Dynamics of inorganic nutrient species in the Bohai seawaters

Within the frame of a Sino-German Joint Research Program, two cruises of “R/V Dong Fang Hong 2” were carried out in September–October 1998 and April–May 1999, respectively, to understand the dynamics of nutrients in the Bohai. Nutrient species (NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻ and SiO₃²⁻) are determined colorimetrically on board for five anchor and 30 grid stations. In situ incubation experiments are performed to determine planktonic nutrient uptake and benthic exchange flux. Nutrient concentrations display short-term variability and seasonal change in the Bohai, with higher levels in shallow coastal waters than in the Central Bohai. The influence of riverine discharge on nutrient levels can be seen from salinity isopleths, nutrient distribution and species ratios. Near-bottom (nb) waters have similar nutrient concentrations as to the surface waters in the Central Bohai, whereas stratification takes place in the Bohai Strait and North Yellow Sea. In situ incubation experiments provide evidence that the uptake ratio (i.e. N, P) by phytoplankton is proportional to the ratios among nutrient species in ambient waters. Based on the data of this study and previously publications, a preliminary estimate of nutrient budgets via riverine input and atmospheric deposition is established. The results indicate that atmospheric deposition gains importance over rivers in delivering nutrients into the Bohai and sustain the new production, following recent decrease in riverine inflow caused by drought periods in North China and damming practices. A historical review of nutrient data indicates that concentrations of nitrogen increase and phosphorus and silica decrease in the Central Bohai over last 40 years. This potentially has an important influence on the health of ecosystem in Bohai (e.g. food web and community structure), though further study is needed to examine the scenario in more detail.     

长江口南支南港的北槽枯季水体中混合、层化与潮汐应变*

2010年1月1日至10日在长江口南支南港北槽航道弯道段内3个水文测站位CS1、CSW和CS8,观测得到大、中、 小潮的潮位、流速、盐度和含沙量的时间序列。这些资料揭示了由盐度和含沙量引起的垂向层化的大、小潮和涨、落潮的 潮周期变化特性。为定量了解航道弯道段水体的垂向混合程度,采用考虑含沙量后的水体密度来估算其梯度Richardson数 (Ri)。在转流时刻,CS1和CSW站位的量级为101 ~ 102,水体呈现层化状态;在涨急、落急时,Ri量级为10-2 ~ 10-1,水体呈 现强混合状态。CS8站位涨潮时的Ri在0.25~5,落潮时平均为10-2量级。3个水文测站位,涨潮时的层化均强于落潮时;大潮 时的层化程度最强,而小潮时的层化持续时间最长; 均存在潮汐应变的现象,且以非持久性的SIPS层化为主。采用Simpson 等[2]的公式,估算了长江口北槽航道弯道段内水体由河口环流、潮汐应变和潮汐搅动引起的势能变化率。潮汐应变是水体 层化的主要动力机制,而河口环流引起的势能变化率比潮汐应变和潮汐搅动引起的小102 ~ 103量级。     

Inter-annual variability of hypoxic conditions in a shallow estuary

Water quality data from two monitoring programs in the Pamlico River Estuary (PRE) were analyzed for dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, temperature, and nutrient concentrations. Data were collected bi-weekly at 8 stations from 1997 to 2003 by East Carolina University and continuously at three stations from 1999 to 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Hypoxic conditions were observed mostly in the upper to middle estuary, but the frequency of hypoxic events varied between years. During June to October in 1997–1999 (referred to as the oxic summers) bottom water hypoxia (DO < 2 mg l^− 1) was found in 8.7% of the observations. By contrast, during June to October in 2001–2003 (referred to as the hypoxic summers), 37.9% of the total measurements had DO concentrations less than 2 mg l^− 1. The more frequent and/or prolonged hypoxic conditions during the hypoxic summers were closely associated with stronger salinity stratification and greater loadings of nutrient and particulate matter.Salinity stratification appeared to be governed by patterns of freshwater discharge, and frequency of wind mixing events. The “oxic” summers were characterized by continuous low freshwater inflow (except one extremely high flow event due to hurricanes), stronger northeastward wind, and more frequent wind mixing events. In contrast, the hypoxic summers were characterized by frequent moderate freshwater inflow events, and fewer wind mixing events.The greater loadings of nutrient (nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate) and particulate matter during the hypoxic summers were primarily due to higher river discharges. At the head of the PRE, no significant differences were found in concentrations of nutrient and particulate nitrogen between the oxic and the hypoxic summers. In addition, chlorophyll a concentrations were averaged above 30 μg l^− 1 (maximum 167 μg l^− 1) during the hypoxic summers, significantly higher than those during the oxic summers (averaged around 15 μg l^− 1).     

