concentrations (Szymczycha et al. 2012). The calculated fluxes equaled to
30 ± 11 t N-DIN year
−1 and 60 ± 5 t P-PO 4
3− year
−1 . Phosphate fluxes via SGD are
significant. They are approximately 3 times larger than the atmospheric deposition
and comparable to phosphate fluxes via rivers and point sources.
3.3 Predicted Groundwater Discharge and Accompanying
Nutrients Fluxes to the Bay of Puck, Southern Baltic Sea
Submarine groundwater discharge has been recognized as an important factor
influencing coastal zones (Burnett et al. 2006; Moore 2010). However, there are
locations where an increased groundwater usage has lowered potentiometric heads
in coastal aquifers and caused infiltration of sea water into the groundwater formations (Green et al. 2011). The result has been an increased rate of salinization of
coastal potable water. Sea level rise, whether natural or induced, has also caused
increased salinization of groundwater. These changes have been taking place
worldwide due to increased demands for fresh water in coastal areas. Consequently,
due to expanded anthropogenic pressure, groundwater discharge can decrease
(Moore 2010). Despite this raising inland expansion can lead to larger SGD fluxes
of nutrients, carbon and metals because the biogeochemical reactions that affect
their concentrations can operate over greater spatial scales and impact aquifers that
have been in contact with sea water for thousands of year (Moore 2010).
Under the climate scenarios for the southern Baltic, precipitation is projected to
increase in the entire Baltic Sea region during winter, while in the summer increases
in precipitation are mainly projected for the northern half of the basin. For the
southern part of the Baltic Sea, there is a large spread between the different models
indicating both increases and decreases and thus no clear change in precipitation
can be projected (BSEP 137 2013). Szymczycha et al. (2012) indicated that average
SGD turned out to be well correlated with the average monthly precipitation
characteristic of the area. Thus, the precipitation actually impacts the groundwater
discharge. According to Szymczycha et al. (2012) in winter 2009 the groundwater
discharge was the smallest and equaled to 3.0 ± 2.1 L d
−1 m
−2 . Thus the predicted
increase of precipitation for the Baltic Sea region during winter time can also
increase the groundwater fluxes. Consequently, the annul SGD to the Bay of Puck,
southern Baltic Sea will increase. Not only the additional flux of water will enter the
marine environment but also significant amount of nutrients, organic matters and
heavy metals (Szymczycha et al. 2012, 2013, 2014). In summer submarine
groundwater discharge can vary but still the loads of chemical compounds in
groundwater can increase due to anthropogenic pressure.
70
B. Szymczycha
30 ± 11 t N-DIN year
−1 and 60 ± 5 t P-PO 4
3− year
−1 . Phosphate fluxes via SGD are
significant. They are approximately 3 times larger than the atmospheric deposition
and comparable to phosphate fluxes via rivers and point sources.
3.3 Predicted Groundwater Discharge and Accompanying
Nutrients Fluxes to the Bay of Puck, Southern Baltic Sea
Submarine groundwater discharge has been recognized as an important factor
influencing coastal zones (Burnett et al. 2006; Moore 2010). However, there are
locations where an increased groundwater usage has lowered potentiometric heads
in coastal aquifers and caused infiltration of sea water into the groundwater formations (Green et al. 2011). The result has been an increased rate of salinization of
coastal potable water. Sea level rise, whether natural or induced, has also caused
increased salinization of groundwater. These changes have been taking place
worldwide due to increased demands for fresh water in coastal areas. Consequently,
due to expanded anthropogenic pressure, groundwater discharge can decrease
(Moore 2010). Despite this raising inland expansion can lead to larger SGD fluxes
of nutrients, carbon and metals because the biogeochemical reactions that affect
their concentrations can operate over greater spatial scales and impact aquifers that
have been in contact with sea water for thousands of year (Moore 2010).
Under the climate scenarios for the southern Baltic, precipitation is projected to
increase in the entire Baltic Sea region during winter, while in the summer increases
in precipitation are mainly projected for the northern half of the basin. For the
southern part of the Baltic Sea, there is a large spread between the different models
indicating both increases and decreases and thus no clear change in precipitation
can be projected (BSEP 137 2013). Szymczycha et al. (2012) indicated that average
SGD turned out to be well correlated with the average monthly precipitation
characteristic of the area. Thus, the precipitation actually impacts the groundwater
discharge. According to Szymczycha et al. (2012) in winter 2009 the groundwater
discharge was the smallest and equaled to 3.0 ± 2.1 L d
−1 m
−2 . Thus the predicted
increase of precipitation for the Baltic Sea region during winter time can also
increase the groundwater fluxes. Consequently, the annul SGD to the Bay of Puck,
southern Baltic Sea will increase. Not only the additional flux of water will enter the
marine environment but also significant amount of nutrients, organic matters and
heavy metals (Szymczycha et al. 2012, 2013, 2014). In summer submarine
groundwater discharge can vary but still the loads of chemical compounds in
groundwater can increase due to anthropogenic pressure.
70
B. Szymczycha