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Journal article
A Biogeochemical View of Estuarine Eutrophication: Seasonal and Spatial Trends and Correlations in the Delaware Estuary
Estuaries and coasts, Vol.32(6), pp.1023-1043
11/01/2009
Web of Science ID: WOS:000271398600001
Abstract
The Delaware River and Bay Estuary is one of the major urbanized estuaries of the world. The 100-km long tidal river portion of the estuary suffered from major summer hypoxia in the past due to municipal and industrial inputs in the urban region; the estuary has seen remarkable water quality improvements from recent municipal sewage treatment upgrades. However, the estuary still has extremely high nutrient loading, which appears to not have much adverse impact. Since the biogeochemistry of the estuary has been relatively similar for the past two decades, our multiple year research database is used in this review paper to address broad spatial and seasonal patterns of conditions in the tidal river and 120 km long saline bay. Dissolved oxygen concentrations show impact from allochthonous urban inputs and meteorological forcing as well as biological influences. Nutrient concentrations, although high, do not stimulate excessive algal biomass due to light and multiple nutrient element limitations. Since the bay does not have strong persistent summer stratification, there is little potential for bottom water hypoxia. Elevated chlorophyll concentrations do not exert much influence on light attenuation since resuspended bottom inorganic sediments dominate the turbidity. Dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved and particulate organic carbon distributions show significant variability from watershed inputs and lesser impact from urban inputs and biological processes. Ratios of dissolved and particulate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus help to understand watershed and urban inputs as well as autochthonous biological influences. Owing to the relatively simple geometry of the system and localized anthropogenic inputs as well as a broad spatial and seasonal database, it is possible to develop these biogeochemical trends and correlations for the Delaware Estuary. We suggest that this biogeochemical perspective allows a revised evaluation of estuarine eutrophication that should have generic value for understanding other estuarine and coastal waters.
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Details
- Title
- A Biogeochemical View of Estuarine Eutrophication: Seasonal and Spatial Trends and Correlations in the Delaware Estuary
- Publication Details
- Estuaries and coasts, Vol.32(6), pp.1023-1043
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 21
- Grant note
- NA83AA-D-00017 / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) - USA CX82961601-4 / Environmental Protection Agency; United States Environmental Protection Agency OCE 86-01616; OCE 0082238; OCE 0352280 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Identifiers
- WOS:000271398600001; 99380116396006600
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration and Engagement; Earth and Environmental Sciences; Office of Undergraduate Research
- Language
- English