The projections of climate change are based on coupled global climate models,
which include the circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans, climate characteristics (rainfall, temperature, radiation, etc.) and different scenarios for increases
of the greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere (Kløve et al. 2013). The
proposed scenarios vary on a constant increase of the greenhouse gases for the next
100 years (scenario A2 of IPCC) to a decrease in emissions (scenario B1 of IPCC)
or predictions in between. Therefore, projections from IPCC present significant
global warming and alterations in frequency and amount of precipitation from year
2000 to 2100 (IPPC 2007). The global mean surface temperature is estimated to
have increased by 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since 1861, and predicts an increase of 2–4 °C over
the next 100 years. Temperature growth also distresses the hydrologic cycle by
directly increasing evaporation of available surface water and vegetation transpiration. Consequently, these changes can impact amounts of precipitation, timings
and intensity rates, and indirectly impact the flux and retention of water in surface
and subsurface reservoirs (i.e. lakes, soil moisture, groundwater).
1.2 Possible Climate Change Impact on Groundwater
Discharge
Groundwater discharge is commonly known as any outflow of water through the
sea floor (Burnett et al. 2006). Groundwater depletion appears when rate of
groundwater recharge is smaller than rate of discharge. Unfortunately, groundwater
depletion has already affected large regions in many countries around the world as a
result of direct and indirect climate change and human activities. The most
important one of these is groundwater extraction for irrigated agriculture and/or
urban centers (Bouraoui et al. 1999; Brouyere et al. 2004; Alley 2007; Dams et al.
2007; Hsu et al. 2007; Moustadraf et al. 2008). Changing global groundwater
discharge has even contributed to sea-level increase over the past century which
could have been even greater if significant quantities of water had not been conducted into aquifers by irrigation return-flow (Sahagian et al. 1994).
According to results of climate change modelling some regions can receive more
precipitation resulting in increasing groundwater discharge. Submarine groundwater discharge or net groundwater discharge is a substantial component of the
global hydrologic cycle, it can be used as a source of fresh water for human needs
(Taniguchi 2000; Burnett et al. 2006). Estimating submarine groundwater discharge
and its biogeochemical effects on the marine environment has important implications for understanding climate-change impact on marine processes (Windom et al.
2006). There are examples of high dissolved nitrogen-phosphorous ratios in SGD
relative to surface water that can drive the coastal oceans toward phosphorous
Submarine Groundwater Discharge to the Bay of Puck …
63
which include the circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans, climate characteristics (rainfall, temperature, radiation, etc.) and different scenarios for increases
of the greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere (Kløve et al. 2013). The
proposed scenarios vary on a constant increase of the greenhouse gases for the next
100 years (scenario A2 of IPCC) to a decrease in emissions (scenario B1 of IPCC)
or predictions in between. Therefore, projections from IPCC present significant
global warming and alterations in frequency and amount of precipitation from year
2000 to 2100 (IPPC 2007). The global mean surface temperature is estimated to
have increased by 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since 1861, and predicts an increase of 2–4 °C over
the next 100 years. Temperature growth also distresses the hydrologic cycle by
directly increasing evaporation of available surface water and vegetation transpiration. Consequently, these changes can impact amounts of precipitation, timings
and intensity rates, and indirectly impact the flux and retention of water in surface
and subsurface reservoirs (i.e. lakes, soil moisture, groundwater).
1.2 Possible Climate Change Impact on Groundwater
Discharge
Groundwater discharge is commonly known as any outflow of water through the
sea floor (Burnett et al. 2006). Groundwater depletion appears when rate of
groundwater recharge is smaller than rate of discharge. Unfortunately, groundwater
depletion has already affected large regions in many countries around the world as a
result of direct and indirect climate change and human activities. The most
important one of these is groundwater extraction for irrigated agriculture and/or
urban centers (Bouraoui et al. 1999; Brouyere et al. 2004; Alley 2007; Dams et al.
2007; Hsu et al. 2007; Moustadraf et al. 2008). Changing global groundwater
discharge has even contributed to sea-level increase over the past century which
could have been even greater if significant quantities of water had not been conducted into aquifers by irrigation return-flow (Sahagian et al. 1994).
According to results of climate change modelling some regions can receive more
precipitation resulting in increasing groundwater discharge. Submarine groundwater discharge or net groundwater discharge is a substantial component of the
global hydrologic cycle, it can be used as a source of fresh water for human needs
(Taniguchi 2000; Burnett et al. 2006). Estimating submarine groundwater discharge
and its biogeochemical effects on the marine environment has important implications for understanding climate-change impact on marine processes (Windom et al.
2006). There are examples of high dissolved nitrogen-phosphorous ratios in SGD
relative to surface water that can drive the coastal oceans toward phosphorous
Submarine Groundwater Discharge to the Bay of Puck …
63