Utility of radium isotopes evaluating the input and transport of groundwater - derived nitrogen to a Cape Code estuary

摘要

Because of rapid increases in population, anthro - pogenic sources of nitrogen have adversely impacted the water quality of coastal ponds on Cape Cod. A major source of "new" nitrogen to these estuaries is groundwater, which intercepts sep - tic tank fields in its flow path to the coastline. Many attempts have been made to quantify this process; however, groundwater discharge is often patchy in nature and is therefore difficult to study by use of traditional techniques such as seepage meters.