Variability of mesozooplankton spatial distribution in the North Aegean Sea, as influenced by the Black Sea waters outflow

The North Aegean Sea constitutes an important region of the Mediterranean Sea since in its eastern part the mesotrophic, low salinity and relatively cold water from the Black Sea (outflowing from the Dardanelles strait) meets the oligotrophic, warm and very saline water of Levantine origin, thus forming a thermohaline front. Mesozooplankton samples were collected at discrete layers according to the hydrology of the upper 100 m, during May 1997 and September 1998. In May highest biomass and abundance values (up to 66.82 mg m^− 3 and 14,157 ind m^− 3) were detected in the 10–20 m layer (within the halocline) of the stations positioned close to the Dardanelles strait. The front moved slightly southwards in September, characterized by high biomass and abundance values within the halocline layer. The areas moderately or non influenced by Black Sea water revealed lower standing stock values than the frontal area in both cruises and maxima were detected in the uppermost low salinity layer. Samples collected at the stations and/or layers more influenced by Black Sea water were distinguished from those collected at layers and/or stations more affected by Levantine waters in both periods. In May the former samples were characterized by the copepods Acartia clausi, Centropages typicus, Paracalanus parvus. The abundance of the above species decreased gradually with increasing salinity, in the horizontal and/or in the vertical dimension, with a parallel increase of the copepods Oithona plumifera, Oithona copepodites, Oncaea media, Ctenocalanus vanus, Farranula rostrata. During September the frontal area as well as that covered by the modified Black Sea water, were highly dominated by the cladoceran Penilia avirostris and doliolids. For both seasons, MDS plots, issued from the combination of mesozooplankton and water-type data, revealed the gradual differentiation of zooplankton composition from the frontal area towards the area covered by Levantine water, following the spreading and mixing of the Black sea water. The observed temporal and spatial variability in the distribution pattern of mesozooplankton standing stock and species composition seems to depend considerably on the variability of circulation and frontal flows.     

Benthic assemblages of a temperate estuarine system in South America: Transition from a freshwater to an estuarine zone

The objectives of the present study were to describe the species composition, diversity and distribution of the zoobenthic assemblages, to estimate the abundance and biomass of the dominant species, and to identify the main environmental factors determining the distribution patterns of the invertebrates from a freshwater to an estuarine zone in a temperate estuary of South America. The Río de la Plata estuary is a microtidal system characterized by a high concentration of suspended solids. Fifty-three taxa of meso- and macro-invertebrates were identified in the samples collected during November and December 2001. Molluscs, annelids, crustaceans and nematodes were found at 90% of the sampling sites. Molluscs comprised up to about 90% of the total zoobenthos biomass: the remaining percentage corresponded mainly to annelids and less to nematodes and crustaceans. An ecocline along the salinity gradient could be observed for the benthic assemblages from the freshwater to the estuarine zone in Rio de la Plata. A Canonical Correspondence Analysis shows that results from sampling sites in the outer zone were strongly related to salinity, depth and pH and less to oxygen and percentage of clay. The results from stations in the inner zone, and part of the middle zone, were mainly related to the occurrence of sand and contents of NH₄⁺–N, NO₃⁻–N, and PO₄³⁻–P.     

