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Environmental Geochemistry

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By Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center November 8, 2018

Hydrologic Restoration in Coastal Wetlands Enhances Climate Change Mitigation Benefits

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Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries, with the goal of providing data and guidance to federal, state, local, and private land owners and managers on these vital ecosystems.

Journal Article

small hole in the ground surrounded by grass

Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands

Read article

Data Release

Photograph of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod

Nearshore groundwater seepage and geochemical data measured in 2015 at Guinea Creek, Rehoboth Bay, Delaware

Download Data

Research Themes

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries.

Media
a woman scientist in a baseball hat standing in a marsh holding a long piece of equipment
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Meagan Eagle, Research Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, collects an elevation point along the edge of Quivett Creek in Brewster, MA. This salt marsh was restored in 2005 by replacing a narrow culvert to allow full tidal flow once again. Elevation is an important measurement in tidal wetlands, allowing scientists to understand where the wetland platform is in relation to sea level. Here elevation combined with soil core data was used to determine how the restored marsh grew over the past century. Along with enhanced soil accretion, more carbon is stored in this restored marsh today than while it was disconnected from the sea. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Meagan Gonneea checks on instruments at a tidal creek in Great Pond, Falmouth, MA

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
Learn More

Data releases associated with the Environmental Geochemistry Project.

Filter Total Items: 18
No Result Found

Environmental Geochemistry Project mulitmedia objects

Filter Total Items: 22
No results found.

Environmental Geochemistry Project publications

Filter Total Items: 71

NGWA workshop on “Making Groundwater Sustainable” NGWA workshop on “Making Groundwater Sustainable”

No abstract available.
Authors
Leonard Konikow
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability

Despite the importance of sediment availability on wetland stability, vulnerability assessments seldom consider spatiotemporal variability of sediment transport. Models predict that the maximum rate of sea level rise a marsh can survive is proportional to suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and accretion. In contrast, we find that SSC and accretion are higher in an unstable marsh than...
Authors
Neil K. Ganju, Matthew L. Kirwan, Patrick J. Dickhudt, Glenn Guntenspergen, Donald Cahoon, Kevin Kroeger
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Ground-truthing electrical resistivity methods in support of submarine groundwater discharge studies: Examples from Hawaii, Washington, and California Ground-truthing electrical resistivity methods in support of submarine groundwater discharge studies: Examples from Hawaii, Washington, and California

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important conduit that links terrestrial and marine environments. SGD conveys both water and water-borne constituents into coastal waters, where these inflows may impact near-shore ecosystem health and sustainability. Multichannel electrical resistivity techniques have proven to be a powerful tool to examine scales and dynamics of SGD and SGD...
Authors
Cordell Johnson, Peter Swarzenski, Christina Richardson, Christopher Smith, Kevin Kroeger, Priya Ganguli
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Substantial nitrous oxide emissions from intertidal sediments and groundwater in anthropogenically-impacted West Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts Substantial nitrous oxide emissions from intertidal sediments and groundwater in anthropogenically-impacted West Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts

Large N2O emissions were observed from intertidal sediments in a coastal estuary, West Falmouth Harbor, MA, USA. Average N2O emission rates from 41 chambers during summer 2008 were 10.7 mol N2O m(-2) h(-1)±4.43 μmol N2O m(-2) h(-1) (standard error). Emissions were highest from sediments within a known wastewater plume, where a maximum N2O emission rate was 155 μmol N2O m(-2) h(-1)...
Authors
Serena Moseman-Valtierra, Kevin Kroeger, John Crusius, Sandy Baldwin, Adrian Mann, Thomas Brooks, E. Pugh
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Net ecosystem production and organic carbon balance of U.S. East Coast estuaries: A synthesis approach Net ecosystem production and organic carbon balance of U.S. East Coast estuaries: A synthesis approach

