An estimation of nutrient fluxes via submarine groundwater discharge into the Sanggou Bay—A typical multi-species culture ecosystem in China

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is now recognized as an important process of land/ocean interactions in coastal zones (LOICZ). In this study, the initial results of the SGD-derived nutrient fluxes into Sanggou Bay, Shandong, China, in June 2012 are reported. This bay is a typical multi-species culture ecosystem with aquaculture species, such as kelp, scallops, shrimp, and oysters. Using a 224Ra/228Ra activity ratio (AR) apparent age model, the average residence time of water in the bay was estimated to be 5.12 days, which was comparable with a flushing time of 6.08 days. Based on the non-conservative inventory of 226Ra and 228Ra in the water column, the average SGD fluxes into the bay were evaluated to be between 2.59 × 107 and 3.07 × 107 m3 d− 1, and the SGD-derived nutrient fluxes (mol/month) had DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) value between 1.16 × 108 and 1.38 × 108, DIP (dissolved inorganic phosphorus) value between 4.17 × 105 and 4.92 × 105, and DSi (dissolved silicon) value between 6.33 × 106 and 7.50 × 106. Additionally, the riverine nutrient inputs to the bay were an order of magnitude lower than the SGD-derived inputs for the DIN and DIP. To balance the nutrient budget, a fertilizer input of N (approximately 4.76 × 107 mol/month) and P (approximately 5.58 × 106 mol/month) is required for aquaculture activities. The fertilizer is a major fraction of the DIP input compared to the SGD. SGD-driven nutrient fluxes may play an important role for nutrient recycling and are required to support the high density of aquaculture activities in the Sanggou Bay.