Submarine groundwater discharge from the Hütelmoor coastal peatlan

A seepage meter (yellow drum) with a bouy. A tide staff gauge can be seen behind the seepage meter. (©Erwin Racasa)
Submarine groundwater discharge collected in seepage bags (left) and porewater sampled a few meters from the beach (right). The brownish color from both water samples are indicative of high organic matter from the peatland. (©Erwin Racasa)
Discrete seep bubbling from the seafloor to the sea surface. (©Erwin Racasa)

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) found from a rewetted, drained coastal peatland! Using seepage meters, which are ends of steel drums with an attached collection bag, Ph.D. candidates from the Baltic TRANSCOAST program were able to sample SGD from the Hütelmoor beach. The results of the on-going analysis of the water samples will prove if SGD can be a significant pathway for carbon and other materials from carbon-rich peatlands. Groundwater discharge was previously determined through numerical and geochemical models, but this is the first time actual seepage rates were measured, and SGD water samples were collected. Discrete SGD or seeps were also found around the vicinity of the study site.