Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tracing Different Freshwater Sources for Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Matter in Coastal Waters off Jeju Island Using Radon

  • Special Issue: Climate Change and Anthropogenic Change around Korean Peninsula
  • Published:
Estuaries and Coasts Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to determine the origins of dissolved inorganic nutrients and dissolved organic matter in coastal waters off Jeju Island, Korea, we measured the concentrations of 222Rn, nutrients, fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), and dissolved organic carbon in coastal waters during September 2016 and October 2017. The lower salinity waters occurring in the southern coastal waters off Jeju (SCW) were characterized by higher nutrients and humic-like FDOM, while those in the western coastal waters off Jeju (WCW) showed no trend. A significant negative correlation between salinity and 222Rn in the SCW (r2 = 0.62, n = 7 for 2016; r2 = 0.56, n = 14 for 2017) indicates that freshwaters occurring in the SCW originate from fresh groundwater. However, depleted 222Rn activities in the fresh surface waters of the WCW indicate that those in the WCW originate mainly from the remote Changjiang diluted water. In general, the coastal ecosystem in the SCW is characterized by the dominance of brown seaweeds, and the WCW is by scleractinian corals. Our results imply that high nutrient concentrations in the SCW provide favorable conditions for the growth of seaweeds, while relatively low nutrient concentrations and high FDOM concentrations in the WCW provide favorable conditions for survival of corals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burnett, W.C., H. Bokuniewicz, M. Huettel, W.S. Moore, and M. Taniguchi. 2003. Groundwater and porewater inputs to the coastal zone. Biogeochemistry 66 (1/2): 3–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, P.H., and A. Isobe. 2003. A numerical study on the Changjiang diluted water in the Yellow and East China Seas. Journal of Geophysical Research 108 (C9): 3299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, K.I., M.S. Suk, I.C. Pang, and W.J. Teague. 2000. Observations of the Cheju current. Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography 35: 129–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, M., R.M. Price, Y. Yamashita, and R. Jappé. 2010. Comparative study of dissolved organic matter from groundwater and surface water in the Florida coastal Everglades using multi-dimensional spectrofluorometry combined with multivariate statistics. Applied Geochemistry 25 (6): 872–880.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, H.M., and G. Kim. 2017. Large temporal changes in contributions of groundwater-born nutrients to coastal waters off a volcanic island. Ocean Science Journal 52 (3): 337–344.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coble, P.G. 1996. Characterization of marine and terrestrial DOM in seawater using excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy. Marine Chemistry 51 (4): 325–346.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coble, P.G., C.E. Del Castillo, and B. Avril. 1998. Distribution and optical properties of CDOM in the Arabian Sea during the 1995 Southwest Monsoon. Deep-Sea Research Part II-Topical Studies in Oceanography 45 (10-11): 2195–2223.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denis, V., C.A. Chen, J.I. Song, and S. Woo. 2013. Alveopora japonica beds thriving under Kelp. Coral Reefs 32 (2): 503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, X., H. Endo, M. Nagaki, and Y. Agatsmuma. 2016. Growth and survival of juvenile sporophytes of the kelp Ecklonia cava in response to different nitrogen and temperature regimes. Fisheries Science 82 (4): 623–629.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordillo, F.J.L., M.J. Dring, and G. Savidge. 2002. Nitrate and phosphate uptake characteristics of three species of brown algae cultured at low salinity. Marine Ecology Progress Series 234: 111–118.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, D.W., Y.W. Lee, and G. Kim. 2005. Large submarine groundwater discharge and benthic eutrophication in Bangdu Bay on volcanic Jeju Island, Korea. Limnology and Oceanography 50 (5): 1393–1403.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., and G. Kim. 2015. Importance of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) inputs from the deep sea to the euphotic zone: Results from the East (Japan) Sea. Marine Chemistry 169: 33–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., and G. Kim. 2016. Significant anaerobic production of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the deep East Sea (Sea of Japan). Geophysical Research Letters 43 (14): 7609–7616.