Hydraulic exchange between a coral reef and surface sea water

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1992 Hydraulic exchange between a coral reef and surface sea water GORDON W. TRIBBLE; GORDON W. TRIBBLE 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar FRANCIS J. SANSONE; FRANCIS J. SANSONE 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT W. BUDDEMEIER; ROBERT W. BUDDEMEIER 2Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Campus West, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66046-2598 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar YUAN-HUI LI YUAN-HUI LI 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information GORDON W. TRIBBLE 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 FRANCIS J. SANSONE 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 ROBERT W. BUDDEMEIER 2Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Campus West, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66046-2598 YUAN-HUI LI 1Department of Oceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, 1000 Pope Road, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1992) 104 (10): 1280–1291. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1992)104<1280:HEBACR>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation GORDON W. TRIBBLE, FRANCIS J. SANSONE, ROBERT W. BUDDEMEIER, YUAN-HUI LI; Hydraulic exchange between a coral reef and surface sea water. GSA Bulletin 1992;; 104 (10): 1280–1291. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1992)104<1280:HEBACR>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Hydraulic exchange between overlying sea water and the internal structure of a patch reef in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, was studied with an array of wells 1, 2, and 4 m deep. Two natural chemical tracers, radon, and salinity, were used to calculate the exchange rate between surface sea water and reef interstitial waters. Dissolved radon concentrations are substantially higher in interstitial waters than in surface water. The degree of radon enrichment is quantitatively related to the time elapsed since interstitial water had equilibrated with the atmosphere. Residence time estimates are 1-40 days, with deeper wells having slower exchange. The average residence time for 1-m-deep wells was 2.1 days. A rainstorm-induced dilution of the salinity of Kaneohe Bay provides the second tracer. Samples of surface and reef interstitial waters following this salinity perturbation are used to calculate an average residence time of 2.6 days at a depth of 1 m and 42 days at a depth of 2 m.Three types of physical forces thought to cause exchange between surface and interstitial water are considered by measurement of the forcing functions and reef permeability. Hydraulic conductivities are about 50 m/d, with lower values near the seaward side of the reef. Most exchange seems to be caused by high-frequency, wave-driven oscillatory pumping and by unidirectional hydraulic head gradients (of uncertain origin) that are stable for at least 3-4 days. Wave-driven mixing is probably more important shallower in the reef, whereas head-driven flow may dominate deeper in the reef. Tidal pumping does not seem to contribute to exchange.All methods indicate that exchange in the upper part of Checker Reef is primarily through vertical exchange. The best estimate for the residence time of water at a depth of 1 m is 2 days. Water at depths of 2-4 m probably has a residence time of weeks to months. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.