Nutrient uptake in a highly turbid estuary (the Humber, United Kingdom) and adjacent coastal waters

Surveys were conducted in April and June 1995 to quantify the uptake of dissolved nutrients in a highly turbid estuary (the Humber, United Kingdom) and to determine the factors controlling nutrient uptake rates. A combination of isotope labelling methods were used in conjunction with on-deck incubation techniques to estimate the uptake of dissolved nutrients (PO₄ ^3?, NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, and urea) in surface samples collected from coastal waters. Similarly, isotope labelling and laboratory incubgation techniques were employed to estimate dissolved nitrogen uptake (NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, and urea) in surface samples collected from the estuary mouth. Nutrient uptake rates were at the low end of ranges for coastal and estuarine environments reported in the literature. Concentrations of chlorophyll and the availability of photosynthetically active radiation were identified as potentially important factors controlling the uptake rates of nutrients. Uptake rates of dissolved nitrogen in the Humber mouth appeared to be related to the location of smapling sites. Depletion rates of dissolved nutrients in situ were estimated on the basis of integrated water column nutrient uptake rates and indicated assimilation of up to 16% of nutrients in the entire water column. Estimated depletion rates did not indicate preferential loss of any of the nutrient species investigated.     

An improved three-band semi-analytical algorithm for estimating chlorophyll-a concentration in highly turbid coastal waters: a case study of the Yellow River estuary, China

An improved three-band semi-analytical algorithm was developed for improving the performance of the three- and four-band algorithms, for chlorophyll-a concentration retrievals in the highly turbid waters of the Yellow River estuary. In this special case study of the Yellow River estuary, the optimal wavelengths of the improved three-band semi-analytical algorithm must meet the following requirements: the λ ₁ and λ ₂ must be restricted to within the range 660–690 nm, and the λ ₃ must be longer than 750 nm. The algorithm calibration and validation results indicate that the improved three-band algorithm indeed produces superior performance in comparison to both the three- and four-band algorithms in retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration from the extremely coastal waters of the Yellow River estuary. Comparing the improved three-band algorithm to the original three- and four-band algorithm, the former minimizes the influence of backscattering by suspended solids in near-infrared regions, while the three-band algorithm has a much stronger error tolerance ability than the four-band algorithm. These findings imply that if an atmospheric correction scheme for visible and near-infrared bands is available, the improved three-band algorithm may be used for quantitative monitoring of chlorophyll-a concentration in turbid coastal waters with similar bio-optical properties, although some local bio-optical information or improved models may be required to reposition the optimal band positions of the algorithm.     

Abundance of brachyuran larvae in a small coastal inlet over six consecutive tidal cycles

Brachyuran larvae were sampled every two hours at two depths in Indian River Inlet over six consecutive tidal cycles. Larvae from seven taxa were collected. Three taxa were identified at the level of species. Pinnixa spp. and Uca spp. zoeae were most common at the surface on ebbing tides and were apparently exported to coastal shelf waters. Uca spp. and Callinectes sapidus megalopae were common near the bottom on flooding tides. This would promote retention in the estuary and is consistent with previous reports in the literature. Ovalipes ocellatus, Cancer irroratus and Libinia spp. were most common on flooding tides. This suggests that a pool of these larvae existed in adjacent coastal waters, and that these larvae were carried into the inlet on flooding tides.     

Behavior of arsenic and antimony in the surface freshwater reaches of a highly turbid estuary, the Gironde Estuary, France

