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Using Low-Cost Multi-Depth Samplers to Characterize the Variability of Specific Conductance in Coastal South Florida Beaches
| Title: | Using Low-Cost Multi-Depth Samplers to Characterize the Variability of Specific Conductance in Coastal South Florida Beaches. |
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| Name(s): |
Shaver, Kyle David , author Root, Tara, Thesis advisor Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Department of Geosciences Charles E. Schmidt College of Science |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
| Date Created: | 2020 | |
| Date Issued: | 2020 | |
| Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
| Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
| Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
| Extent: | 78 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Abstract/Description: | A small body of saline rich water rests in the saturated zone between the foredune and the shoreline at certain beaches. This region is beneath the water table and the top of the fresher groundwater, known as the Upper Saline Plume (USP). The USP is significant because density driven flow and chemical fluxes between freshwater, rainwater, and seawater contribute to biogeochemical processes in the subterranean estuary (Duque et al. 2020). The occurrence of the USP has been observed along beaches that have a moderate to gentle slope, fine to medium grain size, and higher wave energy. The goal of this study was to determine if conditions for the presence of USP are consistent throughout different coastal beaches in southeast Florida while mapping the groundwater salinity across the beach. To identify the existence and delimit the boundary interface of the USP in the southeastern coast of Florida, multi–depth samplers were designed, built, and deployed along cross-shore transects at Jupiter and Gulfstream Beaches in Palm Beach County, FL. Groundwater samples were extracted along the transects to measure specific conductance. Although this study did not confirm the existence of the USP in South Florida beaches, an intermediate zone of water that is in-between the specific conductance ranges of relatively freshwater and relatively salty water was identified. Furthermore, the size of this intermediate zone was corresponded with beach slope, showing larger intermediate zones for steeper slopes and vice versa. Finally, temporal changes in the location and morphology of this intermediate zone were also identified in relation to a distinct disturbance event (Hurricane Isaias) which resulted in elevated ocean water levels. | |
| Identifier: | FA00013625 (IID) | |
| Degree granted: | Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. | |
| Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
| Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
| Subject(s): |
Beaches--Florida Freshwater Seawater Water resources--Management |
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| Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
| Sublocation: | Digital Library | |
| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013625 | |
| Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
| Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
| Host Institution: | FAU | |
| Is Part of Series: | Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections. |
