ABSTRACT
Biogeochemistry of Leaky Coastlines........................................................... 23 1.5.1 Introduction and Statement of the Problem........................................ 23 1.5.2 Role of Fluid Composition in Biogeochemical Assessments........... 25 1.5.3 Importance of Recirculating Seawater
to Submarine Groundwater ................................................................ 28 1.5.4 Relevance of Fluid Composition to Benthic Nutrient Loading ........ 29 1.5.5 Sources, Fate, and Transport of Groundwater Nitrogen
to Coastal Waters ............................................................................... 32 1.5.5.1 Nitrogen Storage and Accumulation ................................... 32 1.5.5.2 Nitrogen Fixation and Nitrogen Fertilization..................... 32 1.5.5.3 Denitrification and Volatilization........................................ 37 1.5.5.4 Summary of SGD-Derived Nitrogen Fluxes ...................... 40
1.6 Conclusions..................................................................................................... 45
The theory of subsurface water exchange between land and sea is closely connected with the general theory on groundwater flow and began its development as a branch of hydrogeology in the mid 20th century. Concrete investigations of submarine groundwater discharge and especially the intrusion of seawaters into the coastal shores had been carried out much earlier, for example, during the exploration of groundwater on coast areas. However, the study of water exchange between land and sea in the regional and global scales began relatively recently in conjunction with the neccessity to give a reliable assessment of the role of groundwater in the water and salt balances of particular seas as well as in global water circulation.
