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Tracing submarine groundwater discharge flux in Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China)

Traçage des débits sous-marins d’eaux souterraines dans le port de Tolo, Hong Kong (Chine)

Trazado del flujo de descarga de agua subterránea submarina en Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China)

追踪(中国)香港吐露港海底地下水排泄通量

Rastreando o fluxo de descarga de águas subterrâneas submarina em Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China)

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Abstract

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important pathway for groundwater and associated chemicals to discharge to the sea. Groundwater levels monitored along a transect perpendicular to the shoreline are used to calculate SGD flux from the nearshore aquifer to Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China). The calculated SGD flux—recharge/discharge measured with Darcy’s Law methods—agrees well with estimates based on geo-tracer techniques and seepage meter in Tolo Harbor during previous studies. The estimated freshwater SGD is 1.69–2.0 m2/d at the study site and 0.3 ± 0.04 cm/d for the whole of Tolo Harbor, which is comparable to the river discharge (0.25 ± 0.07 cm/d) and precipitation (0.45 ± 0.15 cm/d). The tide-driven SGD in the intertidal zone is 13.98–17.59 m2/d at the study site and 2.42 ± 0.56 cm/d for the whole of Tolo Harbor. The SGD occurring in the subtidal zone and the bottom of Tolo Harbor is 3.12 ± 4.63 cm/d. Fresh SGD accounts for ~5% of the total SGD, while the rest (~95%) is contributed by saline SGD driven by various forces. About 96% of the tide-driven SGD in the intertidal zone occurs in the ebbing tide period because the head difference between the groundwater level and sea level is great during this period. Tide-driven SGD in the spring tide is ~1.2 times that during neap tide. The tidal fluctuation amplitude and tide-driven SGD in the intertidal zone are positively correlated to each other; thus, a spring neap variation of the tide-driven SGD is observed.

Résumé

La décharge des eaux souterraines dans le milieu marin (SGD) est une voie importante pour les eaux souterraines et les éléments chimiques associés à la décharge dans la mer. Les niveaux d’eau souterraine enregistrés le long d’un transect perpendiculaire au rivage sont utilisés pour calculer le flux de SGD de l’aquifère côtier vers le port de Tolo, Hong Kong (Chine). Le flux de SGD calculé – recharge/décharge mesurés avec les méthodes de la loi de Darcy—est cohérent avec les estimations basées sur les techniques de géo-traceur et le compteur d’infiltration installé dans le port de Tolo au cours des études précédentes. Le SGD estimé d’eau douce est de 1.69–2.0 m2/j au droit du site d’étude et de 0.3 ± 0.04 cm/j pour l’ensemble du port de Tolo, ce qui est comparable au débit de la rivière (0.25 ± 0.07 cm/j) et des précipitations (0.45 ± 0.15 cm/j). Le SGD influencé par la marée dans la zone intertidale est de 13.98–17.59 m2/j au niveau du site d’étude et de 2.42 ± 0.56 cm/j pour la totalité du port de Tolo. Le SGD dans la zone de marée basse et sur le fonds du port de Tolo est de 3.12 ± 4.63 cm/j. Le SGD d’eau douce représente environ 5% du SGD total, tandis que le reste (~ 95%) est assuré par le SGD salé piloté par diverses forces. Environ 96% du SGD piloté par les marées dans la zone intertidale se produit pendant la période de reflux de marée car la différence de charge hydraulique entre le niveau de la nappe phréatique et le niveau de la mer est importante pendant cette période. Le SGD piloté par la marée au cours de la marée de vive eau est ~ 1.2 fois celui de la marée de morte eau. L’amplitude des fluctuations de la marée et le SGD piloté par les marées dans la zone intertidale sont corrélés de manière positive les unes aux autres; ainsi, une variation de morte eau au printemps du SGD piloté par la marée est observée.

Resumen

La descarga submarina de agua subterránea (SGD) es una vía importante para que el agua subterránea y los productos químicos asociados se descarguen al mar. Los niveles de agua subterránea monitoreados a lo largo de una transecta perpendicular a la costa se utilizan para calcular el flujo SGD desde el acuífero costero a Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China). El flujo SGD calculado—recarga/descarga medida con los métodos de la Ley de Darcy—está de acuerdo con las estimaciones basadas en las técnicas de geotrazadores y el medidor de filtración en Tolo Harbor durante estudios previos. El SGD estimado de agua dulce es de 1.69–2.0 m2/d en el sitio de estudio y de 0.3 ± 0.04 cm/d para el conjunto del Tolo Harbor, que es comparable con la descarga del río (0.25 ± 0.07 cm/d) y la precipitación 0.45 ± 0.15 cm/d). El SGD impulsado por mareas en la zona intermareal es de 13.98–17.59 m2/d en el sitio de estudio y 2.42 ± 0.56 cm/d en el conjunto del Tolo Harbor. El SGD que ocurre en la zona submareal y en la parte inferior de Tolo Harbor es de 3.12 ± 4.63 cm/d. El SGD dulce representa ~5% del SGD total, mientras que el resto (~95%) es aportado por el SGD salino impulsado por varias fuerzas. Aproximadamente el 96% del SGD impulsado por mareas en la zona intermareal ocurre durante el período de marea baja porque la diferencia de altura entre el nivel del agua subterránea y el nivel del mar es grande durante este período. El SGD impulsado por la marea en la marea viva es ~1.2 veces mayor que durante la marea muerta. La amplitud de la fluctuación de la marea y la SGD inducida por la marea en la zona intermareal se correlacionan positivamente entre sí; por lo tanto, se observa una variación viva muerta de la SGD impulsada por la marea.

