Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a significant yet often overlooked pathway for material exchange between terrestrial and marine environments, delivering freshwater and nutrients to coastal ecosystems and influencing mangrove wetland health. Salinity balance and environmental quality are key...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xianzhong KE, Xu ZHANG, Yanpeng ZHANG, Qinghua LI, Xianjun XIE, Wenfeng CHEN
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Office of Hydrogeology & Engineering Geology 2025-05-01
Series:Shuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.swdzgcdz.com/en/article/doi/10.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.202409062
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849328736956055552
author Xianzhong KE
Xu ZHANG
Yanpeng ZHANG
Qinghua LI
Xianjun XIE
Wenfeng CHEN
author_facet Xianzhong KE
Xu ZHANG
Yanpeng ZHANG
Qinghua LI
Xianjun XIE
Wenfeng CHEN
author_sort Xianzhong KE
collection DOAJ
description Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a significant yet often overlooked pathway for material exchange between terrestrial and marine environments, delivering freshwater and nutrients to coastal ecosystems and influencing mangrove wetland health. Salinity balance and environmental quality are key factors in maintaining healthy mangrove habitats, yet the role of SGD in shaping these conditions in Dongzhaigang Area, northeastern Hainan, remains poorly understood. Moreover, the importance of groundwater considerations in mangrove ecological protection and restoration requires further exploration. This study investigated SGD characteristics and its ecological impacts on mangrove wetlands in Dongzhaigang Area using radon isotope (²²²Rn) as a natural tracer. The spatial and temporal variations of seawater 222Rn activity and its influencing factors were analyzed. Based on the 222Rn mass-balance model, the fluxes of SGD and the associated nutrients in Dongzhaigang Area were estimated. The findings indicate that the variation in 222Rn activity is predominantly influenced by the seasonal rainfall, tidal water level fluctuation, fracture zone structure, and the nature of surface sediments. Using the 222Rn mass balance model for the region, SGD fluxes were estimated to be 8.90×105 m3/d and 6.84×105 m3/d in the wet season and dry season, respectively; SGD-driven nutrient fluxes were estimated by combining the solute concentrations in groundwater. The fluxes of phosphate, nitrite, and nitrate were estimated to be 6440 kg/d, 53.44 kg/d, and 1084 kg/d, respectively, in the wet season—approximately two-thirds of these values in the dry season. The estimated SGD fluxes of the mangrove wetland in Dongzhaigang Area are comparable to the local river discharge, and the associated nutrient fluxes carried by the wetland were very significant; the hot and cold zones of SGD fluxes corresponded to the sparse and lush zones of the mangrove forests, respectively, suggesting that SGD may negatively affect mangrove wetland habitats in Dongzhaigang Area by reducing mangrove wetland salinity or environmental quality. This study provides a theoretical basis for the ecological protection and restoration of mangrove wetlands in Dongzhaigang Area.
format Article
id doaj-art-bb5f3eee5f7345109a3339a23127d33a
institution Kabale University
issn 1000-3665
language zho
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Editorial Office of Hydrogeology & Engineering Geology
record_format Article
series Shuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi
spelling doaj-art-bb5f3eee5f7345109a3339a23127d33a2025-08-20T03:47:31ZzhoEditorial Office of Hydrogeology & Engineering GeologyShuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi1000-36652025-05-01523435510.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.202409062202409062Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan IslandXianzhong KE0Xu ZHANG1Yanpeng ZHANG2Qinghua LI3Xianjun XIE4Wenfeng CHEN5Wuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan, Hubei 430205, ChinaCCCC Second Navigation Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430040, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan, Hubei 430205, ChinaWuhan Center, China Geological Survey (Central South China Innovation Center for Geosciences), Wuhan, Hubei 430205, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences(Wuhan), Wuhan, Hubei 430074, ChinaCCCC Second Navigation Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430040, ChinaSubmarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a significant yet often overlooked pathway for material exchange between terrestrial and marine environments, delivering freshwater and nutrients to coastal ecosystems and influencing mangrove wetland health. Salinity balance and environmental quality are key factors in maintaining healthy mangrove habitats, yet the role of SGD in shaping these conditions in Dongzhaigang Area, northeastern Hainan, remains poorly understood. Moreover, the importance of groundwater considerations in mangrove ecological protection and restoration requires further exploration. This study investigated SGD characteristics and its ecological impacts on mangrove wetlands in Dongzhaigang Area using radon isotope (²²²Rn) as a natural tracer. The spatial and temporal variations of seawater 222Rn activity and its influencing factors were analyzed. Based on the 222Rn mass-balance model, the fluxes of SGD and the associated nutrients in Dongzhaigang Area were estimated. The findings indicate that the variation in 222Rn activity is predominantly influenced by the seasonal rainfall, tidal water level fluctuation, fracture zone structure, and the nature of surface sediments. Using the 222Rn mass balance model for the region, SGD fluxes were estimated to be 8.90×105 m3/d and 6.84×105 m3/d in the wet season and dry season, respectively; SGD-driven nutrient fluxes were estimated by combining the solute concentrations in groundwater. The fluxes of phosphate, nitrite, and nitrate were estimated to be 6440 kg/d, 53.44 kg/d, and 1084 kg/d, respectively, in the wet season—approximately two-thirds of these values in the dry season. The estimated SGD fluxes of the mangrove wetland in Dongzhaigang Area are comparable to the local river discharge, and the associated nutrient fluxes carried by the wetland were very significant; the hot and cold zones of SGD fluxes corresponded to the sparse and lush zones of the mangrove forests, respectively, suggesting that SGD may negatively affect mangrove wetland habitats in Dongzhaigang Area by reducing mangrove wetland salinity or environmental quality. This study provides a theoretical basis for the ecological protection and restoration of mangrove wetlands in Dongzhaigang Area.https://www.swdzgcdz.com/en/article/doi/10.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.202409062submarine groundwater dischargeradon isotopenutrientsmangrove wetlandcoast
spellingShingle Xianzhong KE
Xu ZHANG
Yanpeng ZHANG
Qinghua LI
Xianjun XIE
Wenfeng CHEN
Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
Shuiwen dizhi gongcheng dizhi
submarine groundwater discharge
radon isotope
nutrients
mangrove wetland
coast
title Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
title_full Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
title_fullStr Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
title_full_unstemmed Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
title_short Submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in Dongzhaigang Area, Northeastern Hainan Island
title_sort submarine groundwater discharge and its impact on mangrove habitats in dongzhaigang area northeastern hainan island
topic submarine groundwater discharge
radon isotope
nutrients
mangrove wetland
coast
url https://www.swdzgcdz.com/en/article/doi/10.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.202409062
work_keys_str_mv AT xianzhongke submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland
AT xuzhang submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland
AT yanpengzhang submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland
AT qinghuali submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland
AT xianjunxie submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland
AT wenfengchen submarinegroundwaterdischargeanditsimpactonmangrovehabitatsindongzhaigangareanortheasternhainanisland