This study reports on the behavior of two redox-sensitive elements, As and Sb, along the turbidity gradient in the freshwater reaches of the turbid Gironde Estuary. During a 17-month survey, surface water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were sampled monthly at six sites representing both fluvial branches of the Gironde Estuary. Additionally, two longitudinal high resolution profiles were sampled along the fluvial estuary of the Garonne Branch during two contrasted seasons, i.e. with and without the presence of the maximum turbidity zone (MTZ). Seasonal variability and spatial distribution of dissolved (<0.2 μm; <0.02 μm) and particulate As, Sb and Fe were measured and combined with SPM data to understand metalloid behavior in the estuarine freshwater turbidity gradient.At the two main fluvial entries of the Gironde Estuary, dissolved As and Sb concentrations showed strong (by a factor of 2–4) seasonal variations, that were only partly controlled by discharge-related dilution. Seasonal addition of dissolved As and Sb was attributed to the degradation of particulate As and Sb carrier phases in bottom sediment and/or in the adjacent aquifers, rather than release from SPM. In the surface freshwater reaches of the Gironde Estuary, Sb behaved conservatively under all hydrological conditions. In contrast, As was strongly reactive in the presence of the MTZ, with opposite behaviors in the two fluvial branches of the estuary: in the Garonne Branch As was removed from the dissolved phase, whereas in the Dordogne Branch As was added. Redistribution of As between the dissolved and the particulate phases along the turbidity gradient in estuarine freshwater only affected the <0.02 μm fraction, as the 0.02–0.2 μm fraction remained constant (300 ng L⁻¹ in September 2005). Accordingly, As removal seemed to be decoupled from concomitant “colloidal” (0.02–0.2 μm) Fe flocculation in the turbidity gradient. The contrasting behavior of dissolved As in the fluvial estuaries of the Garonne and Dordogne Branches was attributed to sorption processes during equilibration of river-borne dissolved As with estuarine SPM forming the MTZ. This equilibrium, described by a distinct distribution coefficient K_d(As)  11,000 L kg⁻¹ in the MTZ, resulted in either As release (desorption; Dordogne Branch) or removal (adsorption; Garonne Branch) in the respective fluvial estuaries. A mixing experiment under controlled laboratory conditions tended to support that equilibration between the dissolved phase and MTZ particles may induce both As release and removal in the estuarine freshwater reaches, with As distribution evolving towards a distinct K_d value for increasing SPM concentrations. The long-term survey allowed estimating annual (2004) dissolved fluxes of As and, for the first time Sb, at the main fluvial entries of the Gironde Estuary at 30.7 t a⁻¹ and 3.2 t a⁻¹ (Garonne River) and at 8.0 t a⁻¹ and 2.3 t a⁻¹ (Dordogne River), respectively.     

Remotely sensed observations of the turbidity maximum in the highly turbid Humber Estuary, UK

The Humber Estuary, UK, divides into the Ouse and Trent estuaries at the so-called Apex within its upper reaches. Remotely sensed Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) images and boat measurements were used to observe a strong turbidity maximum in the upper Humber and Ouse during a spring tide in November 1995. Surface suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations during the late ebb, as estimated from the CASI data, increased from approximately 6 to 13 g I⁻¹ moving up-estuary into the Ouse. Greater SPM concentrations (∼10 g I⁻¹) were evident in the deeper channels of the Ouse, compared with shallower areas, possibly due to faster ebb currents there and differential down-estuary advection of the turbidity maximum. Ribbons, or streaks, of lower SPM and slightly cooler waters were observed. It appears that slightly cooler and lower turbidity waters from the confluent Trent estuary remained fairly distinct for distances of approximately 2 km down-stream of its confluence with the upper Humber and Ouse. These waters eventually broke into ribbon-like or streak-like structures within the higher SPM-laden and slightly warmer waters of the Humber. They were discernible for more than 5 km down-estuary of the confluence of the Humber, Ouse, and Trent. Boat measurements showed that the turbidity maximum occurred over a fairly restricted region of the upper Humber, between about 20 to 50 km from the tidal limit at high water. The turbidity maximum’s sediment load was largely suspended in the water column during stronger currents. SPM rapidly settled close to the bed during high water and low water slack periods. At these times, SPM concentrations in a thin, near-bed layer were >60 g I⁻¹ in the turbidity maximum region of the Ouse and >30 g 1⁻¹ in the upper Humber (where channel volumes were much greater). SPM within the turbidity maximum comprised very fine-grained material and its low organic content demonstrated that the SPM was essentially mineral, clastic sediment derived originally from erosion and decay of crustal rocks.     

