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3D characterisation and quantification of an offshore freshened groundwater system in the Canterbury Bight

Author

Listed:
  • Aaron Micallef

    (University of Malta
    GEOMAR)

  • Mark Person

    (New Mexico Tech)

  • Amir Haroon

    (GEOMAR)

  • Bradley A. Weymer

    (GEOMAR)

  • Marion Jegen

    (GEOMAR)

  • Katrin Schwalenberg

    (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR))

  • Zahra Faghih

    (GEOMAR)

  • Shuangmin Duan

    (GEOMAR)

  • Denis Cohen

    (University of Malta)

  • Joshu J. Mountjoy

    (National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA))

  • Susanne Woelz

    (National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA))

  • Carl W. Gable

    (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • Tanita Averes

    (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)

  • Ashwani Kumar Tiwari

    (Politecnico di Torino)

Abstract

Although offshore freshened groundwater (OFG) systems have been documented in numerous continental margins worldwide, their geometry, controls and emplacement dynamics remain poorly constrained. Here we integrate controlled-source electromagnetic, seismic reflection and borehole data with hydrological modelling to quantitatively characterise a previously unknown OFG system near Canterbury, New Zealand. The OFG system consists of one main, and two smaller, low salinity groundwater bodies. The main body extends up to 60 km from the coast and a seawater depth of 110 m. We attribute along-shelf variability in salinity to permeability heterogeneity due to permeable conduits and normal faults, and to recharge from rivers during sea level lowstands. A meteoric origin of the OFG and active groundwater migration from onshore are inferred. However, modelling results suggest that the majority of the OFG was emplaced via topographically-driven flow during sea level lowstands in the last 300 ka. Global volumetric estimates of OFG will be significantly revised if active margins, with steep coastal topographies like the Canterbury margin, are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Micallef & Mark Person & Amir Haroon & Bradley A. Weymer & Marion Jegen & Katrin Schwalenberg & Zahra Faghih & Shuangmin Duan & Denis Cohen & Joshu J. Mountjoy & Susanne Woelz & Carl W. Gable & , 2020. "3D characterisation and quantification of an offshore freshened groundwater system in the Canterbury Bight," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14770-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14770-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Chong Sheng & Jiu Jimmy Jiao & Xin Luo & Jinchao Zuo & Lei Jia & Jinghe Cao, 2023. "Offshore freshened groundwater in the Pearl River estuary and shelf as a significant water resource," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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