Factors influencing particulate matter geochemistry in the St. Lawrence estuary turbidity maximum

635 samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM), collected in the St. Lawrence river and estuary during periods of high and low river flow from a series of individual and anchor stations on a transect traversing the turbidity maximum zone, as well as two sediment box cores, were analyzed for Al, Si, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn.An abrupt change in elemental composition occurs when traversing the front at the landward edge of the turbidity maximum. As the SPM concentration increases across the front from 20–200 mg l^?1, the Ca/Al and Mg/Al ratios of the SPM increase and the Si/Al, Fe/Al and Mn/Al ratios decrease. The almost 50% decrease of the Mn/Al ratio is not related to changes in salinity. Within the turbidity maximum the tidal-averaged Si/Al, Ca/Al, Mg/Al and Fe/Al ratios of the SPM do not differ significantly from the landward to the seaward end of the turbidity zone, but on one tidal station the ratios of Si, Ca and Fe to Al are significantly lower at high river flow than at low flow. The Mn/Al ratio is insensitive to the extreme variations of either salinity (0.6–30‰) or SPM concentrations (10–480 mg l^?1) within the turbidity zone. A tendency for higher Mn/Al ratios to be associated with near-bottom SPM, observed in the center of the turbidity zone during the low river flow period, is well developed in the lower reaches of the zone.Diagenetic mobilization within the rare fine-grained bottom sediments of the turbidity maximum is responsible for changes in Mn and Fe content of particulate matter, and early settling of coarse-grained components and size sorting within the zone are responsible for other compositional changes. Local sources, desorption and precipitation are apparently of secondary importance. The depletion of both Mn and Fe in the SPM and sediment of the upper estuary implies a net seaward escape of diagenetically mobilized metal.     

中国北方四条河口的汞——以大辽河、鸭绿江、滦河、东村河为例

分别于1989年，1992年，1991年8月，1991年5月对大辽河口、鸭绿江口、滦河口、东村河口水体中总汞进行了取样和分析，其中又对大辽河口和东村河口进行了溶解态汞的分析。大辽河口和东村河口溶解态汞的含量分别为85～460ng/L和180～500ng/L，平均值分别为210和324ng/L；总汞含量分别为95～550和400～1000ng/L，平均值分别为310和640ng/L。大辽河河流段和河口段溶解态汞和颗粒态汞是主要存在形式。河口溶解态汞和颗粒态汞随氯度变化趋势相似。东村河口溶解态汞约占50%。鸭绿江口和滦河口总汞含量分别为30～2500和3700～6700ng/L，平均值分别为700和5700ng/L。鸭绿江口总汞随氯度变化趋势与随浊度变化趋势一致。而在滦河口总汞含量随两者变化趋势则不同。还讨论了滦河口、东村河口、鸭绿江口和大辽河口汞的污染程度。     

The geochemistry of trace metals in the Brazos River estuary

A seasonal study of trace metal behavior and transport in the Brazos River estuary was conducted in the winter, spring and fall of 1981. Surface water was analyzed for total dissolved Pb, Cu, Mn and Fe, and particulate Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn and Fe. Ancillary data included river discharge, total suspended matter, pH, major ions, nutrients, dissolved and particulate organic carbon and humic acid.The major ions were generally conservative across the river water-seawater mixing zone; however, a significant input of alkalinity and Ca was measured in the spring, attributable to cation exchange on clays and sediment diagenetic processes. Distinct concentration maxima were found in the 3–10‰ chlorinity range for dissolved Pb (0·06–0·9 nm), Cu (6–42 nm), Mn (2–290 nm) and Fe (5–80 nm). Particulate metal concentrations showed significant seasonal and spatial variations: Cd, 0·09–0·57 ppm; Pb, 15–43 ppm; Cu, 12–32 ppm; Mn, 250–1990 ppm and Fe 0·5–5·4%. Reducing conditions leading to diagenetic remobilization in estuarine sediments are proposed to be an important source of dissolved metals for estuarine water. Calculations of dissolved riverine metal transport to the ocean that include estuarine metal input are as much as 40 times greater than when estuarine processes are ignored.     