Suitability of GNSS for analysis of soil subsidence in Recife in a highly urbanized coastal area

Natural Hazards - Recife Metropolitan Region, in the northeast of Brazil, is formed by a coastal plain bounded by hills and by the Atlantic Ocean. Recife Metropolitan Region has about 4 million...     

Leaf litter degradation in highly turbid transitional waters: preliminary results from litter-bag experiments in the Gironde Estuary

The rates of decomposition of oak (Quercus robur) leaves have been examined using litter bags in a very high turbidity macrotidal estuary, the Gironde Estuary (S.W. France). The first experiments show a marked decrease in the decomposition rate of oak leaves at the water-sediment interface (mud-contact: anoxic conditions, reduced physical fragmentation) in comparison to the water column. The results point out the impact of hydrodynamic conditions on leaf litter degradation in such fluvio-estuarine systems. Regarding the aquatic-terrestrial linkage, our observations suggest direct changes in leaf decomposition kinetics and then, a potential delay on the recycling and transport processes of coarse particulate organic matter, especially in a context of modification of the natural water flow, due to global and land use changes.     

Size and shape sorting in a Dutch tidal inlet

A tidal inlet system with an outer tidal, delta, situated between two barrier islands along the north coast of Holland was studied for size and shape sorting. With size data different sand types can be distinguished and in individual samples distinct grain populations can be recognized in some cases. Graphs of shape values, plotted against the size intervals of samples also reveal the presence of different grain populations, together with their genetical significance. The following conclusions could be drawn. There is no sand transport directly from island to island. Sand up to 400 μm enters the tidal inlet, is sorted out in the tidal flat area and partly re-enters the sea via the outer tidal delta. On the delta, the sediment is split up again in different populations. A lag deposit is left behind on the frontal part of the delta. The rest of the sand either re-enters the tidal inlet cycle or contributes to the beach building of the next island. In the offshore environment, sand movement by wave-induced currents is restricted to the shallow zone. In deeper water, part of the sediment is relatively immobile and has preserved inherited characteristics from the early Holocene transgressive phase. In front of Ameland, fossil barrier-face deposits-are present, off Schiermonnikoog the sea floor contains old tidal channel deposits.     

The combined inelastic neutron scattering and solid state DFT study of hydrogen atoms dynamics in a highly ordered kaolinite

The dynamics of the hydrogen atoms in the highly ordered kaolinite was studied by vibrational spectroscopy based on inelastic neutron scattering method with the focus on the spectral region of 100–1,250 cm⁻¹. The experimental spectrum was interpreted by means of the solid state density functional theory calculations covering both normal mode analysis and molecular dynamics going beyond the harmonic approximation. The Al–O–H bending modes were found to be spread over the large interval of 100–1,100 cm⁻¹, with the dominant contributions located between 800 and 1,100 cm^-1. The shapes of the individual hydrogen spectra depend on the strengths of the individual interlayer O–H···O hydrogen bonds involving the inner surface hydroxyl groups. The modes assigned to the in-plane movements of the respective hydrogen atoms are well-defined and always appear on the top of the intervals of energy transfer. In contrast, the modes generated by the out-of-plane movements are spread over large intervals of energies spanning down to the region of external (lattice) modes.     

Seasonal variations in body size and fecundity in a copepod of turbid estuaries

Variations in body length, egg number and egg diameter of the calanoid copepodEurytemora herdmani Thompson & Scott in the turbid Cornwallis Estuary were followed over a year. Maximum prosome lengths (<1.0 mm) occurred in the spring as a result of development at low temperatures, and during the year prosome length was negatively correlated with water temperature of the preceding month. Clutch size was highly variable all year, with maximum values (>100 eggs/female) in May and early June. Dry weight of eggs also varied considerably over a short period of time. Summer eggs were 27% smaller than winter eggs, and it is suggested that clutch and egg size variability may be responses to food shortages. SEM observations show thatE. herdmani eggs have a frill-like coat of unknown function. It may aid in respiration by increasing surface area, or possibly protect the egg from invertebrate predation. Eggs and their membranes appear to resist digestion by the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), which feed extensively onEurytemora.     

