南通近岸海域水质特征的因子及聚类分析研究

基于2012年5月、8月和10月3个航次水质环境调查资料,利用因子分析探讨南通近岸海域海水水质主要影响因素的空间分布特征;通过站位聚类分析进行了区域类别划分,并对各区的主要影响因素及其季节变化进行了分析。因子分析结果显示,南通近岸海域主要存在4种水质影响因素,总体表现为受近岸污染源的控制影响,其中F1(NO-2-N、石油类)高值区位于冷家沙西北侧,是北上长江径流与外海水在冷家沙浅滩处相遇作用的结果;F2(DO、NO-3-N)体现了外海水进入的影响,其值由近岸向离岸逐渐增大;F3(COD、PO3-4-P)显示了河流输入的影响,F4(NH+4-N)体现了人为源的作用,两者高值区均分布于栟茶运河河口和长江口北侧。站位聚类分析显示,南通近岸海域可划分为5个类型区,其中A区(小洋口港近岸区域)受陆源河口排污影响,且所处水道尾部水文动力条件弱,污染严重;B区(烂沙洋海域)受西侧相邻的河口排污区和近岸污染影响,在主要潮汐通道的强动力作用下,污染程度较轻;C区(冷家沙区域)为B、D两区之间的潮滩区,受到B、D两区域污染的综合影响;D区(冷家沙南侧近岸海域)主要受近岸污染影响,为小庙洪和网仓洪的强动力控制区;长江入海携带污染物及水流扰动对E区(东南部离岸海域)有一定干扰。不同空间类型分区体现了区域动力地貌在海洋污染物分布中的强烈影响。     

基于时空矩阵方法对福建省海湾水质变化特征分析

基于2005—2011年8月和2012—2015年5月、8月的水质监测数据，应用水质指标的主成分分析结果，对福建省海湾划分环境单元，通过时空矩阵方法对福建省海湾水质指标变化特征进行了分析。结果显示:（1）通过主成分分析，4个水质指标聚成两类成分，磷酸盐和叶绿素a聚为一类主成分，硝酸盐和溶解氧聚为另一类主成分；（2）以主成分权重值为坐标，划分福建省海湾表层水体为6个环境单元，以此建立水质指标相对含量的时间序列组合矩阵，对福建省海湾水质指标变化分析；（3）水质指标时空矩阵表现出一定的周期性变化趋势，环境单元的指标变化模式具有同步性，指标含量变化的绝对值从叶绿素a到营养盐再到溶解氧呈轻微增长；（4）两类主成分具有一定相关性，营养水平高低影响营养-浮游植物动态关系，当磷酸盐含量高于0.03 mg/L、硝酸盐含量高于0.25 mg/L，且营养盐时间周期变化显著时，叶绿素a时间周期变化与营养盐发生同步联动效应；（5）夏季福建省海湾水体生产力较低，大量陆源有机物输入、降解耗氧，表层溶解氧含量降低明显；（6）福建省海湾主要受两种性质差异很大的水体影响，富含高营养盐径流水团影响了河口及邻近海域的环境单元，而福建省南部海湾主要受台湾暖流及上升流影响，台湾暖流是东海海域磷酸盐的重要来源。     

Water quality in New Zealand rivers: current state and trends

River water quality, particularly in lowland catchments, is a matter of concern to the New Zealand public. We assessed river water quality and biological state and trends using data from more than 900 monitoring sites. Parallel state and trend analyses were carried out using all sites and a subset of lowland river sites. Median water-quality state in urban and pastoral land-cover classes was poorer than in exotic forest and natural land-cover classes, and lowland sites in the urban and pastoral classes had the poorest water quality. Nutrient and Escherichia coli concentrations increased and visual clarity and Macroinvertebrate Community Index scores decreased as proportions of catchments in high-intensity agricultural and urban land cover increased. Ten-year trends (2004–2013) indicated recent improvements in ammoniacal nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus in the pastoral and urban classes, possibly reflecting improved land management. In contrast, trends in nitrate-nitrogen in the exotic forest and cool-dry/pastoral classes indicated worsening conditions.     