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., and G. Kim. 2017. Inputs of humic fluorescent dissolved organic matter via submarine groundwater discharge to coastal waters off a volcanic island (Jeju, Korea). Scientific Reports 7 (1): 7921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, G., K.K. Lee, K.S. Park, D.W. Hwang, and H.S. Yang. 2003. Large submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) from a volcanic island. Geophysical Research Letters 30 (21): 2098.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, G., J.S. Kim, and D.W. Hwang. 2011. Submarine groundwater discharge from oceanic islands standing in oligotrophic oceans: Implications for global biological production and organic carbon fluxes. Limnology and Oceanography 56 (2): 673–682.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, T.H., E. Kwon, I. Kim, S.A. Lee, and G. Kim. 2013. Dissolved organic matter in the subterranean estuary of a volcanic island, Jeju: Importance of dissolved organic nitrogen fluxes to the ocean. Journal of Sea Research 78: 18–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B.Y., J.C. Ko, J.B. Kim, and H.G. Choi. 2015. Spring macroalgal flora and structure in subtidal zone around coasts of Jeju Island, Korea. Korean Journal of Nature Conservation 9 (2): 92–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., H.M. Cho, and G. Kim. 2018. Significant production of humic fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the continental shelf waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Scientific Reports 8 (1): 4887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knee, K.L., B.A. Layton, J.H. Street, A.B. Boehm, and A. Paytan. 2008. Sources of nutrients and fecal indicator bacteria to nearshore waters on the north shore of Kauai (Hawaii, USA). Estuaries and Coasts 31 (4): 607–622.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ko, Y.W., G.H. Sung, C.H. Yi, H.H. Kim, D.M. Choi, Y.D. Ko, W.J. Lee, H.B. Koh, J.H. Oak, I.K. Chung, and J.H. Kim. 2008. Temporal variations of seaweed biomass in Korean Coasts: Munseom, Jeju Island. Algae 23 (4): 295–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koh, E.H., S.H. Lee, D. Kaown, H.S. Moon, E. Lee, K.K. Lee, and B.R. Kang. 2017. Impacts of land use change and groundwater management on long-term nitrate-nitrogen and chloride trends in groundwater of Jeju Island, Korea. Environmental Earth Sciences 76 (4): 176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H.K., H. Kang, Y.H. Oh, S.R. Park, and G. Kim. 2017. Green tide development associated with submarine groundwater discharge in a coastal harbor, Jeju, Korea. Scientific Reports 7 (1): 6325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H.K., G. Kim, J. Hwang, W.A. Lim, J.W. Park, and T.H. Kim. 2018. Significant and conservative long-range transport of dissolved organic nutrients in the Changjiang diluted water. Scientific Reports 8 (1): 12768.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J.M., and G. Kim. 2007. Estimating submarine discharge of fresh groundwater from a volcanic island using a freshwater budget of the coastal water column. Geophysical Research Letters 34 (11): L11611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S.A., and G. Kim. 2018. Sources, fluxes, and behaviors of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in the Nakdong River estuary, Korea. Biogeosciences 15 (4): 1115–1122.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.W., J.M. Lee, and G. Kim. 2009. Identifying sharp hydrographical changes in phytoplankton community structure using HPLC pigments signatures in coastal waters along Jeju Island, Korea. Ocean Science Journal 44 (1): 1–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mizubayashi, K., V.S. Kuwahara, T.C. Segaran, K. Zaleha, A.W.M. Effendy, M.R.M. Kushairi, and T. Toda. 2013. Monsoon variability of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) attenuation and bio-optical factors in the Asian tropical coral-reef waters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 126: 34–43.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, W.S. 1999. The subterranean estuary: A reaction zone of groundwater and sea water. Marine Chemistry 65 (1-2): 111–126.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Painter, S.C., D.J. Lapworth, E.M.S. Woodward, S. Kroeger, C.D. Evans, D.J. Mayor, and R.J. Sanders. 2018. Terrestrial dissolved organic matter distribution in the North Sea. Science of the Total Environment 630: 630–647.