Study of fluoride in polluted and unpolluted estuarine environments

Mindhola River estuary, which receives industrial waste containing high concentrations of fluoride, and Purna River estuary, which is free from fluoride contamination, have been investigated. While fluoride behaved conservatively in Purna River estuary, significant deviation from the theoretical dilution line (TDL) in the chlorinity range 0·5–8‰ was observed in Mindhola River estuary due to the externally added fluoride which largely remained in solution. The excess of fluroide over the theoretically calculated value was at a maximum around a chlorinity of 3‰. High natural fluoride content of the river waters resulted in F/Cl ratios exceeding 300 × 10⁻⁵ at low chlorinities. The ratio decreased rapidly with increasing chlorinity and the value near to that of seawater was observed at chlorinities above 14‰.     

Cultural eutrophication in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) plume: History and perspective

The Changjiang (Yangtze River) is known to contribute significantly to the eutrophication that has caused drastic changes to the ecosystem of the East China Sea. However, evidence for historical changes in nutrient concentrations and composition and the consequent effects on the ecosystem in the coastal water is sparse. In this paper we present some long-term data for nutrient concentrations and Si:N:P ratios in the freshwater and the river plume and the long-term response of the ecosystem structure in the river plume. These data reveal increases in the dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate concentrations in the Changjiang freshwater by a factor of five from the1960s to the end of the 1990s and a reduction in dissolved silicate by two thirds over the same period. Concomitantly, an increase in DIN concentration and a reduction in silicate concentration both by a factor of two were observed in the surface water of the Changjiang plume. As an ecological consequence to such nutrient changes, the chlorophyll a concentration increased by a factor of four since the 1980s and harmful algal blooms increased rapidly since 1985 in the Changjiang estuary and adjacent sea areas. The macrozoobenthic biomass decreased sharply from the mid 1980s to the present, suggesting that the Changjiang estuary has been in a high eutrophication state since that time. We predict that, due to the continuously increasing nutrient pressure, the symptoms of eutrophication associated with nutrients will worsen in the Changjiang plume in the near future.     

Nutrient concentrations and fluxes in the Changjiang Estuary during summer

In June 2003 and 2006 concentrations of nutrient were determined in the Changjiang Estuary. The data indicated that phosphate and nitrate did not behave conservatively in the estuary, but silicate behaved conservatively. An important mobilization of phosphate and nitrate was observed from the river up to halfway in the estuary. Both input flux (from river to estuary) and output flux (from estuary to coastal zone) of phosphate, silicate and nitrate were calculated from statistical interpretations of the salinity profiles. There was a large discrepancy between input and output fluxes of phosphate and nitrate. The river fluxes of silicate, phosphate and nitrate (f_r) are augmented 5.3%, 28.9% and 36.6% in June 2003 and 1.0%, 62.5%, 31.7% in June 2006 by internal inputs (f_i). The phosphate and nitrate fluxes are enhanced through the estuarine process, while silicate flux is unaltered. The authors present some long-term data for nutrient concentrations and the ratios of silicon to nitrogen to phosphorus in the Changjiang Estuary. Silicate level falled in the last two decades, while concentration of nitrate increased. Phosphate concentration had no significant change.     

Concentration du chrome dans deux profils de l'ocean pacifique

Determination of total chromium on two profiles and chromium III on four samples of equatorial Pacific Ocean water have been carried out using coprecipitation of chromium from sea water with hydrous iron oxides, followed by ion-exchange separation and isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Results for two Pacific profiles show increasing total chromium concentration from surface to 250 m. The Cr concentration appears to be different below 1,000 m, with nearly homogeneous concentrations for the first profile and regularly increasing Cr concentrations from 0.330 to 0.550 μg/l at 3,900 m for the second one. Results for Cr(III) show that trivalent species are dominant in these samples.     

