Date of Award

8-17-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) plays a major role in the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles controlling nearshore nutrient availability. The Northern Gulf of Alaska coastline is highly diverse, ranging from rocky beaches, sandy beaches, and mudflats; SGD varies according to sediment permeability, strength of wave pumping, and slope of the water table. SGD has been previously estimated at a rocky beach in the NGA, but this thesis sought to quantity SGD in an extensive mudflat using well-established tracers (radium and radon) and determine the major sources of nutrients to the bay. The rate of SGD was comparable between the mudflat and rocky beach (233 ± 245 and 260 ± 360 cm day⁻¹, respectively), and both locations were significant sources of nitrate and silicic acid, and sinks of phosphate. Offshore water also provides a major input of nitrate and phosphate to the bay. Thus, there is no single dominant source for all macronutrients, consequently, multiple processes must be considered when predicting nutrient cycling.

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/11122/13081

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