Water quality and thermal regime of the Motueka River: Influences of land cover,geology and position in the catchment

We examined the effects of land use, geology, and longitudinal position within the river network on water quality and thermal regime at 23 sites within the Motueka River catchment. The concentrations of suspended solids, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter were higher at sites draining pastoral and horticultural land than in similar‐sized native or plantation forest streams. Average daily mean temperature and minimum temperature in summer and maximum winter temperature were higher in unshaded pastoral and horticultural streams than at native forest sites. Differences in water quality and thermal regime were also observed among sites with contrasting geology. Conductivity, pH, and minimum winter temperatures were highest at sites draining marble terrain. In contrast, longitudinal patterns in water quality and temperature regime along the 120‐km length of the river were relatively weak, although longitudinal patterns in amplitude of daily temperature fluctuation matched theoretical predictions. In this study, differences in land use appeared to have the strongest influence on most water quality and thermal variables examined. However, geology was an important factor explaining variation in certain variables (e.g., pH and conductivity). Longitudinal patterns in water quality and temperature were relatively weak and in many instances were linked with longitudinal patterns in land use and geology rather than catchment location alone.     

Processes influencing iron distribution in the coastal waters of the Tsugaru Strait,Japan

We report measurements of iron, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, humic-type fluorescence intensity and chlorophyll a concentrations in the coastal waters at the inflow (western) and outflow (eastern) ends of Tsugaru Strait (Japan) in June 2003 and 2004. Two different water masses (intensive eastward flow “subtropical Tsugaru Warm Current Water (TWCw)” and weak westward flow “subarctic Oyashio Water (OW)”) were observed at the eastern end of the strait. TWCw at the southern part of the eastern strait was vertically homogeneous with a uniform concentrations of iron (0.7–1.1 nM for labile dissolved Fe and 14–20 nM for total dissolvable Fe in 2003) as well as other chemical, biological and physical components throughout the water column of 200 m due to strong vertical mixing in the strait. The degree of mixing in the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) is predominantly affected by diurnal tidal current, which is strong during the period of tropical tides and weak during the period of equinoctial ones. The especially strong vertical water mixing in 2003 is caused by large dissipation energy input due to the bottom friction of passage-flow through the strait and tidal current. At the northern part of the eastern strait, the fresh surface layer overlying the OW and the deep-bottom waters in 2003 contained large concentrations of dissolved iron, resulting from iron supplied from river runoff and shelf sediments, respectively. These results suggest that the most important mechanism for transporting iron in the strait is the strong vertical water mixing due to the tidal current, and that the iron sources in the coastal waters are the organic-associated, iron-rich freshwater input into the surface water.     

基于改进的RCA水质模型对珠江口夏季缺氧及初级生产力的数值模拟研究

针对珠江口藻类生长受泥沙遮光限制明显的问题, 对RCA(row and column of Aesop)三维水质模型进行改进, 加入泥沙模块及悬沙遮光对藻类生长的限制作用。应用改进的RCA水质模型, 对珠江口的营养盐、浮游植物及溶解氧进行模拟研究, 结果显示, 改进的RCA水质模型较好地再现了洪季珠江口营养盐、浮游植物和溶解氧在水平及垂向上的空间分布, 这表明该水质模型能较好地反映珠江河口中生态因子的关键过程。珠江口的缺氧现象在物理和生化过程的共同作用下, 被限制在伶仃洋的西滩和中滩及磨刀门海域。在洪季, 大量冲淡水进入珠江口形成锋面, 颗粒态有机物(particulate organic matter, POM)在锋面的影响下, 大量集中沉降在伶仃洋的西滩及中滩特定区域及磨刀门外, 产生较高的底泥耗氧率(sediment oxygen demand, SOD)。而在高SOD的区域, 水体分层通常也较明显, 因而产生缺氧现象。另一方面, 伶仃洋水体中磷的限制作用明显, 加上悬浮泥沙的遮光作用, 不利于浮游植物生长, 使得初级生产力低; 而在陆架上, 悬沙浓度减少使初级生产力增加, 但由于海源颗粒有机碳(particulate organic carbon, POC)的沉积分散于整个陆架上, 无法产生伶仃洋内的高SOD区域, 加上水体分层不明显, 并没有产生缺氧现象。     

Modeling water quality and hypoxia dynamics in Upper Charlotte Harbor,Florida, U.S.A. during 2000

Hypoxia has occurred in Upper Charlotte Harbor, a shallow (∼3 m) estuary in Southwest Florida, during moderate to high freshwater flows from the Peace and Myakka Rivers and after hurricanes, due to nutrient loading and vertical stratification. This paper studies the annual hypoxia and water quality dynamics in Upper Charlotte Harbor in 2000, using CH3D-IMS, an integrated modeling system which includes coupled models of circulation, wave, sediment transport, and water quality. The CH3D-IMS simulations showed that bottom-water hypoxic conditions occur during periods with relatively steady moderate to high (5–40 m³/s) freshwater inflows and sediment oxygen demand (SOD). During periods of relatively steady moderate to high river discharge, strong vertical salinity stratification results in reduced vertical mixing which prevents surface water from supplying dissolved oxygen (DO) to bottom water where SOD continuously consumes DO. There was significant temporal fluctuation of the hypoxic water volume, as a result of significant temporal variation in vertical turbulent mixing associated with combinations of spring-neap tides and river discharge. The validated modeling system could be used to forecast hypoxia.     

