Preface

Abstract

Water and chemical fluxes across the sea bottom provide an important linkage between terrestrial and marine environments. From the marine perspective, these water fluxes, commonly referred to as submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), may contain elevated nutrient concentrations or high levels of other potentially harmful contaminants. Terrestrially derived SGD can also be an important source of freshwater for estuarine ecosystems that require relatively low salinities. For these reasons, the past decade has shown a rapid increase in the level of interest from estuary and marine scientists toward a better understanding of SGD. From the terrestrial perspective, SGD has also been a topic of interest to those studying saltwater intrusion and management of coastal aquifers. Saltwater intrusion studies commonly employ some form of a water balance method, whether through numerical modelling or volumetric calculations, to explain intrusion patterns and develop predictions and management plans. In developing a water balance for a coastal aquifer, estimates for all of the key components, including SGD, are synthesized. Although the motivation may be different depending on whether one works from the marine or terrestrial perspective, both groups have a common goal of obtaining accurate SGD estimates