Isaac Santos

Permeable Sediments I am currently investigating nitrogen cycling in permeable sediments using a combination field and laboratory experiments. We suspect that high primary production in nutrient-starved coral reef environments is supported by rapid organic matter recycling in permeable sediments.

Submarine Groundwater Discharge I use radionuclides as tracers of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). SGD is an important, but overlooked and invisible global source of trace elements and nutrients into the coastal ocean. Radon and radium isotopes are excellent SGD tracers as they are highly enriched in groundwaters relative to surface waters and they are conservative in seawater.

Subterranean Estuaries I am also interested in carbon and nutrient cycling in subterranean estuaries. Nutrient cycling in subterranean estuaries can be fuelled by oxygen and organic matter inputs driven into the aquifer (beach face) by tidal pumping. After accounting for biogeochemical additions into subterranean estuaries, SGD-derived nutrient fluxes can be dramatically enhanced.