Community volunteer assessment of recreational water quality in the Hutt River,Wellington

ABSTRACT

Water is an important component of many recreational opportunities and New Zealand invests significant resources in recreational water quality (RWQ) monitoring to assess risks to public health. However, monitoring primarily focuses on microbiological hazards and RWQ is considerably broader than this. The goal of this study was to take a comprehensive approach to evaluating RWQ while exploring the potential for greater public involvement in monitoring. A popular river swimming site was co-monitored weekly by volunteers and a council field officer. The attributes monitored–water temperature, visual clarity, benthic cyanobacteria and filamentous periphyton cover, E. coli and rubbish–were identified from a volunteer workshop. There was good concordance between volunteer and council data suggesting that volunteer measurements can be considered reliable. This highlights the potential for volunteers, with professional support, including training and quality assurance, to extend council RWQ surveillance to additional monitoring sites while improving public engagement on water management.     

Using a digital camera for water quality measurements in Galway Bay

A method for using the red–green–blue (RGB) digital output from a digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 885, to estimate water quality parameters is described. To eliminate reflection from the water surface, a tube is fitted around the camera lens which breaks the surface such that only the upwelling light from below is measured. To obtain consistency between stations, RGB values used for analysis are taken where the total cameras response (R + G + B) is a constant value, derived from pictures taken at a range of exposures.The method has been successfully used in Galway Bay, where the optical characteristics of the coastal water are dominated by yellow substance (or coloured dissolved organic material – CDOM) and chlorophyll. A strong linear relationship was found between CDOM and the Red/Blue camera output. The form of the relationship was consistent with previous measurements using more conventional narrow band irradiance sensors. In addition, a log–log relationship between chlorophyll and the Green/Blue camera output was also found. Some problems exist with the use of the camera, particularly with the cameras automatic functions such as ‘white balance’ which may artificially change the RGB output. Nevertheless, the use of a camera for simple water quality measurements has been demonstrated.     

The vertical attenuation of light in Charlotte Harbor, a shallow, subtropical estuary, south-western Florida

The relative contribution of different components to the attenuation of photosynthetically active radiation was determined in the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system based on laboratory and in situ measurements. Agreement between laboratory and in situ measurements of the attenuation coefficient (k_t) was good (r² = 0·92). For all in situ measurements (n = 100), suspended, non-chlorophyll matter accounted for an average of 72% of k_t, dissolved matter accounted for 21%, suspended chlorophyll for 4%, and water for the remaining 3%.For individual determinations, suspended non-chlorophyll matter, dissolved matter, suspended chlorophyll, and water, each accounted for as much as 99%, 79%, 21%, and 18% of k_t. Attenuation by suspended matter was greatest near the mouth of the northern tidal rivers and was variable over the rest of the estuarine system. Attenuation by dissolved matter was greatest in the brackish tidal rivers and decreased with increasing salinity. Attenuation due to dissolved matter was positively correlated with water color. The source of the color was basin runoff. Wavelength transmittance changed along the salinity gradient. Maximum transmittance shifted from 500 to 600 nm in gulf waters to 650 to 700 nm in colored, brackish waters. Dissolved matter was primarily responsible for the large attenuation at short wavelengths (400–500 nm).     

珠江口河网水体非光学活性水质参数高光谱反演

以粤港澳大湾区中山市及其邻近水域河网水体为试验区, 同步采集现场光谱及水质数据, 研究受测水体的高光谱反射率特征, 并分析非光学活性参数中化学需氧量(COD_Cr)、总磷(TP)浓度与高光谱反射率的相关性。结果显示, 各河流水体光谱反射率主要受悬浮颗粒物和叶绿素a的影响; 在500~680nm波段范围内, 水体光谱反射率大小与COD_Cr、TP浓度呈负相关关系; 与单波段相比, 特定波段的反射率比值与COD_Cr、TP浓度值的相关性较高, 与COD_Cr、TP浓度值相关性最高的反射率比值波段组合分别为R₆₇₅/R₇₉₄、R₆₉₀/R₈₁₅。选择上述波段组合建立的水质反演模型具有良好的估算精度, 模型估算平均相对误差分别为27.2%、32.1%, 表明高光谱技术在珠江口河网水体非光学活性参数COD_Cr、TP浓度反演上具有较大的应用潜景。     