Net ecosystem production (NEP) and the overall organic carbon budget for the estuaries along the East Coast of the United States are estimated. We focus on the open estuarine waters, excluding the fringing wetlands. We developed empirical models relating NEP to loading ratios of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total organic carbon, and carbon burial in the sediment to estuarine water...
Authors
Maria Herrmann, Raymond G. Najjar, W. Kemp, Richard Alexander, Elizabeth Boyer, Wei-Jun Cai, Peter Griffith, Kevin Kroeger, S. McCallister, Richard Smith
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Continuous resistivity profiling and seismic-reflection data collected in April 2010 from Indian River Bay, Delaware Continuous resistivity profiling and seismic-reflection data collected in April 2010 from Indian River Bay, Delaware

A geophysical survey to delineate the fresh-saline groundwater interface and associated sub-bottom sedimentary structures beneath Indian River Bay, Delaware, was carried out in April 2010. This included surveying at higher spatial resolution in the vicinity of a study site at Holts Landing, where intensive onshore and offshore studies were subsequently completed. The total length of...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, H.A. Michael, K.D. Kroeger, Adrian Mann, Emile M. Bergeron
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Stratigraphic controls on fluid and solute fluxes across the sediment-water interface of an estuary Stratigraphic controls on fluid and solute fluxes across the sediment-water interface of an estuary

Shallow stratigraphic features, such as infilled paleovalleys, modify fresh groundwater discharge to coastal waters and fluxes of saltwater and nutrients across the sediment–water interface. We quantify the spatial distribution of shallow surface water–groundwater exchange and nitrogen fluxes near a paleovalley in Indian River Bay, Delaware, using a hand resistivity probe, conventional...
Authors
Audrey Sawyer, Olesya Lazareva, Kevin Kroeger, Kyle Crespo, Clara Chan, Thomas Stieglitz, Holly A. Michael
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Molecular signature of organic nitrogen in septic-impacted groundwater Molecular signature of organic nitrogen in septic-impacted groundwater

Dissolved inorganic and organic nitrogen levels are elevated in aquatic systems due to anthropogenic activities. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) arises from various sources, and its impact could be more clearly constrained if specific sources were identified and if the molecular-level composition of DON were better understood. In this work, the pharmaceutical carbamazepine was used to...
Authors
William A. Arnold, Krista Longnecker, Kevin Kroeger, Elizabeth Kujawinski
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Limited denitrification in glacial deposit aquifers having thick unsaturated zones (Long Island, USA) Limited denitrification in glacial deposit aquifers having thick unsaturated zones (Long Island, USA)

The goal of this study was to demonstrate how the extent of denitrification, which is indirectly related to dissolved organ carbon and directly related to oxygen concentrations, can also be linked to unsaturated-zone thickness, a mappable aquifer property. Groundwater from public supply and monitoring wells in Northport on Long Island, New York state (USA), were analyzed for...
Authors
Caitlin Young, Kevin Kroeger, Gilbert Hanson
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from Great South Bay, Long Island, New York Continuous resistivity profiling data from Great South Bay, Long Island, New York

An investigation of submarine aquifers adjacent to the Fire Island National Seashore and Long Island, New York was conducted to assess the importance of submarine groundwater discharge as a potential nonpoint source of nitrogen delivery to Great South Bay. Over 200 kilometers of continuous resistivity profiling data were collected to image the fresh-saline groundwater interface in...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, K.D. Kroeger, John Crusius, C.R. Worley
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay, Long Island, New York Continuous resistivity profiling data from Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay, Long Island, New York

An investigation of coastal groundwater systems was performed along the North Shore of Long Island, New York, during May 2008 to constrain nutrient delivery to Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay by delineating locations of likely groundwater discharge. The embayments are bounded by steep moraines and are underlain by thick, fine-grained sediments deposited in proglacial lakes during the...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, John Crusius, K.D. Kroeger, C.R. Worley
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from the Corsica River Estuary, Maryland Continuous resistivity profiling data from the Corsica River Estuary, Maryland

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into Maryland's Corsica River Estuary was investigated as part of a larger study to determine its importance in nutrient delivery to the Chesapeake Bay. The Corsica River Estuary represents a coastal lowland setting typical of much of the eastern bay. An interdisciplinary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science team conducted field operations in the...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, C.R. Worley, John Crusius, K.D. Kroeger
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries, with the goal of providing data and guidance to federal, state, local, and private land owners and managers on these vital ecosystems.