Monitoring trace elements (Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in deep and surface waters of the estuary of the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River (Bay of Biscay, Basque Country)

Deep water samples (in contact with the sediment) were collected at eight different points of the estuary of the Nerbioi-Ibaizabal River (Bay of Biscay, Basque Country), both at low and high tides, during four sampling campaigns (May, September and December 2005 and March 2006). Superficial water was also sampled in March 2006. Temperature, pH, redox potential, dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity corresponding to each sample were measured in situ at each sampling point using a multiparametric probe. The physico-chemical parameters found are typical of highly stratified estuaries, with an acceptable oxygenation level. After filtering and acidifying the samples, they were analysed by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) to simultaneously determine the total concentration of Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn. Concentrations in the μg kg^− 1 level were found in all cases (c_Cr and c_Ni, 1–10; c_Al, c_As and c_Zn, 10–50; c_Cu and c_Mn, 10–100 and c_Fe, 100–400 μg kg^− 1). A probable net input of Al, Cr, Mn and Zn via the main (Nerbioi-Ibaizabal) and some of the tributary rivers (Galindo, Asua and Gobela) was identified. Evidence of a common source of Al and Zn to the estuary was found. Correlation analysis of data revealed connections between variables (concentration of Cu, Fe and As with salinity, as well as c_Al with c_Zn, c_Cu with c_Fe, c_As with c_Fe, and c_As with c_Cu). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of data allowed the samples to be grouped according to sampling campaign, with two principal components accounting for 62% of the total variance. In addition, plots of element concentration against salinity suggested a conservative behaviour for As, Cu and Fe and a non-conservative one for Cr. Not clear mixing behaviour was observed for the rest of elements.     

大连长兴岛海域潮流输沙计算分析

海岸动力因子作用下的泥沙运动及其岸滩演变规律，是海洋工程建筑物和海港码头的规划设计、施工及维护中所考虑的重要因素。针对大连市长兴岛海域，某科研所设置了14个测站并获取了各站的潮流流速、流向和合沙量等水文数据，文章利用这些资料对潮流输沙问题进行了专门计算研究，得到了该海域各站大潮、小潮全日单宽输沙率，并得到了相应结论。     

Bathymetric influences on the lower Chesapeake Bay hydrography

Observations of salinity and density in the lower Chesapeake Bay are used to describe the bathymetric influence on the transverse hydrographic structure in the area. Current velocity observations of high spatial resolution are also used to relate the flow structure to the hydrographic structure. Tidal flow characteristics in the lower bay are affected by the combination of bathymetry and hydrography. Increased stratification over channels relative to shoals may increase M₂ ellipticity with depth over channels but not over shoals. It is found that three consistent hydrographie features can be related to the transverse structure of the longitudinal flow: (1) persistent stratification over channels due to differential tidal advection of density gradients, (2) development of bottom front separating net inflows from net outflows at the region south of Chesapeake Channel, and (3) outflow of low salinity water at the northern end of a lower bay section. Based on these hydrographie features, two basic hydrographic regimes are proposed to exist throughout the year in the lower Chesapeake Bay: (1) a low buoyancy-high mixing energy regime of stratification restricted to channels, a northward monotonical increase in salinity, and a weak bottom front, and (2) a high buoyancy-weak mixing energy regime of stratified conditions everywhere, a large region of northward salinity decrease at the northern half of the section, and a robust bottom front. The dynamics in the transverse direction for the former regime is ageostrophic, and in the latter regime the contribution by geostrophy is approximately 50% as bathymetric influences become less evident.     

Mass and heat transports in the NE Barents Sea: Observations and models

The strait between Novaya Zemlya and Frans Josef Land, here called the Barents Sea Exit (BSX) is investigated using data obtained from a current-meter array deployed in 1991–1992, and two numerical models (ROMS and NAME). Combining the observations and models the net volume flux towards the Arctic Ocean was estimated to 2.0 ± 0.6 Sv (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³s^? 1). The observations indicate that about half of this transport consists of dense, Cold Bottom Water, which may penetrate to great depths and contribute to the thermohaline circulation. Both models give quite similar net transport, seasonal variations and spatial current structures, and the discrepancies from the observations were related to the coarse representation of the bottom topography in the models. Also the models indicate that actual deployment did not capture the main in- and outflows through the BSX. A snapshot of the hydrographic structure (CTD section) indicates that both models are good at reproducing the salinity. Nevertheless, they react differently to atmospheric cooling, although the same meteorological forcing was applied. This may be due to the different parameterisation of sea ice and that tides were included in only one of the models (ROMS). Proxies for the heat transport are found to be small at the BSX, and it can not be ruled out that the Barents Sea is a heat sink rather than a heat source for the Arctic Ocean.     