Water quality and phytoplankton communities in Lake Pontchartrain during and after the Bonnet Carré Spillway opening,April to October 2008, in Louisiana,USA

The Bonnet Carré Spillway, located 28 miles northwest of New Orleans, was constructed in the early 1930s as part of an integrated flood-control system for the lower Mississippi River system. From 11 April to 8 May 2008, Mississippi River water was diverted through the spillway into the 629-square-mile Lake Pontchartrain, which is hydraulically connected to the Gulf of Mexico. On 8 April, prior to the opening of the spillway, water-quality instruments were deployed and recorded hourly measurements of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, and nitrate. Discrete water-quality and phytoplankton (algae) samples were collected in Lake Pontchartrain from 8 April to 3 October 2008 to assess the water-quality nutrient enrichment effects of the diversion on the lake. The maximum influence of river water in the southern portion of the lake was captured with continuous (hourly) monitoring of nitrate concentrations, and field measurements such as of specific conductance during the critical period in late April to early May. By late May, the deployed instruments had recorded the arrival, peak, and decline of selected constituents associated with the freshwater influx from the Mississippi River/Bonnet Carré Spillway diversion. The continuous monitoring data showed the short-term interactions of high-nitrate, low-specific conductance river water and low-nitrate, high-specific conductance lake water. The phytoplankton community composition, as an indicator of water quality, illustrated an extended response from the river water evident even after the continuous and discrete samples indicated that the lake had returned to pre-diversion conditions. The initial phytoplankton community response to nutrient increases was related to accumulations of diatoms. During periods of low nutrient concentrations, accumulations of blue-greens occurred by July and August. As blue-green algae cell densities and biovolumes increased in the summer, so did the species richness of blue-green algae, particularly the harmful algae bloom taxa. Cell densities and biovolume of the phytoplankton lake indicator taxa Skeletonema costatum, Anabaena sp., and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii were highest and dominated the diatom and blue-green algae communities during the period of most river water influence on the lake and immediately following the freshwater inflows. The dominance and recession of these indictor taxa reflect the dramatic changes that occurred in the phytoplankton community in response to an increase in nutrient-rich freshwater from the diversion into the lake, and not normal seasonal phytoplankton compositional differences. Water-quality data indicated a gradual reversion to pre-diversion lake conditions by June to July, but shifts in the phytoplankton composition were still evident through August 2008. Observations from this study were similar to results from previous studies of Mississippi River/Bonnet Carré Spillway diversion opening in 1997.     

Tropical seagrass-associated macroalgae distributions and trends relative to water quality

Tropical coastal marine ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reef communities are undergoing intense degradation in response to natural and human disturbances, therefore, understanding the causes and mechanisms present challenges for scientist and managers. In order to protect our marine resources, determining the effects of nutrient loads on these coastal systems has become a key management goal. Data from monitoring programs were used to detect trends of macroalgae abundances and develop correlations with nutrient availability, as well as forecast potential responses of the communities monitored. Using eight years of data (1996–2003) from complementary but independent monitoring programs in seagrass beds and water quality of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), we: (1) described the distribution and abundance of macroalgae groups; (2) analyzed the status and spatiotemporal trends of macroalgae groups; and (3) explored the connection between water quality and the macroalgae distribution in the FKNMS. In the seagrass beds of the FKNMS calcareous green algae were the dominant macroalgae group followed by the red group; brown and calcareous red algae were present but in lower abundance. Spatiotemporal patterns of the macroalgae groups were analyzed with a non-linear regression model of the abundance data. For the period of record, all macroalgae groups increased in abundance (Ab_i) at most sites, with calcareous green algae increasing the most. Calcareous green algae and red algae exhibited seasonal pattern with peak abundances (Φ_i) mainly in summer for calcareous green and mainly in winter for red. Macroalgae Ab_i and long-term trend (m_i) were correlated in a distinctive way with water quality parameters. Both the Ab_i and m_i of calcareous green algae had positive correlations with NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, total nitrogen (TN) and total organic carbon (TOC). Red algae Ab_i had a positive correlation with NO₂⁻, TN, total phosphorus and TOC, and the m_i in red algae was positively correlated with N:P. In contrast brown and calcareous red algae Ab_i had negative correlations with N:P. These results suggest that calcareous green algae and red algae are responding mainly to increases in N availability, a process that is happening in inshore sites. A combination of spatially variable factors such as local current patterns, nutrient sources, and habitat characteristics result in a complex array of the macroalgae community in the seagrass beds of the FKNMS.     