Light scattering in jadeite melt: Strain relaxation measurements by photon correlation spectroscopy

Photon correlation spectroscopy has been applied to the study of longitudinal strain relaxation of vitreous Jadeite (NaAlSi₂O₆) in the temperature range 811–1014° C. The correlation function $\left| {g^{\left( 1 \right)} \left. {\left( t \right)} \right|^2 \propto \exp \left( {\left( { - 2t/\tau _\beta } \right)^\beta } \right)} \right.$ obeys a Kohlrausch type function with β=0.64±0.01. Individual correlation functions fit altogether a master relaxation curve, thus demonstrating thermorheological simplicity (TRS). The temperature dependence of the measured relaxation times shows Arrhenian behaviour with $\log \left( \tau \right) = - 21.4 \pm 0.3{\text{s}} {\text{ + }} {\text{471}}{\text{.6}} \pm {\text{22}} {\text{kJmol}}^{{\text{ - 1}}} /RT$ . The time scale of longitudinal strain relaxation is consistent with the existing data on shear relaxation derived from shear viscosity and structural relaxation calculated from calorimetric C _pmeasurements. Comparison with oxygen diffusion indicates that network forming elements relax at about the same time scale as viscoelastic properties. On the other hand, Na⁺ relaxation times derived from impedance spectroscopy are short compared to viscoelastic relaxation times at low temperatures. This difference is decreasing with increasing temperature and possibly disappearing at approximately 1100° C.     

Factors affecting the groundwater chemistry in a highly urbanized coastal area in Hong Kong: an example from the Mid-Levels area

Coastal areas of Hong Kong Island are one of the most extensively urbanized areas in the world. Groundwater samples in natural slopes and developed spaces in the regions centered by the Mid-Levels area, Hong Kong Island, were collected and analyzed to investigate the natural and anthropogenic processes affecting the groundwater chemistry. The results presented may be of value to other coastal areas in the world for the identification of possible groundwater contamination sources. Groundwater samples in the natural slopes were in low total dissolved solid (TDS) (<100 mg/l), indicating that the waters were in the early evolutionary stage. Using chloride as a normalizing factor, the “non-marine” components of different major ions in the samples were calculated. The correlation analysis indicated the occurrence of weathering of plagioclase feldspars in the natural slopes. However, the breakdown of biotite and K-feldspar seems to be limited by short groundwater residence time and high resistance to weathering. The high variety in hydrochemical facies may suggest the presence of extremely heterogeneous subsurface geological conditions. In the developed spaces, groundwater samples exhibited a high range of TDS (~100–5300 mg/l) and were mainly dominated by Na–Cl and Na–Ca–Cl water types. Besides water-rock interactions, the groundwater chemistry was significantly affected by leakage from service pipes and the dissolution of concrete materials. Some chemicals were used as signatures to identify the leakage from various service pipes. The area generally suffered from widespread, but small amount of leakages, and no obvious leakage was discovered. The strong correlations among major cations and chloride suggested that even a small amount of leakage from salty flushing water pipes can significantly affect the groundwater chemistry. Groundwater is found to be highly aggressive toward concrete as supported by three commonly used aggressiveness indices. Additional Ca²⁺ may be released to groundwater by corrosion of subsurface concrete materials such as building foundations and basements. The strength of those subsurface engineering structures may be weakened. Besides, excess Ca²⁺ may deposit in the dewatering systems in the area, which may affect their performance in lowering high water tables. The findings regarding leakage from service pipes will be useful for various government organizations such as the Water Supplies Department and Drainage Services Department. Discussion of the behavior of Ca²⁺ is instructional to foundation and slope dewatering designs in the area.     