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pang, I.C., C.S. Hong, and K.H. Oh. 2001. Study on physical oceanographic environments in the coastal sea of Chung-Moon, Cheju Island. Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography 6: 211–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodellas, V., J. Garcia-Orellana, A. Tovar-Sánchez, G. Basterretxea, J.M. López-Garcia, D. Sánchez-Quiles, E. Garcia-Solsona, and P. Masqué. 2014. Submarine groundwater discharge as a source of nutrients and trace metals in a Mediterranean bay (Palma Beach, Balearic Islands). Marine Chemistry 160: 56–66.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert, M., A. Paschke, E. Lieberman, and W.C. Burnett. 2012. Air-water partitioning of 222Rn and its dependence on water temperature and salinity. Environmental Science & Technology 46 (7): 3905–3911.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suryaputra, I.G.N.A., I.R. Santos, M. Huettel, W.C. Burnett, and T. Dittmar. 2015. Non-conservative behavior of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) with a subterranean estuary. Continental Shelf Research 110: 183–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tait, D.R., I.R. Santos, D.V. Erler, K.M. Befus, M.B. Cardenas, and B.D. Eyre. 2013. Estimating submarine groundwater discharge in a South Pacific coral reef lagoon using different radioisotope and geophysical approaches. Marine Chemistry 156: 49–60.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi, M., W.C. Burnett, J.E. Cable, and J.V. Turner. 2002. Investigation of submarine groundwater discharge. Hydrological Processes 16 (11): 2115–2129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Won, J.H., J.Y. Lee, J.W. Kim, and G.W. Koh. 2006. Groundwater occurrence on Jeju Island, Korea. Hydrogeology Journal 14 (4): 532–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan, L.H., R.G. Su, C.S. Zhang, X.Y. Shi, and C.J. Zhu. 2012. Assessing the dynamics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in autumn by EEMs-PARAFAC. SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry 55 (12): 2595–2609.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zepp, R.G., W.M. Sheldon, and M.A. Moran. 2004. Dissolved organic fluorophores in southeastern US coastal waters: Correction method for eliminating Rayleigh and Raman scattering peaks in excitation-emission matrices. Marine Chemistry 89 (1-4): 15–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zepp, R.G., G.C. Shank, E. Stabenau, K.W. Patterson, M. Cyterski, W. Fisher, E. Bartels, and S.L. Anderson. 2008. Spatial and temporal variability of solar ultraviolet exposure of coral assemblages in the Florida keys: Importance of colored dissolved organic matter. Limnology and Oceanography 53 (5): 1909–1922.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J. 2002. Biogeochemistry of Chinese estuarine and coastal waters: Nutrients, trace metals and biomarkers. Regional Environmental Change 3 (1-3): 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., S.M. Liu, J.L. Ren, Y. Wu, and G.L. Zhang. 2007. Nutrient gradients from the eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary to the oligotrophic Kuroshio waters and re-evaluation of budgets for the East China Sea shelf. Progress in Oceanography 74 (4): 449–478.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Environmental & Marine Biogeochemistry Laboratory (EMBL) members who supported field sampling and laboratory analyses.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (NRF-2015R1A2A1A10054309 and NRF-2018R1A2B3001147) and by the project titled “Long-term change of structure and function in marine ecosystems of Korea” funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences/Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea

    Hyeong Kyu Kwon, Junhyeong Seo, Hyung-Mi Cho & Guebuem Kim

Authors
  1. Hyeong Kyu Kwon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Junhyeong Seo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hyung-Mi Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guebuem Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guebuem Kim.

Additional information

Communicated by Isaac Santos

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(PDF 113 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kwon, H.K., Seo, J., Cho, HM. et al. Tracing Different Freshwater Sources for Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Matter in Coastal Waters off Jeju Island Using Radon. Estuaries and Coasts 43, 487–495 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018-0471-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-018-0471-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation