Ship Trackline along which Continuous Resistivity Profile Data was Collected in the Potomac River/Chesapeake Bay on Sept., 6, 2006 on USGS Cruise 06018 (RESGPSLNS_JD249.SHP)

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湾内地下水流相关假说，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，有营养物质通过海底地下水排泄（submarine groundwater discharge）进入该湾河口，此类物质正加剧水体富营养化（eutrophication）。近年来，美国地质调查局已完成多项相关研究，为管理者制定该议题的科学决策提供必要信息支撑。本项研究旨在通过刻画切萨皮克湾主干河段及主要支流波托马克河河口部分区域的海底地下水流与地下水排泄特征，优化切萨皮克湾的营养盐收支（nutrient budgets）核算工作。