Coupling automated radon and carbon dioxide measurements in coastal waters

Groundwater discharge could be a major, but as yet poorly constrained, source of carbon dioxide to lakes, wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters. We demonstrate how coupled radon ((222)Rn, a natural groundwater tracer) and pCO(2) measurements in water can be easily performed using commercially available gas analysers. Portable, automated radon and pCO(2) gas analysers were connected in series and a closed air loop was established with gas equilibration devices (GED). We experimentally assessed the advantages and disadvantages of six GED. Response times shorter than 30 min for (222)Rn and 5 min for pCO(2) were achieved. Field trials revealed significant positive correlations between (222)Rn and pCO(2) in estuarine waterways and in a mangrove tidal creek, implying that submarine groundwater discharge was a source of CO(2) to surface water. The described system can provide high resolution, high precision concentrations of both radon and pCO(2) with nearly no additional effort compared to measuring only one of these gases. Coupling automated (222)Rn and pCO(2) measurements can provide new insights into how groundwater seepage contributes to aquatic carbon budgets.