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“EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” P A G E 107 Submarine Groundwater Discharge and Associated Nutrient Fluxes to Discovery Bay, Jamaica Recent studies have suggested that submarine groundwater discharge can be a significant source of terrestrially-derived nutrients to coastal waters as groundwater fluxes may be comparable to surface fluxes, especially where river flow is small or non-existent, andmore attention is now being paid to the contribution of groundwater discharge to biogeochemical processes within the coastal zone. Due to the high temporal and spatial variability of groundwater discharge, quantification may be difficult and various methods have been used to estimate fluxes. The submarine groundwater discharge and associated nutrient fluxes to Discovery Bay, a small tropical embayment on the island of Jamaica, were investigated. Fluxes via submarine springs and seepage through bottom sediments were determined from direct flow measurements and chemical analysis of groundwater and coastal waters. The total groundwater discharge into the bay ranged from 13 to 67 x 103 m3 d-1. Discharge from submarine springs accounted for 70% of the total discharge during dry periods and was not affected by seasonal (rainfall-related) changes. After periods of heavy rainfall, seepage rates increased ten-fold and accounted for about 80% of the total discharge. Subterranean mixing of freshwater and marine water resulted in brackish (salinity ≥ 11) spring and seepage water. The nitrogen and phosphorus originating in the groundwater diluted conservatively within the bay and the average groundwater nutrient concentrations, predicted from dilution curves, were 97(±39) μM N and 0.76(±0.55) μM P. The highest nutrient fluxes to the bay (1200 mol N d-1 and 29 mol P d-1) occurred following heavy rainfall in the watershed. An extension of the study utilizing the naturally-occurring tracers Rn and Ra, to verify the groundwater discharge estimates, and the results of preliminary 222Rn surveys within the bay are also discussed Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith Faculty of Science & Sport Editor’s Note: This research was presented at the American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting, 2013