长江口12.5m深水航道潮周期内回淤量分布

潮周期内航道回淤量是一个随潮动力的变化而动态变化的量。确定深水航道的回淤量的潮周期内分布特征,将有助于合理安排航道的疏浚,减少不必要的疏浚船方。采用适用于长江口深水航道的回淤量计算模型,基于实测航道近底层的水文观测资料,获得了潮周期内的航道回淤量分布特征及其形成机制,得到航道回淤量主要发生在中小潮期间,而大潮期间动力较强冲刷明显、近底层泥沙浓度高,但形成的回淤量较小的结论。这一结论通过枯季近底层实测的水、沙及地形冲淤变化过程资料得到了验证。     

南港—北槽洪枯季沿程水沙盐特性分析*

利用2012年2月及8月长江口南港—北槽大、小潮水文测验资料,从涨落潮历时、流速、含沙量及含盐度等方面 分析了南港—北槽洪枯季水沙盐纵向及垂向分布特征以及潮周期内含沙量变化特性。分析表明：南港—北槽沿程各垂线落 潮平均历时洪季整体较枯季长,涨潮平均历时洪季整体较枯季短,且小潮期洪、枯季的这种差异更为明显;南港—北槽洪 季落潮流速普遍大于枯季,涨潮流速普遍小于枯季;小潮期涨潮平均流速会出现近底层较表层大现象, 且CSW-CS3出现滞 流点;北槽中段—口外段洪季含沙量及垂向差异均较枯季大,南港圆圆沙段及北槽上段枯季含沙量较洪季大;潮周期内北 槽中段各垂线上层含沙量均较小,且变化幅度相对较小,但下层含沙量变化达数倍乃至十几倍之多,且涨憩时段近底层含沙 量可能特别高;洪枯季北槽中段均存在盐水楔,其位置洪季偏上、枯季偏下,最大浑浊带洪枯季位置变化与此基本一致。     

Validation of the 3D biogeochemical model MIRO&CO with field nutrient and phytoplankton data and MERIS-derived surface chlorophyll a images

This paper presents results obtained with MIRO&CO-3D, a biogeochemical model dedicated to the study of eutrophication and applied to the Channel and Southern Bight of the North Sea (48.5°N–52.5°N). The model results from coupling of the COHERENS-3D hydrodynamic model and the biogeochemical model MIRO, which was previously calibrated in a multi-box implementation. MIRO&CO-3D is run to simulate the annual cycle of inorganic and organic carbon and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and silica), phytoplankton (diatoms, nanoflagellates and Phaeocystis), bacteria and zooplankton (microzooplankton and copepods) with realistic forcing (meteorological conditions and river loads) for the period 1991–2003. Model validation is first shown by comparing time series of model concentrations of nutrients, chlorophyll a, diatom and Phaeocystis with in situ data from station 330 (51°26.00′N, 2°48.50′E) located in the centre of the Belgian coastal zone. This comparison shows the model's ability to represent the seasonal dynamics of nutrients and phytoplankton in Belgian waters. However the model fails to simulate correctly the dissolved silica cycle, especially during the beginning of spring, due to the late onset (in the model) of the early spring diatom bloom. As a general trend the chlorophyll a spring maximum is underestimated in simulations. A comparison between the seasonal average of surface winter nutrients and spring chlorophyll a concentrations simulated with in situ data for different stations is used to assess the accuracy of the simulated spatial distribution. At a seasonal scale, the spatial distribution of surface winter nutrients is in general well reproduced by the model with nevertheless a small overestimation for a few stations close to the Rhine/Meuse mouth and a tendency to underestimation in the coastal zone from Belgium to France. PO₄ was simulated best; silica was simulated with less success. Spring chlorophyll a concentration is in general underestimated by the model. The accuracy of the simulated phytoplankton spatial distribution is further evaluated by comparing simulated surface chlorophyll a with that derived from the satellite sensor MERIS for the year 2003. Reasonable agreement is found between simulated and satellite-derived regions of high chlorophyll a with nevertheless discrepancies close to the boundaries.     

