Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is known from many coastal areas around the globe. Although recognised to be an important transport pathway for pollutants and nutrients
from groundwater aquifers into coastal waters quantifying SGD is still difficult. Recent studies suggest SGD to contribute much more to total fresh water runoff and
in particular to the exchange of solutes than previously assumed.
A multidisciplinary approach was chosen for the EU project "Sub-GATE" for investigating different phenomena associated with SGD in the main target area Eckernförde Bay (Western Baltic): Beside a qualitative, process-oriented understanding obtained by geological, biological, and geochemical field work discharge rates are to be quantified by isotope methodes as well as by a groundwater supply model over the catchment area and diagenetic modelling
