Summary for Field Activity Number 06021

Area of Operations: West Falmouth Harbor, Snug Harbor, Falmouth, Massachusetts, Buzzards Bay, United States, North America, North Atlantic

Dates: July 20, 2006 to August 3, 2006

Chief scientist: John Crusius
   

Objectives: To collect shoreline groundwater samples from pre-dug cluster wells and piezometers for radioisotope analyses including radon and radium to support surface water analyses to be conducted during summer 2006 (field activity #06020).

Type of Activity: Sampling

Information to be derived: radioisotopic tracers

Summary: Shoreline drive-point piezometer and well samples of ground water were taken at different times throughout the season. On all occasions, measurements of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH were made in situ using a YSI sonde. Radon samples were collected in 250mL glass bottles and later analyzed in the laboratory. Radium samples, taken where appropriate, were filtered and weighed in situ, and brought back to the laboratory in cubitainers for later analysis. Nutrient samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory of Dr. Anne Giblin of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole (some results pending). Metals samples will be analyzed by ICP-MS. The field work was conducted as follows. On July 20, 9 sets of the aforementioned samples (radium excluded), were collected from below the subsurface of Snug Harbor using drive-point piezometers, to a maximum depth of 2m (41.60715ºN, -70.63667ºW). On July 25 and 26, this location was revisited and 6 sample sets were collected at deeper depths (maximum of 10m) in addition to 4 sample sets taken from permanent shoreline monitoring wells that were dug by researchers at the MBL Ecosystems Center (41.60687ºN, -70.63657ºW). Between July 26 and 27, a series of 10 piezometer samples were taken at the high tide mark around the perimeter of Snug Harbor, all from a depth of .5m and spaced ~100m apart, and these included some radium samples. On August 1, 5 sets of piezometer samples were collected from below the subsurface of Snug Harbor, in a site south of the previously visited one, to a maximum depth of 4m (41.60667ºN, -70.63938ºW). And on August 3, 5 more sample sets were collected from below the subsurface of a site in West Falmouth Harbor opposite the Chappaquoit Beach parking lot (41.59882ºN, -70.64622ºW).

USGS Project Number:

Contact: Laura Erban (lerban@usgs.gov)