Residence time controls on nitrogen transformations in a permeable nearshore aquifer

Abstract:

Permeable nearshore aquifers are an important biogeochemical hotspot for nitrogen (N) cycling. Located at the land-sea interface this hotspot has been shown to regulate N fluxes to coastal waters via submarine groundwater discharge. N transformations in a nearshore aquifer may result in either a net production or net removal of NO₃^- with the transformations controlled by complex interacting physical transport and biogeochemical kinetic processes. Oceanic forcing including tides and waves cause large quantities of seawater and chemical constituents, including dissolved oxygen and organic matter, to recirculate through the nearshore aquifer. There is currently limited understanding of the impact of the oceanic forcing on the residence time of recirculating constituents and the subsequent implications on N transformations in the aquifer. A numerical model was applied to quantify the influence of varying tidal and wave conditions on residence times and evaluate how the interactions between the coupled transport and reaction kinetics control N transformations and fluxes. Simulations were performed using the variable-density groundwater flow model SEAWAT-2005 combined with the reactive multi-component transport model PHT3D v2.10. The model simulated the transport and transformation of both marine- and land-derived chemical consitituents and considered oxic DOM mineralization, nitrification and denitrification. Simulations demonstrate that the recirculation residence times, combined with oxygen removal rates, regulate whether a nearshore aquifer will act as a net source or sink of NO₃. Dimensionless Damköhler numbers calculated as the ratio of the characteristic residence time to characterisitic oxygen reaction time were determined and provide valuable insight into the residence time controls on the ultimate flux of N to the sea.