九龙江河口区营养盐分布特征及其影响因素分析

根据2009、2010年"丰水期"和"枯水期"四航次九龙江河口混合区的调查资料,且结合历史资料对营养盐含量及分布特征、周日变化特征进行了统计和相关分析,研究了九龙江流域营养盐输入海洋的变化过程,探讨九龙江河口营养盐伴随潮汐变化,以及河口混合过程中的生物地球化学行为。调查期间溶解无机氮、硅和磷含量的平面分布呈现出由径流冲淡水高值向河口外海端递减的变化趋势;在涨潮时,河口区感潮段高溶解无机氮、硅、磷营养盐的陆源冲淡水与低溶解无机氮、硅、磷营养盐外海水相遇,随着外海水的侵入,外海水的作用逐渐加强,在稀释混合过程中呈现出无机营养盐逐步降低的变化趋势,退潮时则相反;营养盐在这复杂的河口过程中往往表现出在水动力的作用下稀释混合是主要过程,无机氮和活性硅酸盐在河口稀释混合过程中呈现保守性特征,活性磷酸盐在河口转移(补充)过程的行为复杂化,呈现缓冲作用为主。     

Rare earth elements in suspended and bottom sediments of the Mandovi estuary, central west coast of India: Influence of mining

Rare earth elements (REEs) in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Mandovi estuary indicated that the mean total-REEs (∑REE) and light REE to heavy REE ratios are lower than that of the average suspended sediment in World Rivers and Post-Archean average Australian shale. High ∑REE were associated with high SPM/low salinity and also with high SPM/high salinity. Although the ∑REE broadly agree with SPM levels at each station, their seasonal distributions along transect are different. SPM increased seaward in the estuary both during the monsoon and pre-monsoon, but consistently low at all stations during the post-monsoon. The mean ∑REE decreased marginally seaward and was <25% at sea-end station than at river-end station. Spatial variations in ∑REE are maximum (64%) during the pre-monsoon. Strong to moderate correlation of ∑REE with Al, Fe and Mn in all seasons indicates adsorption and co-precipitation of REEs with aluminosilicate phases and Fe, Mn-oxyhydroxides. The ratio of mean ∑REE in sediment/SPM is low during the monsoon (1.27), followed by pre-monsoon (1.5) and post-monsoon (1.62). The middle REE- and heavy REE-enriched patterns with positive Ce and Eu anomalies are characteristic at every station and season, both in SPM and sediment. They also exhibit tetrad effect with distinct third and fourth tetrads. Fe-Mn ore dust is the most dominant source for REEs. However, the seasonal changes in the supply of detrital silicates, Fe-Mn ore dust and particulates resuspended from bottom sediments diluted the overall effect of salinity on fractionation and distribution of REEs in the estuary.     

A study on chemical forms of heavy metals in the sediments of Zhujiang River and its estuary

The five chemical bound forms of Fe, Al and Mn in sediments in the main channel of the Zhujiang River.and its estuary, namely, exchangeable, carbonic, oxidative, organic and residual (in crystal) forms, were determined. The method of sequential extraction was used for separating the five bound forms.The main chemical form of the three elements in the sediments of the Zhujiang River and its estuarine zone is the residual one. The exchangeable form exists only in a small fraction.Correlationships between the concentration of a certain form of heavy metals and Eh. pH and salinity were discussed. The principles of geochemistry are used to explain the mechanism of heavy metal transport in the river.It was also found that the distribution rule of the chemical forms of Fe, Al and Mn in sediments in the lower reaches of the Zhujiang River was similar to the one in the lower reaches of the Yamaska River.     

Dissolved Aluminum in the Upper St. Lawrence Estuary

The concentrations of dissolved aluminum (Al) in the upper St. Lawrence Estuary were determined during periods of high and intermediate river-discharge. Laboratory experiments simulating estuarine processes were also conducted in order to examine possible mechanisms controlling the Al distribution. During the high river-discharge, the Al concentration at river end-member was 1.63 µM and decreased exponentially with increasing salinity. An almost complete removal of dissolved Al was observed in the low salinity area up to 10 with an intensive removal in the turbidity maximum zone. Principal mechanisms responsible for the Al removal inferred from the laboratory experiments were flocculation and adsorption onto suspended particulate matter (SPM). During the intermediate river-discharge, the Al concentration was 0.72 µM at the river end-member and again decreased with increasing salinity. However, the removal was less pronounced, being only about 25%. Good fits with model predictions and laboratory experiments suggest that principal removal mechanisms were authigenic aluminosilicate formation and adsorption onto SPM. In the upper St. Lawrence Estuary, Al distribution is controlled by a combination of three removal mechanisms: flocculation, authigenic aluminosilicate formation, and adsorption. Each mechanism can become a dominant factor depending on the concentration level and speciation of dissolved Al in the river water.     

