Over recent decades, it has become widely recognized that water exchange between coastal aquifers and the ocean is an important component of the hydrologic cycle. Twenty years have passed since Willard S. Moore (Moore, 1999) introduced the term ‘subterranean estuary’ (STE) to identify those zones within coastal aquifers where fresh groundwater mixes with surface saltwater. Like open-water estuaries, STEs regulate the transfer of chemicals to the sea under the seashore by submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). This subterranean reactive node in the land-ocean exchange pathway has a physical, even if elusive, structure created by a combination of temporally and spatially variable mass transfer across the groundwater-ocean interface and dynamic flow processes. Many case studies have shown that SGD is a key material link between coastal watersheds and the sea and indeed spatially resolved budgets of radioactive tracers in shelf waters suggest it is the dominant bulk water flux to coastal zones globally. Clearly, STE outflow as SGD is a large source of biogeochemically active solutes to shelf seas, meaning that elemental budgets for these waters have to be revised in order to account for the new input. But how? Recognizing the global prevalence and potential environmental and societal impact of SGD, numerous attempts to quantify chemical inputs into the ocean through this pathway have been published over the past 40 years. However, the role of the STE in modulating chemical fluxes to coastal waters has been generally oversimplified, making a comprehensive analysis of cause and effect relationships between SGD inputs and ecosystem dynamics merely indicative. Unfortunately, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of the processes that control the interaction between allochthonous chemical delivery and autochthonous recycling in the STE that drive compositional variability of SGD flows. Like that applied to open-water estuaries, a general practical and theoretical framework is needed – one that captures the structure and biogeochemistry of STEs and allows more accurate understanding of the chemical composition of SGD outflows, while simultaneously providing for a typological basis that provides solid support for extrapolation of local SGD chemical flux measurements to regional, and from these to global, scale. A comprehensive and critical review of the current state-of-the-art would reveal that progress requires: a) improved variable-density groundwater flow models that provide more accurate predictions and insights into the flow, salt transport, and mixing dynamics in STEs; b) quantitative understanding of the physicochemical and temporal drivers of saline groundwater seepage and composition; and c) better knowledge of the microbial ecology of STEs and links to marine, freshwater, and terrestrial drivers of STE dynamics. Significant research effort has been devoted to addressing these knowledge gaps. It is now time to provide a focused synopsis of these efforts. We propose a combination of cutting-edge original research, systematic, practice and policy reviews, methods and hypothesis and theory articles, tied together by a direction-setting perspective analysis to generate a comprehensive and accurate scientific foundation supporting environmental managers, scientists, and other stakeholders to assess SGD feedbacks on coastal ecosystem functioning and resilience and implement successful coastal management policies.

Estuarine Ecology A detailed and accessible exploration of the fundamentals and the latest advances in estuarine ecology In the newly revised third edition of Estuarine Ecology, a team of distinguished ecologists presents the current knowledge in estuarine ecology with particular emphasis on recent trends and advances. The book is accessible to undergraduate students while also providing a welcome summary of up-to-date content for a more advanced readership. This latest edition is optimized for classroom use, with a more intuitive mode of presentation that takes into account feedback from the previous edition’s readers. Review questions and exercises have been added to assist in the learning and retention of complex concepts. Estuarine Ecology remains the gold standard for the discipline by taking stock of the manifold scientific breakthroughs made in the field since the last edition was written. It also offers: Thorough introductions to estuarine geomorphology, circulation, and chemistry In-depth treatments of estuarine primary and secondary production, including coastal marshes and mangrove wetlands A holistic view of estuarine ecosystems, their modeling and analysis, as well as the impact of human activities and climate change A companion website with detailed answers to exercise questions Perfect for students of estuarine ecology, environmental science, fisheries science, oceanography, and natural resource management, Estuarine Ecology will also earn a place in the libraries of professionals, government employees, and consultants working on estuary and wetlands management and conservation.