广西北海半岛夏季营养盐及水质状况分析

近年北部湾藻华灾害频发,为了解与藻华暴发密切相关的营养盐及水质状况,2020年8月作者对北部湾北海半岛铁山港、营盘、涠洲岛、斜阳岛及涠洲岛西部远岸海域共21个站位采集表层海水,分析营养盐含量和结构特征,并利用富营养化指数和有机污染指数对该海域水质进行等级划分与评价。结果表明：北海半岛海域DIN、PO₄-P和SiO₃-Si均值分别为0.210、0.021和0.270 mg/L。其中,铁山港营养盐由港内至港外呈递减趋势,营盘海域由近岸至远岸,DIN和SiO₃-Si含量先递减再增加,PO₄-P则表现为递增,涠洲岛海域及远岸各站位营养盐分布无明显特征。北海半岛海域N/P、Si/N和Si/P均值分别为11.8、1.7和14.6,显示47.6%海域为潜在N限制,而潜在P限制和Si限制海域均为9.5%;叶绿素a仅与COD显著相关,相关系数为0.475。调查海域富营养化指数均值1.82,以铁山港港内富营养化程度最高,由港内严重富营养至港外贫营养递减,营盘近岸7号站位中度富营养,其余76.2%调查站位仍处于贫营养水平;有机污染指数均值1.85,良好和较好水质共占38.1%,其余61.9%水质受到不同程度有机污染,亦以铁山港水质污染最为严重,重度污染仅在该海域发现。可见,北海半岛夏季表层海水以潜在N限制为主,铁山港和营盘近岸富营养化和有机污染较严重,其余站位基本良好,影响表层水体叶绿素a含量的主要因素是有机质,可能与海域微生物强烈降解作用相关。本研究可为北部湾海洋环境保护和赤潮研究提供基础环境数据。     

Behaviour of proteinaceous substances in the estuary of the Tama River

Behaviour of dissolved and particulate proteinaceous substances in the estuary of the Tama River was investigated through field observations and laboratory experiments. Concentrations of dissolved proteinaceous substances in estuarine water were determined at eight stations between the mouth of the Tama River (TA-15) and a point 16km upstream (TA-8), using the colorimetric method of Lowryet al. (1951) that employs Folin phenol reagent. The results were expressed in terms of Folin phenol active substances (FPAS). It was found that FPAS decreased with increasing salinity and that the proportion of high molecular weight FPAS (molecular weight greater than 100,000) decreased rapidly in the estuary.The shapes, sizes and numbers of amorphous particulate substances stained by Amido Black 10B, called Amido Black active substances (ABAS), were determined under a microscope. The numbers of ABAS retained on Millipore HA filters (mean diameter: 10–80µm) amounted to 450ml^–1 in the estuarine water about 6km from the mouth of the estuary (Station TA-12M). Some of these aggregates are considered to be producedin situ by flocculation of high molecular weight FPAS during estuarine mixing. ABAS were also produced in experiments by mixing filtered river water with sea water.     

Dissolved Vanillin as Tracer for Estuarine Lignin Conversion

Lignin is produced only by vascular plants and therefore can be used as a tracer for terrestrial organic carbon input to the estuarine and marine environments. Lignin measurements have been done by analyses of the oxidation products such as vanillin or 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde.In the Elbe Estuary, free dissolved vanillin was analysed in order to test whether such measurements yield information on terrestrial carbon inputs into the Estuary and on the vanillin derived from lignin oxidation. In the period 1990–1992, concentrations of dissolved vanillin in the Elbe ranged from 0 to 60 μg l⁻¹(mean: 8 μg l⁻¹). Higher values were found in areas of increased microbial activity such as the turbidity zone and the river mouth where the water chemistry is influenced by large tidal flats. No correlation was found between dissolved vanillin and suspended matter concentrations, although lignin is normally associated with suspended particulate matter, nor was a covariance seen between dissolved vanillin and the terrestrial carbon inputs into the Estuary. Apparently, biological conversion of lignin was faster than the transport processes, and local sources were more dominant for the vanillin concentration than riverine sources. The dissolved vanillin turnover was fast and, consequently, a significant amount of lignin may be converted within an estuary. In sediments from the Estuary, the concentrations of dissolved vanillin were similar to those found in the water phase and showed no clear vertical profile. The sediment is unlikely to be the source for vanillin.     