The influence of catchment management on salinity,nutrient stochiometry and phytoplankton biomass of Eastern Cape estuaries,South Africa

Three estuaries with differing catchment use and freshwater input were investigated in terms of their nutrient status, phytoplankton biomass, freshwater inflow and salinity between 1993 and 1995. The nutrients analysed include phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and total particulate nitrogen. All the parameters were investigated for their relationship with land-use and freshwater abstraction. The Kromme River catchment area is relatively pristine, the river is impounded for ca. 133% of its mean annual runoff, and consequently, freshwater input into the estuary is only episodic. Nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations are low, but become elevated when freshwater does reach the estuary. The Geelhoutboom tributary contributes nutrients to the Kromme estuary during high freshwater inflow conditions, but is not a viable nutrient contributor during low flow conditions. Freshwater abstraction from the Swartkops River catchment is limited, and it is characterised by urbanisation and industrial development. The Swartkops River was the main source of phosphate in the estuary, whereas other small tributaries along the estuary were additional point sources for nitrate, ammonia and nitrite. The third system, the Sundays estuary, has no tributaries or other point sources except the Sundays River, where the catchment is extensively used for agriculture and freshwater input relatively high. The phytoplankton biomass (in terms of chlorophyll-a) was highest in the Sundays estuary, although phosphate concentrations were as low as in the Kromme estuary. Trends over time indicated a decrease in phosphate concentrations and showed variations for inorganic dissolved nitrogen concentrations since the previous 15 years in all the three estuaries. Nutrient stochiometry had changed in favour of inorganic dissolved nitrogen.     

Dynamics of the turbidity maximum zone in a macrotidal estuary (the Gironde,France): Observations from field and MODIS satellite data

Over a 1-year period, field and satellite measurements of surface water turbidity were combined in order to study the dynamics of the turbidity maximum zone (TM) in a macrotidal estuary (the Gironde, France). Four fixed platforms equipped with turbidity sensors calibrated to give the suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration provided continuous information in the upper estuary. Full resolution data recorded by the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors onboard the Terra and Aqua satellite platforms provided information in the central and lower estuary twice a day (depending on cloud cover). Field data were used to validate a recently developed SPM quantification algorithm applied to the MODIS ‘surface reflectance’ product. The algorithm is based on a relationship between the SPM concentration and a reflectance ratio of MODIS bands 2 (near-infrared) and 1 (red). Based on 62 and 75 match-ups identified in 2005 with MODIS Terra and Aqua data, the relative uncertainty of the algorithm applied to these sensors was found to be 22 and 18%, respectively.Field measurements showed the tidal variations of turbidity in the upper estuary, while monthly-averaged MODIS satellite data complemented by field data allowed observing the monthly movements of the TM in the whole estuary. The trapping of fine sediments occurred in the upper estuary during the period of low river flow. This resulted in the formation of a highly concentrated TM during a 4-month period. With increasing river flow, the TM moved rapidly to the central estuary. A part of the TM detached, moved progressively in the lower estuary and was finally either massively exported to the ocean during peak floods or temporary trapped (settled) on intertidal mudflats. The massive export to the ocean was apparently the result of combined favorable environmental conditions: presence of fluid mud near the mouth, high river flow, high tides and limited wind speeds. The mean SPM concentration within surface waters of the whole estuary showed strong seasonal variations but remained almost unchanged on a 1-year-basis. These observations suggest that the masses of suspended sediments exported toward the ocean and supplied by the rivers were almost equivalent during the year investigated (2005). Results show the usefulness of information extracted from combined field and current ocean color satellite data in order to monitor the transport of suspended particles in coastal and estuarine waters.     

