.
Direct groundwater flow into the ocean is known to occur as springs and
seeps in near-shore areas in many parts of the world. Submarine
springs, for example, are well-known off both coasts of Florida;
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula; in several areas around the Pacific rim
including Chile, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and Australia; in the
Persian Gulf near Bahrain; in the Mediterranean Sea off Spain, France,
Italy, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Libya; and many other
locations around the world. Some of these springs are large enough that
they deliver amounts of fresh water that have been exploited for human
needs. Perhaps much more important volumetrically is the slow yet
persistent seepage of groundwater that flows out along most shorelines
of the world. Although less spectacular and more difficult to detect
than large springs, this disseminated seepage may occur over broad
areas and deliver an unknown, yet potentially significant, amount of
fresh water and dissolved components to the world's oceans.
Although recognized for many years,
submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has not received a great deal of
scientific attention because there has been a perception that the
process is unimportant; and there is considerable difficulty in its
measurement. Studies have now presented convincing arguments that
direct groundwater flow to the ocean can be significant to the overall
nutrient balance in some areas. The measurement difficulties have not
been solved but progress is being made.
The time thus appeared opportune to
establish an international working group to address questions relating
to assessment of the magnitude and influence of groundwater discharge
in the coastal zone. The terms of reference for SCOR/LOICZ Working
group 112, "Magnitude of Submarine Groundwater Discharge and Its
Influence on Coastal Oceanographic Processes" was approved at the
General Meeting of SCOR in Rio de Janeiro in October 1997. Bill Burnett
(U.S.) and Evgeny Kontar (Russia) are the group co-chairs and Robert
Buddemeier (U.S.) is the LOICZ liaison for the team. The group held an
organizational meeting in conjunction with AGU's Western Pacific
Geophysical Meeting in Taipei (July 20-24, 1998). At this meeting, the
members of the group organized themselves into three task-oriented
units: (1) Calculation and Modeling, headed by Igor Zektser (Russia) -
they will review and evaluate existing methods for assessment of SGD
via modeling approaches; (2) Measurement, Sampling, and Experimental
Design, led by Makoto Taniguchi (Japan) - these members will define the
existing methods and tools used for direct measurement of groundwater
fluxes to the coastal zone; and (3) Typology, Integration and
Globalization, run by Robert Buddemeier (U.S.) - they will develop and
refine a typological approach for assessment of SGD over broad areas.
The work of the entire group is slated to continue for a four-year
period and summary papers are planned for a special issue of an
international journal at the end of that period.
Further information regarding WG-112 and other projects may be
found on the respective web pages for SCOR and LOICZ.
Bill Burnett, Department of Oceanography,
Florida State University,
Tallahassee, FL 32306 USA;
Tel: +850-644-6703; Fax: +850-644-2581;
email: burnett@ocean.fsu.edu
Questions or Comments?
Please contact SCOR.
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