Effects of agricultural and urban land cover on New Zealand’s estuarine water quality

ABSTRACT

National-scale analyses of land cover effects on water quality can aid in directing environmental policy. We compiled a coastal water quality database for New Zealand comprising 320 estuarine and coastal sites with records between 2013 and 2018. Previous literature had shown strong effects of agricultural and urban land cover on the quality of New Zealand’s rivers, so we examined their effects on estuaries, while controlling for marine dilution and freshwater flushing. Sites with greater freshwater influence had higher nutrient and faecal indicator bacteria concentrations, and turbidity, indicating that open coast and estuarine water quality is reduced predominantly via flows from the land. Nitrate, ammonium, total and dissolved reactive phosphorus, and water column chlorophyll-a concentrations were greater in estuaries with higher urban land cover and total phosphorus concentrations were greater with higher agricultural land cover. There was a marginally significant increase in turbidity as agricultural land cover increased. This is the first national-scale compilation and analysis of New Zealand coastal water quality data, and the first national analysis of land cover effects on water quality in New Zealand estuaries.     

Water quality assessment at Jinhae Bay and Gwangyang Bay,South Korea

A new water quality index for evaluating the water quality of Jinhae Bay and Gwangyang Bay was developed. Four water quality parameters were selected as water quality indicators for the water quality index: dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and dissolved oxygen (DO). Reference levels of DIN, DIP, and Chl-a were determined as 6.22 μmol L^?1, 0.38 μmol L^?1, and 2.32 μmol L^?1, respectively, on the basis of a long-term dataset that was collected monthly in the Korea Strait over a period of seven years (2006–2012). The water quality index established for Jinhae Bay and Gwangyang Bay is (bottom DO grade × 0.33) + (surface Chl-a grade × 0.33) + (surface DIN grade × 0.17) + (surface DIP grade × 0.17). On the basis of a three-year observation, the water quality of Jinhae Bay was classified as “good” in winter and spring, “poor” in summer, and “fair” in autumn and exhibited large spatial variation, with the lowest-quality water observed in Masan Bay. The water quality of Gwangyang Bay was classified as “good” in winter, “fair” in spring, “poor” in summer, and “fair” in autumn. Unlike Jinhae Bay, the water quality of Gwangyang Bay exhibited minimal spatial variation. In both bays, water quality among the four seasons was worse during summer. It is essential that a survey for water quality evaluation be conducted during summer.     

Eutrophication and hypoxia in the upper Gulf of Thailand

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of eutrophication and hypoxia in the upper Gulf of Thailand from August 2014 to June 2015 based on field observation data, box model analysis, and the unscaled trophic status index (UNTRIX). Fresh water residence time derived from a simple box model was long (38.61 days) during the transition period between the southwest to northeast monsoon in September 2014. In contrast, fresh water residence time was short (2.63 days) during the late northeast monsoon in February 2015. Long residence time was related to the development of widespread strong hypoxia in near-bottom waters in over half of the gulf during the transition between the southwest and the northeast monsoon, when river discharge was also very large. UNTRIX is used to assess water trophic levels, and is based on water qualities including concentrations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP). Hypertrophic and eutrophic conditions were observed at river mouths; their seasonal eutrophication was related to river discharge and circulation. Nutrients were mainly increased by river discharge. Water column stratification and long residence time were required for the development of severe hypoxia in the study area.

     

Sediment-related water quality of small hill-country streams near Whatawhata,New Zealand. Response to integrated catchment management (ICM)

ABSTRACT

Degradation of aquatic ecosystems by fine sediment is a global environmental problem, and damages reflect particle properties as well as mass concentration. We studied sediment-related water quality (SRWQ) of small streams in hill-country near Whatawhata, NZ, that have been monitored since 1995. In 2001, an integrated catchment management (ICM) plan was implemented in the Mangaotama (originally sheep-beef) catchment – including conversion of steep headwaters to pine plantation, cattle exclusion, and native riparian plantings. The long-term SRWQ within the Mangaotama catchment was examined with reference to a nearby native-forested control catchment. Correlations between visual clarity, suspended particulate matter concentration and related variables were moderate to fairly strong. The ICM has not improved SRWQ as expected – plausibly because removal of cattle disturbance has been offset by decline in pasture ground cover under increasing shade of tree plantings. Worsening SRWQ is expected over the next several decades as channels widen towards a ‘forest’ morphology.