Journal Article

small hole in the ground surrounded by grass

Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands

Read article

Data Release

Photograph of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod

Nearshore groundwater seepage and geochemical data measured in 2015 at Guinea Creek, Rehoboth Bay, Delaware

Download Data

Research Themes

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries.

Media
a woman scientist in a baseball hat standing in a marsh holding a long piece of equipment
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Meagan Eagle, Research Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, collects an elevation point along the edge of Quivett Creek in Brewster, MA. This salt marsh was restored in 2005 by replacing a narrow culvert to allow full tidal flow once again. Elevation is an important measurement in tidal wetlands, allowing scientists to understand where the wetland platform is in relation to sea level. Here elevation combined with soil core data was used to determine how the restored marsh grew over the past century. Along with enhanced soil accretion, more carbon is stored in this restored marsh today than while it was disconnected from the sea. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Meagan Gonneea checks on instruments at a tidal creek in Great Pond, Falmouth, MA

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
Learn More

Data releases associated with the Environmental Geochemistry Project.

Filter Total Items: 18
No Result Found

Environmental Geochemistry Project mulitmedia objects

Filter Total Items: 22
No results found.

Environmental Geochemistry Project publications

Filter Total Items: 71

NGWA workshop on “Making Groundwater Sustainable” NGWA workshop on “Making Groundwater Sustainable”

No abstract available.
Authors
Leonard Konikow
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability

Despite the importance of sediment availability on wetland stability, vulnerability assessments seldom consider spatiotemporal variability of sediment transport. Models predict that the maximum rate of sea level rise a marsh can survive is proportional to suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and accretion. In contrast, we find that SSC and accretion are higher in an unstable marsh than...
Authors
Neil K. Ganju, Matthew L. Kirwan, Patrick J. Dickhudt, Glenn Guntenspergen, Donald Cahoon, Kevin Kroeger
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Ground-truthing electrical resistivity methods in support of submarine groundwater discharge studies: Examples from Hawaii, Washington, and California Ground-truthing electrical resistivity methods in support of submarine groundwater discharge studies: Examples from Hawaii, Washington, and California

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important conduit that links terrestrial and marine environments. SGD conveys both water and water-borne constituents into coastal waters, where these inflows may impact near-shore ecosystem health and sustainability. Multichannel electrical resistivity techniques have proven to be a powerful tool to examine scales and dynamics of SGD and SGD...
Authors
Cordell Johnson, Peter Swarzenski, Christina Richardson, Christopher Smith, Kevin Kroeger, Priya Ganguli
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Substantial nitrous oxide emissions from intertidal sediments and groundwater in anthropogenically-impacted West Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts Substantial nitrous oxide emissions from intertidal sediments and groundwater in anthropogenically-impacted West Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts

Large N2O emissions were observed from intertidal sediments in a coastal estuary, West Falmouth Harbor, MA, USA. Average N2O emission rates from 41 chambers during summer 2008 were 10.7 mol N2O m(-2) h(-1)±4.43 μmol N2O m(-2) h(-1) (standard error). Emissions were highest from sediments within a known wastewater plume, where a maximum N2O emission rate was 155 μmol N2O m(-2) h(-1)...
Authors
Serena Moseman-Valtierra, Kevin Kroeger, John Crusius, Sandy Baldwin, Adrian Mann, Thomas Brooks, E. Pugh
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Net ecosystem production and organic carbon balance of U.S. East Coast estuaries: A synthesis approach Net ecosystem production and organic carbon balance of U.S. East Coast estuaries: A synthesis approach

Net ecosystem production (NEP) and the overall organic carbon budget for the estuaries along the East Coast of the United States are estimated. We focus on the open estuarine waters, excluding the fringing wetlands. We developed empirical models relating NEP to loading ratios of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total organic carbon, and carbon burial in the sediment to estuarine water...
Authors
Maria Herrmann, Raymond G. Najjar, W. Kemp, Richard Alexander, Elizabeth Boyer, Wei-Jun Cai, Peter Griffith, Kevin Kroeger, S. McCallister, Richard Smith
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Continuous resistivity profiling and seismic-reflection data collected in April 2010 from Indian River Bay, Delaware Continuous resistivity profiling and seismic-reflection data collected in April 2010 from Indian River Bay, Delaware

