Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1189281 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Volume | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Jun 2023 |
Abstract
Subterranean estuaries are connective zones between inland aquifers and the open sea where terrestrial freshwater and circulating seawater mix and undergo major biogeochemical changes. They are biogeochemical reactors that modify groundwater chemistry prior to discharge into the sea. We propose that subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches are particularly dynamic environments, where the effect of the dynamic boundary conditions propagates tens of meters into the subsurface, leading to strong spatio-temporal variability of geochemical conditions. We hypothesize that they form a unique habitat with an adapted microbial community unlike other typically more stable subsurface environments. So far, however, studies concerning subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches have been rare and therefore their functioning, and their importance for coastal ecosystems, as well as for carbon, nutrient and trace element cycling, is little understood. We are addressing this knowledge gap within the interdisciplinary research project DynaDeep by studying the combined effect of surface (hydro- and morphodynamics) on subsurface processes (groundwater flow and transport, biogeochemical reactions, microbiology). A unique subterranean estuary observatory was established on the northern beach of the island of Spiekeroog facing the North Sea, serving as an exemplary high-energy research site and model system. It consists of fixed and permanent infrastructure such as a pole with measuring devices, multi-level groundwater wells and an electrode chain. This forms the base for autonomous measurements, regular repeated sampling, interdisciplinary field campaigns and experimental work, all of which are integrated via mathematical modelling to understand and quantify the functioning of the biogeochemical reactor. First results show that the DynaDeep observatory is collecting the intended spatially and temporally resolved morphological, sedimentological and biogeochemical data. Samples and data are further processed ex-situ and combined with experiments and modelling. Ultimately, DynaDeep aims at elucidating the global relevance of these common but overlooked environments.
Keywords
- beach, biogeochemistry, groundwater, infrastructure, land-sea interface, morphodynamics, Spiekeroog, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Oceanography
- Environmental Science(all)
- Global and Planetary Change
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Aquatic Science
- Environmental Science(all)
- Water Science and Technology
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Engineering(all)
- Ocean Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Frontiers in Marine Science, Vol. 10, 1189281, 22.06.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The DynaDeep observatory
T2 - a unique approach to study high-energy subterranean estuaries
AU - Massmann, Gudrun
AU - Abarike, Grace
AU - Amoako, Kojo
AU - Auer, Felix
AU - Badewien, Thomas H.
AU - Berkenbrink, Cordula
AU - Böttcher, Michael Ernst
AU - Brick, Simone
AU - Cordova, Iris Valeria Medina
AU - Cueto, Jairo
AU - Dittmar, Thorsten
AU - Engelen, Bert
AU - Freund, Holger
AU - Greskowiak, Janek
AU - Günther, Thomas
AU - Herbst, Gabriel
AU - Holtappels, Moritz
AU - Marchant, Hannah Karen
AU - Meyer, Rena
AU - Müller-Petke, Mike
AU - Niggemann, Jutta
AU - Pahnke, Katharina
AU - Pommerin, Dietmar
AU - Post, Vincent
AU - Reckhardt, Anja
AU - Roberts, Magali
AU - Schwalfenberg, Kai
AU - Seibert, Stephan L.
AU - Siebert, Christopher
AU - Skibbe, Nico
AU - Waska, Hannelore
AU - Winter, Christian
AU - Zielinski, Oliver
N1 - Funding Information: This study was conducted within the research unit FOR 5094: The Dynamic Deep subsurface of high-energy beaches (DynaDeep), funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). Acknowledgments
PY - 2023/6/22
Y1 - 2023/6/22
N2 - Subterranean estuaries are connective zones between inland aquifers and the open sea where terrestrial freshwater and circulating seawater mix and undergo major biogeochemical changes. They are biogeochemical reactors that modify groundwater chemistry prior to discharge into the sea. We propose that subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches are particularly dynamic environments, where the effect of the dynamic boundary conditions propagates tens of meters into the subsurface, leading to strong spatio-temporal variability of geochemical conditions. We hypothesize that they form a unique habitat with an adapted microbial community unlike other typically more stable subsurface environments. So far, however, studies concerning subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches have been rare and therefore their functioning, and their importance for coastal ecosystems, as well as for carbon, nutrient and trace element cycling, is little understood. We are addressing this knowledge gap within the interdisciplinary research project DynaDeep by studying the combined effect of surface (hydro- and morphodynamics) on subsurface processes (groundwater flow and transport, biogeochemical reactions, microbiology). A unique subterranean estuary observatory was established on the northern beach of the island of Spiekeroog facing the North Sea, serving as an exemplary high-energy research site and model system. It consists of fixed and permanent infrastructure such as a pole with measuring devices, multi-level groundwater wells and an electrode chain. This forms the base for autonomous measurements, regular repeated sampling, interdisciplinary field campaigns and experimental work, all of which are integrated via mathematical modelling to understand and quantify the functioning of the biogeochemical reactor. First results show that the DynaDeep observatory is collecting the intended spatially and temporally resolved morphological, sedimentological and biogeochemical data. Samples and data are further processed ex-situ and combined with experiments and modelling. Ultimately, DynaDeep aims at elucidating the global relevance of these common but overlooked environments.
AB - Subterranean estuaries are connective zones between inland aquifers and the open sea where terrestrial freshwater and circulating seawater mix and undergo major biogeochemical changes. They are biogeochemical reactors that modify groundwater chemistry prior to discharge into the sea. We propose that subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches are particularly dynamic environments, where the effect of the dynamic boundary conditions propagates tens of meters into the subsurface, leading to strong spatio-temporal variability of geochemical conditions. We hypothesize that they form a unique habitat with an adapted microbial community unlike other typically more stable subsurface environments. So far, however, studies concerning subterranean estuaries of high-energy beaches have been rare and therefore their functioning, and their importance for coastal ecosystems, as well as for carbon, nutrient and trace element cycling, is little understood. We are addressing this knowledge gap within the interdisciplinary research project DynaDeep by studying the combined effect of surface (hydro- and morphodynamics) on subsurface processes (groundwater flow and transport, biogeochemical reactions, microbiology). A unique subterranean estuary observatory was established on the northern beach of the island of Spiekeroog facing the North Sea, serving as an exemplary high-energy research site and model system. It consists of fixed and permanent infrastructure such as a pole with measuring devices, multi-level groundwater wells and an electrode chain. This forms the base for autonomous measurements, regular repeated sampling, interdisciplinary field campaigns and experimental work, all of which are integrated via mathematical modelling to understand and quantify the functioning of the biogeochemical reactor. First results show that the DynaDeep observatory is collecting the intended spatially and temporally resolved morphological, sedimentological and biogeochemical data. Samples and data are further processed ex-situ and combined with experiments and modelling. Ultimately, DynaDeep aims at elucidating the global relevance of these common but overlooked environments.
KW - beach
KW - biogeochemistry
KW - groundwater
KW - infrastructure
KW - land-sea interface
KW - morphodynamics
KW - Spiekeroog
KW - submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164560486&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmars.2023.1189281
DO - 10.3389/fmars.2023.1189281
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164560486
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Marine Science
JF - Frontiers in Marine Science
SN - 2296-7745
M1 - 1189281
ER -