Factors influencing groundwater and surface water hydrogeochemistry with a special emphasis on the importance of sediment geology

Abstract

Historical data on groundwater and surface water nutrients and trace metal concentrations and water quality indicators were collected and examined in concert with aquifer, surficial geology and land use characteristics. A meta-analysis was conducted to better understand the factors affecting groundwater and surface water hydrogeochemistry and nutrients across variable conditions and scales. The primary goals were to compare (1) groundwater hydrogeochemistry and (2) groundwater vs. surface water geochemistry and nutrients for geologically and environmentally distinct wetland areas along the U.S Atlantic coast. The results demonstrate the influences of site geology, land use type, wetland extent and proximity to seawater inputs on the chemical signatures of the groundwater and surface water. Differences in microbial processes, oxygen and organic matter supply, and sources and sinks of dissolved constituents in groundwater and surface water wetland areas likely contribute to the variations in dissolved inorganic nutrients. These findings indicate the value of future studies of this nature.