青岛近海秋末冬初悬浮颗粒物中部分金属元素的组成与影响因素研究

2008年11月末在青岛近海和胶州湾11个站点采集表层和底层海水中的悬浮颗粒物(SPM)样品,经消解后用等离子体发射光谱法测定了Al、Ca、Fe、Mg、Mn、Ti和Ba、Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Sr、V、Zn共15个金属元素以及P的含量,结合SPM和元素含量聚类分析的结果探讨了秋末冬初青岛近海SPM的来源以及金属元素组成的影响因素.SPM含量范围在1.7～16.1mg/L之间,平均为7.9 mg/L;SPM来源以陆源风化产物为主,生物生产有较小的贡献.SPM中Ti、Fe、Mn、Mg、Al、V、Co、Sr和Ni的含量相对恒定,且主要受陆源输入的控制;Ca和P除受陆源影响外,生物生产亦有附加贡献.离陆地相对较远的区域表层海水SPM中Pb、Zn和Ba、Cr、Cu的含量较高,特别是Pb和Zn的富集因子较大,可能受到了潜在的污染影响.Ti的恒定性以及与SPM的良好相关性代表着在青岛近海可用Ti作为颗粒物陆源指示元素,且优于Al.     

Estuarine behaviour of metal loads leached from coastal lowland acid sulphate soils

The estuarine behaviour of the metal load leaching from acid sulphate (AS) soils was studied in a selected river system (the V?r? River), in western Finland. Large amounts of metals were transported with the river and deposited within the estuary, causing highly elevated metal concentrations in both the sediment traps and in the underlying bottom sediments. Among the metals, there was a diverging deposition pattern where Al, Cu, La and U demonstrated a strong association with organic matter and were deposited within approximately 4 km from the river mouth. In contrast, the deposition of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn occurred when pH reached circumneutral conditions further out in the estuary. Yet other metals were not abundantly leached from the AS soils and thus not elevated in the river and estuary (Fe, Ti, Cr, V). Five separate chemical extractions indicated the geochemical speciation of the metals.     

Interstitial water trace-metal chemistry of laminated sediments from the Gulf of California,Mexico

This report presents major and minor element profiles for interstitial waters recovered from the oxygen-minimum zone of the Gulf of California. The major elements and nutrients show concentration-depth profiles typical for anoxic, laminated sediments, with sulfate-reduction occurring close to the sediment-water interface, accompanied by increases in alkalinity and ammonia. Barium is solubilized near the sediment-water interface, but decreases below 10 cm depth, showing concentrations consistent with barite solubility. The dissolved concentrations of Mn, Fe, and Al are higher in the upper part of the sedimentary column; Mn and Fe due to reduction of oxides and Al probably because of dissolution of siliceous material. In contrast, dissolved Mo, V, and Cr show concentrations increasing with depth. The strong correlation of the concentrations of Mo, V and Cr with “yellow substance” absorbance reflect the importance of dissolved organic matter for the mobility of these elements during early diagenesis.     

Variations des teneurs en Cd,Pb et Cu dans les eaux de l'estuaire maritime du St-Laurent Durant l'ete 1972

Concentrations of cadmium, lead and copper have been determined in the lower estuary of the St. Lawrence River during the summer of 1972 (from May to August). Seven sample stations distributed in the estuary have been studied. Analysis measurements have been made using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and are related to the soluble metals. The concentrations of cadmium are low and no important variations occur. Mean analysis of cadmium abundance gives a value of 1.05 μg/l. Similar variations are observed for copper and lead contents with a Cu/Pb ratio which is nearly equal to unity. Average concentrations for all the stations are 3.11 μg/l for copper and 3.48 μg/l for lead. Higher values are measured for copper and lead during the month of May and these are related to the fresh-water inflow arising from the thawing period. The lowest concentrations are observed during the months of June and July and are in correspondence with the spring period of intense primary production. The biologic-dynamic conditions affecting the concentrations of cadmium seem to be different from those affecting copper or lead contents (without considering pollution phenomena). The highest average values for copper and lead have been found on the south shore of the estuary. The values obtained in this work compared favourably with other results gathered in the neighbouring area.     