Aircraft multispectral remote sensing of suspended sediments in a turbid macrotidal environment

Aircraft multispectral visible data were collected in the Bay of Fundy, a turbid macrotidal environment. Measurements were made at two altitudes and were atmospherically corrected to give above-surface reflectance values. The variance in long wavelength reflectance data could be explained by the logarithm of suspended sediment concentrations in the water. Variance in short wavelength reflectance data could not be directly related to any measured parameter but was believed to originate from instrumentation noise. High intercorrelation between water quality parameters meant that only the suspended sediment information could be extracted from the multispectral aircraft data. The reflectance measurements at 660 nm could explain 92% of the variance in the logarithm of suspended sediment concentration, and up to an additional 3% of variance could be explained by using a reflectance ratio of wavelength 660 to 573 nm or by using the first rotated vector of a principal component analysis.     

Mobilization of trace metals in a tropical turbid estuary influenced by a monsoon season

The selective removal of trace metals by suspended matter in high turbidity zones plays a major role in the fluvial transport of terrigenous metals to the marine environment. The seasonal longitudinal variability of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Mn) in Cochin estuary, a tropical positive estuary, was studied and the results were compared with the prevailing situation in other subtropical waterways. The hydrodynamical features showed increasing turbidity downstream with increasing salinities during both the seasons. In contrast with the temperate estuaries where the development of turbidity maxima causes the removal of metals, the estuaries of tropics modify the fluvial transport of metals by the way of redistribution between the dissolved and particulate fractions in the intermediate salinities. In Cochin estuary, the distributional features of trace metals are primarily influenced by the variations in salinities and river discharges. Consequently, this gives rise to two different types of distributional patterns: (1) during premonsoon, the estuarine reactivity is more pronounced and hence, mid-estuarine solubilization of the particulate metal appears to play a prominent role in controlling the fluxes of trace metals studied and (2) but during monsoon, the hydrological conditions influence the downstream transport of the metals more by physical dilution than chemical reactivity.     

Geophysical characterization of the complex dynamics of groundwater and seawater exchange in a highly stressed aquifer system linked to a coastal lagoon (SE Spain)

Anthropogenic pressure influences the two-way interactions between shallow aquifers and coastal lagoons. Aquifer overexploitation may lead to seawater intrusion, and aquifer recharge from rainfall plus irrigation may, in turn, increase the groundwater discharge into the lagoon. We analyse the evolution, since the 1950s up to the present, of the interactions between the Campo de Cartagena Quaternary aquifer and the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain). This is a very heterogeneous and anisotropic detrital aquifer, where aquifer–lagoon interface has a very irregular geometry. Using electrical resistivity tomography, we clearly identified the freshwater–saltwater transition zone and detected areas affected by seawater intrusion. Severity of the intrusion was spatially variable and significantly related to the density of irrigation wells in 1950s–1960s, suggesting the role of groundwater overexploitation. We distinguish two different mechanisms by which water from the sea invades the land: (a) horizontal advance of the interface due to a wide exploitation area and (b) vertical rise (upconing) caused by local intensive pumping. In general, shallow parts of the geophysical profiles show higher electrical resistivity associated with freshwater mainly coming from irrigation return flows, with water resources mostly from deep confined aquifers and imported from Tagus river, 400 km north. This indicates a likely reversal of the former seawater intrusion process.     

Opening and closure of a marginal Southern California lagoon inlet

Over the past 50 yr, direct observations of the inlet status (open or closed) of San Dieguito Lagoon, a typical southern California lagoon located in Del Mar, California, have shown that river flooding is the major natural determinant of inlet conditions on time scales longer than a few years. River flooding is strongly dependent on rainfall in the San Dieguito River watershed and on the influences of two water storage reservoirs in the area. Rainfall fluctuates on yearly and longer time scales and undergoes cycles of wet and dry periods. Over short time periods, ranging from a few months to several years, inlet status is primarily determined by the available tidal prism and littoral sand transport. Recognition of these factors is crucial in order to correctly evaluate the probability that a small lagoon will remain open naturally. A probability approach is essential because the variables controlling inlet conditions are random in nature. The results of our study show that the inlet will remain open naturally 34% of the time. The tendency to remain open is vastly smaller during years of dry weather (12%) versus times of above-average rainfall (66%).     

