The chemical control of soluble phosphorus in the Amazon estuary

The factors which control concentrations of soluble inorganic phosphorus in the Amazon estuary are described and the efflux of phosphorus through the estuary is estimated using estuarine data collected on three field excursions (two in December, 1982 and one in May, 1983), and various laboratory mixing experiments. There is evidence to suggest that suspended sediments release significant quantities of inorganic phosphate to the estuarine waters. Bottom sediments collected from the estuary released soluble inorganic phosphorus at rates of approximately 0.2 μM day^?1, when suspended in mixtures of seawater and deionized water. Release rates depended on salinity but were independent of sediment concentrations. Inputs of phosphate persisted for approximately 3 days in suspensions with sediment concentrations of 0.5 g l^?1, but the duration of release increased to greater than 8 days at concentrations greater than 10 gl^?1. A one-dimensional dispersion model was developed incorporating input rates derived from the laboratory mixing experiments. The model predicts phosphate concentrations which are consistent with field observations, and it provides quantitative estimates for total fluxes of soluble inorganic phosphorus to the high salinity fringes of the estuary (~25 ppt) of approximately 15 × 10⁶molesday^?1 and 27 × 10⁶molesday^?1 during December, 1982 and May, 1983 respectively. The data indicate a significant phosphate loss from estuarine waters at salinities from 0–4 ppt, possibly associated with iron and humate removal. More than 50% of the predicted flux could be contributed by phosphate released from suspended sediments within the turbid part of the estuary.