Particle Dynamics and Trace Metal Reactivity in Estuarine Plumes

Iron, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn have been determined in suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected in the estuarine plume regions of the Humber (during winter, spring and summer) and Thames (winter only). Metal concentrations (w/w) were found to increase with SPM concentration and could be defined in terms of the mixing of an ambient, slow settling population, with variable proportions of a diluent population. The end-members of the particle mixing series are fine material derived from coastal erosion, which is modified seasonally by biological production, and contaminated estuarine material which is contained within the estuarine discharge or derived from local resuspension of reworked deposits by tidal currents and wave activity. Iron-normalized metal concentrations exhibited an inverse relationship with SPM concentration in the Humber region and regression analyses enabled seasonal changes in end-member compositions to be evaluated. Since the metal:Fe ratios of the ambient population did not accord with those of local cliff samples, additional sources of metal were proposed whose importance to particle composition increases with a reduction in SPM concentration. Qualitatively, the seasonal variation of end-member compositions was consistent with (i) the coupling between redox processes occurring in the bed sediment and adsorption of metals (Mn, Cu, Zn) released from the pore waters onto ambient and diluent suspended particles in the overlying water column, and (ii) adsorption of metal (Pb) by ambient suspended particles from an extraneous (atmospheric) source. In the Thames plume, an increase in Fe-normalized metal concentrations with increasing particle concentration resulted from the mixing of end-member particles and the effects of additional metal from an internal or extraneous source were less clear, possibly because of metal desorption from suspended particles traversing the salinity gradient in the outer estuary. The processes described in this study regulate the internal cycling of trace metals in estuarine plume regions and the export of metals to neighbouring shelf sea environments.     

基于半分析方法的黄河口悬浮物浓度遥感反演

河口区的悬浮物浓度受陆源输入和水动力等其他因素的影响严重,具有重要研究意义。本文利用黄河口及其邻近区域采集的145个站位光谱数据和悬浮物(Suspended Particulate Matter,SPM)浓度数据,检验了Nechad模型、多波段准分析算法(Quasi-Analytical Algorithm,QAA)、最优化模型和半经验辐射传输模型(Semi-Empirical Radiative Transfer,SERT)在黄河口水域的适用性。结果表明,QAA561模型和Nechad561模型在低浓度水域反演结果较好,QAA655模型反演结果较差,Nechad665模型适合于低浓度水域,但反演精度低。QAA865模型和Nechad865模型在中高浓度水域的反演结果较好。SERT655模型反演精度较低。最优化模型和SERT滑动模型的反演精度较高。由于黄河口水域悬浮物浓度变化范围较大,因此,本文建立了分段QAA模型和Nechad模型。分段模型的反演结果均优于单一模型。根据误差敏感性分析可知,Nechad分段模型和QAA分段模型对于遥感反射率的50%以内的误差不敏感,稳定可靠。将分段模型应用于Landsat-8 OLI数据,获取了悬浮物浓度时空分布图。结果表明,反演结果与已有研究具有相似的分布特征。两种模型得到的悬浮物浓度在数值上存在差异,然而分布趋势在中高浓度季节有非常好的一致性。     

Sea ice,hydrological, and biological processes in the Churchill River estuary region,Hudson Bay

A conceptual scheme for the transition from winter to spring is developed for a small Arctic estuary (Churchill River, Hudson Bay) using hydrological, meteorological and oceanographic data together with models of the landfast ice. Observations within the Churchill River estuary and away from the direct influence of the river plume (Button Bay), between March and May 2005, show that both sea ice (production and melt) and river water influence the region's freshwater budget. In Button Bay, ice production in the flaw lead or polynya of NW Hudson Bay result in salinization through winter until the end of March, followed by a gradual freshening of the water column through April–May. In the Churchill Estuary, conditions varied abruptly throughout winter–spring depending on the physical interaction among river discharge, the seasonal landfast ice, and the rubble zone along the seaward margin of the landfast ice. Until late May, the rubble zone partially impounded river discharge, influencing the surface salinity, stratification, flushing time, and distribution and abundance of nutrients in the estuary. The river discharge, in turn, advanced and enhanced sea ice ablation in the estuary by delivering sensible heat. Weak stratification, the supply of riverine nitrogen and silicate, and a relatively long flushing time (∼ 6 days) in the period preceding melt may have briefly favoured phytoplankton production in the estuary when conditions were still poor in the surrounding coastal environment. However, in late May, the peak flow and breakdown of the ice-rubble zone around the estuary brought abrupt changes, including increased stratification and turbidity, reduced marine and freshwater nutrient supply, a shorter flushing time, and the release of the freshwater pool into the interior ocean. These conditions suppressed phytoplankton productivity while enhancing the inventory of particulate organic matter delivered by the river. The physical and biological changes observed in this study highlight the variability and instability of small frozen estuaries during winter–spring transition, which implies sensitivity to climate change.