Estuaries are among the most biologically productive ecosystems on the planet--critical to the life cycles of fish, other aquatic animals, and the creatures which feed on them. Estuarine Ecology, Second Edition, covers the physical and chemical aspects of estuaries, the biology and ecology of key organisms, the flow of organic matter through estuaries, and human interactions, such as the environmental impact of fisheries on estuaries and the effects of global climate change on these important ecosystems. Authored by a team of world experts from the estuarine science community, this long-awaited, full-color edition includes new chapters covering phytoplankton, seagrasses, coastal marshes, mangroves, benthic algae, Integrated Coastal Zone Management techniques, and the effects of global climate change. It also features an entriely new section on estuarine ecosystem processes, trophic webs, ecosystem metabolism, and the interactions between estuaries and other ecosystems such as wetlands and marshes

Climate change is having an increasing impact on coastal, estuarine, and marine environments worldwide. This book provides state-of-the-art coverage of climate change effects on estuarine ecosystems from local, regional, and global perspectives. With editors among the most noted international scholars in coastal ecology and estuarine science and contributors who are world-class in their fields, the chapters in this volume consist of comprehensive studies in coastal, estuarine and marine sciences, climate change, and coastal management and provide an extensive international collection of data in tabular, illustrated, and narrative formats useful for coastal scientists, planners, and managers. Comprised of three sections: (1) physical-chemical aspects; (2) biological aspects; and (3) management aspects, the book not only examines climatic and non-climatic drivers of change affecting coastal, estuarine, and marine environments but also their interactions and effects on populations of organisms, communities, habitats, and ecosystem structure and function. Pulling together today’s most salient issues and key literature advances for those concerned with coastal management, it allows the reader to see across direct and indirect interactions among disciplinary and ecosystem boundaries. Climate Change and Estuaries meets the research needs of climate scientists, estuarine and marine biologists, marine chemists, marine geologists, hydrologists, and coastal engineers, while students, professors, administrators, and other professionals will also find it an exhaustive reference.

Elements of Physical Oceanography is a derivative of the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 2nd Edition and serves as an important reference on current physical oceanography knowledge and expertise in one convenient and accessible source. Its selection of articles—all written by experts in their field—focuses on ocean physics, air-sea transfers, waves, mixing, ice, and the processes of transfer of properties such as heat, salinity, momentum and dissolved gases, within and into the ocean. Elements of Physical Oceanography serves as an ideal reference for topical research. References related articles in physical oceanography to facilitate further research Richly illustrated with figures and tables that aid in understanding key concepts Includes an introductory overview and then explores each topic in detail, making it useful to experts and graduate-level researchers Topical arrangement makes it the perfect desk reference

Groundwater Contamination in Coastal Aquifers: Assessment and Management first describes groundwater contamination in coastal aquifers and then delves into specific topics surrounding various hydrogeochemical processes. Next, the book covers case studies of groundwater quality assessment using recent techniques, explains the various pollutants and contaminants in coastal aquifers, and covers management and remediation methods to control contamination in coastal aquifers. This key reference encompasses various topics in broader perspectives on groundwater contamination in coastal aquifers, providing a significant contribution to the field of hydrogeology. - Presents global case studies that show the reader how this issue is affecting sites around the world - Includes a remediation plan that solves problems surrounding the management of groundwater, water treatment techniques, and the management of available groundwater resources - Provides advanced techniques that can be applied and used as methodologies for solving groundwater issues

The study of estuaries and coasts has seen enormous growth in recent years, since changes in these areas have a large effect on the food chain, as well as on the physics and chemistry of the ocean. As the coasts and river banks around the world become more densely populated, the pressure on these ecosystems intensifies, putting a new focus on environmental, socio-economic and policy issues. Written by a team of international expert scientists, under the guidance of Chief Editors Eric Wolanski and Donald McClusky, the Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, Ten Volume Set examines topics in depth, and aims to provide a comprehensive scientific resource for all professionals and students in the area of estuarine and coastal science Most up-to-date reference for system-based coastal and estuarine science and management, from the inland watershed to the ocean shelf Chief editors have assembled a world-class team of volume editors and contributing authors Approach focuses on the physical, biological, chemistry, ecosystem, human, ecological and economics processes, to show how to best use multidisciplinary science to ensure earth's sustainability Provides a comprehensive scientific resource for all professionals and students in the area of estuarine and coastal science Features up-to-date chapters covering a full range of topics

In the U.S., approximately two-thirds of the coastal rivers and bays are moderately to severely degraded from nutrient pollution. The contributors to this book use long-term data sets to discuss the interactions among biological, ecological, chemical, and physical processes, and discuss what is known about nutrient inputs to the bay ecosystem, the impacts related to nutrient inputs, and how the ecosystem might respond to a sudden reduction in these inputs.