Premium
Quantitative estimation of submarine groundwater discharge using airborne thermal infrared data acquired at two different tidal heights
Author(s) -
Kang Kimook,
Kim Dukjin,
Kim Yunjee,
Lee Eunhee,
Kim BongGwan,
Kim Seung Hee,
Ha Kyoochul,
Koh DongChan,
Cho YangKi,
Kim Guebuem
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.13387
Subject(s) - submarine groundwater discharge , bathymetry , groundwater , geology , environmental science , biogeochemical cycle , groundwater discharge , hydrology (agriculture) , aquifer , oceanography , groundwater flow , ecology , geotechnical engineering , biology
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) plays an important role in coastal biogeochemical processes and hydrological cycles, particularly off volcanic islands in oligotrophic oceans. However, the spatial and temporal variations of SGD are still poorly understood owing to difficulty in taking rapid SGD measurements over a large scale. In this study, we used four airborne thermal infrared surveys (twice each during high and low tides) to quantify the spatiotemporal variations of SGD over the entire coast of Jeju Island, Korea. On the basis of an analytical model, we found a linear positive correlation between the thermal anomaly and squares of the groundwater discharge velocity and a negative exponential correlation between the anomaly and water depth (including tide height and bathymetry). We then derived a new equation for quantitatively estimating the SGD flow rates from thermal anomalies acquired at two different tide heights. The proposed method was validated with the measured SGD flow rates using a current meter at Gongcheonpo Beach. We believe that the method can be effectively applied for rapid estimation of SGD over coastal areas, where fresh groundwater discharge is significant, using airborne thermal infrared surveys.