Processed Continuous Resistivity Profile Data Collected in the Potomac River/Chesapeake Bay on Sept. 6, 2006

In order to test hypotheses about groundwater flow under and into Chesapeake Bay, geophysical surveys were conducted by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists on Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River Estuary in September 2006. Chesapeake Bay resource managers are concerned about nutrients that are entering the estuary via submarine groundwater discharge, which are contributing to eutrophication. The USGS has performed many related studies in recent years to provide managers with information necessary to make informed decisions about this issue. The research carried out as part of the study described here was designed to help refine nutrient budgets for Chesapeake Bay by characterizing submarine groundwater flow and discharge of groundwater beneath part of the mainstem and a major tributary, the Potomac River Estuary.

为验证切萨皮克湾下方及流入该湾的地下水流动相关假说，美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey, USGS）科研人员于2006年9月在切萨皮克湾与波托马克河河口区域开展了地球物理勘测工作。切萨皮克湾资源管理者十分担忧，通过海底地下水排泄（submarine groundwater discharge）进入河口的营养盐会加剧水体富营养化。近年来，美国地质调查局已开展多项相关研究，为管理者针对该问题制定科学决策提供必要的信息依据。本研究作为本次所述研究的组成部分，旨在通过刻画切萨皮克湾主航道部分区域及主要支流波托马克河河口下方的地下水流动与排泄特征，助力优化切萨皮克湾的营养盐收支核算。