摘要

海底地下水排泄是地下水及其相关化学物质排泄到海洋的重要通道。利用沿与海岸线垂直的横断面监测的地下水位计算了(中国)香港近岸含水层海底地下水排泄到吐露港的通量。计算的海底地下水排泄通量—采用达西定律方法测量的补给量/排泄量—与先前研究中根据地质示踪技术和渗流表测量技术得到的估算值一致。研究区估算的海底地下淡水为1.69–2.0 m2/d,整个吐露港为0.3 ± 0.04 cm/d,可与河流的排泄量(0.25 ± 0.07 cm/d)和降水量(0.45 ± 0.15 cm/d)相比较。潮间带潮间带的潮汐驱动海底地下水排泄通量在研究区为13.98–17.59 m2/d,对整个吐露港为2.42 ± 0.56 cm/d。潮下带及吐露港底部出现的海底地下水排泄为 3.12 ± 4.63 cm/d。海底地下淡水占整个海地下水排泄的大约5%,而剩下的(大约95%)由各种力量驱使的海底下地下咸水所贡献。潮间带大约96%的潮汐驱使的海底地下水出现在退潮期,因为在此期间地下水位和海面之间的水头差很大。大潮期的潮汐驱使的海底地下水是小潮期潮汐驱使的海底地下水的大约1.2倍。潮间带的潮汐波动振幅和潮汐驱使的海底地下水排泄量相互成正相关,因此,观测到了潮汐驱使海底地下水排泄量的大小潮期变化。

Resumo

Descargas de águas subterrâneas submarinas (DAS) é um importante padrão para águas subterrâneas e elementos químicos associados à descarga no mar. Níveis das águas subterrâneas monitorados ao longo de um transecto perpendicular à costa foram utilizados para calcular o fluxo de DAS de um aquífero próximo da costa de Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China). O fluxo de DAS calculado – recarga/descarga mensurados com métodos baseados na Lei de Darcy – concorda bem com estimativas baseadas em técnicas de geotraçadores e medidas de infiltração realizadas em Tolo Harbor durante estudos prévios. A DAS de água doce estimada é 1.69–2.0 m2/d no local de estudo e 0.3 ± 0.04 cm/d para todo Tolo Harbor, que é comparável com a descarga do rio (0.25 ± 0.07 cm/d) e precipitação (0.45 ± 0.15 cm/d). A DAS devida às marés na zona intermarés é 13.98–17.59 m2/d no local de estudo e 2.42 ± 0.56 cm/d para todo Tolo Harbor. A DAS ocorrendo na zona submarés e no fundo de Tolo Harbor é 3.12 ± 4.63 cm/d. DAS doces contabilizam ~5% da DAS total enquanto o restante (~95%) é transferido pela DAS salinas oriundas de varias forçantes. Cerca de 96% da DAS devida à maré na zona intermarés ocorre no período da maré de refluxo porque a diferença de carga entre o nível das águas subterrâneas e o nível do mar é maior durante este período. A DAS devida à maré na maré viva é ~ 1.2 vezes que durante a maré morta. A amplitude da flutuação das marés e a DAS controlada por maré na zona intermarés estão positivamente correlacionadas entre si; assim, observa-se uma variação da DAS controlada por maré na maré morta.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the technicians Dr. Mike Chio and Mr. Eddie Ho for their help in installation the water-level Cera-Divers and the field work. Appreciation is also given to the associate editor and three anonymous reviewers for their endeavors in reviewing this paper.

Funding

This study was supported by “HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation”, “Project Submarine Groundwater Discharge in South China Sea and its Implications on Nutrient Flux (no. 41372261) supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China” and “Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR (no. C6012–15G)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Yi Liu, Jiu Jimmy Jiao & Ho Kwan Cheng

  2. Shenzhen Research Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China

    Yi Liu & Jiu Jimmy Jiao

Authors
  1. Yi Liu
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  2. Jiu Jimmy Jiao
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  3. Ho Kwan Cheng
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Correspondence to Jiu Jimmy Jiao.

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Liu, Y., Jiao, J.J. & Cheng, H.K. Tracing submarine groundwater discharge flux in Tolo Harbor, Hong Kong (China). Hydrogeol J 26, 1857–1873 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1736-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1736-z

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