Alpha-emitting isotopes and chromium in a coastal California aquifer

The unadjusted 72-h gross alpha activities in water from two wells completed in marine and alluvial deposits in a coastal southern California aquifer 40 km north of San Diego were 15 and 25 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L). Although activities were below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 15 pCi/L, when adjusted for uranium activity; there is concern that new wells in the area may exceed MCLs, or that future regulations may limit water use from the wells. Coupled well-bore flow and depth-dependent water-quality data collected from the wells in 2011 (with analyses for isotopes within the uranium, actinium, and thorium decay-chains) show gross alpha activity in marine deposits is associated with decay of naturally-occurring ²³⁸U and its daughter ²³⁴U. Radon activities in marine deposits were as high as 2230 pCi/L. In contrast, gross alpha activities in overlying alluvium within the Piedra de Lumbre watershed, eroded from the nearby San Onofre Hills, were associated with decay of ²³²Th, including its daughter ²²⁴Ra. Radon activities in alluvium from Piedra de Lumbre of 450 pCi/L were lower than in marine deposits. Chromium VI concentrations in marine deposits were less than the California MCL of 10 μg/L (effective July 1, 2014) but δ⁵³Cr compositions were near zero and within reported ranges for anthropogenic chromium. Alluvial deposits from the nearby Las Flores watershed, which drains a larger area having diverse geology, has low alpha activities and chromium as a result of geologic and geochemical conditions and may be more promising for future water-supply development.     

Hydrostratigraphy and geochemistry at a coastal sandfill in Singapore

A characterization study was carried out in a 10-m-thick sandfill, formed by hydraulic filling with marine sand, in Singapore. Placement methods and compaction were found to influence hydrostratigraphy. The deepest part of the sandfill consists of a loose sand layer and is overlain by a medium sand layer extending to mean sea level (MSL). At certain locations, a thin silty-sand layer was found. The different layers within the saturated zone were found to have different values for hydraulic conductivity (K) and groundwater flow velocity. Estimates for K increase according to the following sequence of methods: repacked sand column, step-pumping test, grain-size analysis and slug test. Slug tests and grain-size analysis yielded comparable estimates of K. The freshwater lens in the older part of the sandfill is about 2 m thicker than in a recently completed area. Comparisons of Ca²⁺/Cl^?, Mg²⁺/Cl^?, K ⁺/Cl^? and \({\text{Cl}}^{{\text{ - }}} {\text{/}}{\left( {{\text{Cl}}^{{\text{ - }}} {\text{ + HCO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}} } \right)}\) ratios indicate that the chemical composition of the groundwater at shallower depths has probably been altered by mineral dissolution. Weathering of carbonate minerals was found to be a major contributor to the major ions at these depths. The molar ratios approach the value for seawater at greater depths. The groundwater is close to equilibrium with calcite.     

Tidal and low-frequency net displacement in a coastal lagoon

Four, 32-day current meter records from the Indian River lagoon, Florida, are used to characterize flow patterns along the Intracoastal Waterway in a coastal lagoon. The M₂ tidal constituent amplitude decreases from 58 cm per s near the Fort Pierce Inlet to only 7 cm per s in the interior of the lagoon. The relative importance of the nontidal variance in the current meter records increases from 0.6% to 26.6% of the total over the same distance. Plots of net displacement over time intervals of one to 16 days suggest relatively rapid flushing near the inlet, but in the interior of the lagoon periods of little or no net movement are increasingly common. Low-frequency motions at all four sites are coherent with windstress over time scales in excess of approximately two days.