A geophysical survey to delineate the fresh-saline groundwater interface and associated sub-bottom sedimentary structures beneath Indian River Bay, Delaware, was carried out in April 2010. This included surveying at higher spatial resolution in the vicinity of a study site at Holts Landing, where intensive onshore and offshore studies were subsequently completed. The total length of...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, H.A. Michael, K.D. Kroeger, Adrian Mann, Emile M. Bergeron
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Stratigraphic controls on fluid and solute fluxes across the sediment-water interface of an estuary Stratigraphic controls on fluid and solute fluxes across the sediment-water interface of an estuary

Shallow stratigraphic features, such as infilled paleovalleys, modify fresh groundwater discharge to coastal waters and fluxes of saltwater and nutrients across the sediment–water interface. We quantify the spatial distribution of shallow surface water–groundwater exchange and nitrogen fluxes near a paleovalley in Indian River Bay, Delaware, using a hand resistivity probe, conventional...
Authors
Audrey Sawyer, Olesya Lazareva, Kevin Kroeger, Kyle Crespo, Clara Chan, Thomas Stieglitz, Holly A. Michael
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Molecular signature of organic nitrogen in septic-impacted groundwater Molecular signature of organic nitrogen in septic-impacted groundwater

Dissolved inorganic and organic nitrogen levels are elevated in aquatic systems due to anthropogenic activities. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) arises from various sources, and its impact could be more clearly constrained if specific sources were identified and if the molecular-level composition of DON were better understood. In this work, the pharmaceutical carbamazepine was used to...
Authors
William A. Arnold, Krista Longnecker, Kevin Kroeger, Elizabeth Kujawinski
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Limited denitrification in glacial deposit aquifers having thick unsaturated zones (Long Island, USA) Limited denitrification in glacial deposit aquifers having thick unsaturated zones (Long Island, USA)

The goal of this study was to demonstrate how the extent of denitrification, which is indirectly related to dissolved organ carbon and directly related to oxygen concentrations, can also be linked to unsaturated-zone thickness, a mappable aquifer property. Groundwater from public supply and monitoring wells in Northport on Long Island, New York state (USA), were analyzed for...
Authors
Caitlin Young, Kevin Kroeger, Gilbert Hanson
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from Great South Bay, Long Island, New York Continuous resistivity profiling data from Great South Bay, Long Island, New York

An investigation of submarine aquifers adjacent to the Fire Island National Seashore and Long Island, New York was conducted to assess the importance of submarine groundwater discharge as a potential nonpoint source of nitrogen delivery to Great South Bay. Over 200 kilometers of continuous resistivity profiling data were collected to image the fresh-saline groundwater interface in...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, K.D. Kroeger, John Crusius, C.R. Worley
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay, Long Island, New York Continuous resistivity profiling data from Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay, Long Island, New York

An investigation of coastal groundwater systems was performed along the North Shore of Long Island, New York, during May 2008 to constrain nutrient delivery to Northport Harbor and Manhasset Bay by delineating locations of likely groundwater discharge. The embayments are bounded by steep moraines and are underlain by thick, fine-grained sediments deposited in proglacial lakes during the...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, John Crusius, K.D. Kroeger, C.R. Worley
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Continuous resistivity profiling data from the Corsica River Estuary, Maryland Continuous resistivity profiling data from the Corsica River Estuary, Maryland

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into Maryland's Corsica River Estuary was investigated as part of a larger study to determine its importance in nutrient delivery to the Chesapeake Bay. The Corsica River Estuary represents a coastal lowland setting typical of much of the eastern bay. An interdisciplinary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science team conducted field operations in the...
Authors
V.A. Cross, J.F. Bratton, C.R. Worley, John Crusius, K.D. Kroeger
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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