On the observability of the fortnightly cycle of the Tagus estuary turbid plume using MODIS ocean colour images

Using three years (2003 to 2005) of MODIS-Aqua normalized water-leaving radiance at 551 nm this paper shows a fortnightly cycle in the Tagus estuary turbid plume. The Tagus estuary is one of the largest estuaries of the west coast of Europe and is located in the most populated area of Portugal, including the capital Lisbon. The turbid plume has been detected by the backscattering characteristics of the surface waters in the vicinity of the estuary mouth. In fortnightly scales, the turbid plume has smaller dimensions during and after neap tides and higher dimensions during and after spring tides. This is most probably associated with the fortnightly spring–neap tidal cycle and the consequent increase in turbidity inside the estuary during spring tides. During the summer weak spring tides (tidal amplitude approximately 2.5 m) no turbid plume is observed for an entire fortnightly cycle. Outside the summer months, precipitation, river discharge and winds, were found to increase the turbid area, but the fortnightly cycle appears to be superimposed on the large time-scale variability, and present throughout the year.     

Nutrient and organic matter patterns across the Mackenzie River, estuary and shelf during the seasonal recession of sea-ice

Suspended material, nutrients and organic matter in Mackenzie River water were tracked along a 300 km transect from Inuvik (Northwest Territories, Canada), across the estuarine salinity gradient in Kugmallit Bay, to offshore marine stations on the adjacent Mackenzie Shelf. All particulates measured (SPM, POC, PN, PP) declined by 87–95% across the salinity gradient and levels were generally below conservative mixing. Organic carbon content of suspended material decreased from 3.1% in the river to 1.7% in shelf surface waters while particulate C:N concurrently decreased from 17.1 to 8.6. Nitrate and silicate concentrations declined by more than 90% across the salinity gradient, with nitrate concentrations often below the conservative mixing line. Phosphate concentrations increased from 0.03 μmol/L in the river to 0.27 μmol/L over shelf waters, thereby changing the inorganic nutrient regime downstream from P to N limitation. Dissolved organic carbon decreased conservatively offshore while dissolved organic N and P persisted at high levels in the Mackenzie plume relative to river water, increasing 2.7 and 25.3 times respectively. A deep chlorophyll-a maximum was observed at two offshore stations and showed increases in most nutrients, particulates and organic matter relative to the rest of the water column. During river passage through the Mackenzie estuary, particulate matter, dissolved organic carbon and inorganic nutrients showed sedimentation, dilution and biological uptake patterns common to other arctic and non-arctic estuaries. Alternatively, inorganic content of particles increased offshore and dissolved organic N and P increased substantially over the shelf, reaching concentrations among the highest reported for the Arctic Ocean. These observations are consistent with the presence of a remnant ice-constrained (‘stamukhi’) lake from the freshet period and a slow flushing river plume constrained by sea-ice in close proximity to shore. Nutrient limitation in surface shelf waters during the ARDEX cruise contributed to the striking deep chlorophyll-a maximum at 21 m where phytoplankton communities congregated at the margin of nutrient-rich deep ocean waters.     

The structure of dissipation in the western Irish Sea front

We report on an intensive campaign in the summer of 2006 to observe turbulent energy dissipation in the vicinity of a tidal mixing front which separates well mixed and seasonally stratified regimes in the western Irish Sea. The rate of turbulent dissipation ε was observed on a section across the front by a combination of vertical profiles with the FLY dissipation profiler and horizontal profiles by shear sensors mounted on an AUV (Autosub). Mean flow conditions and stratification were obtained from a bed mounted ADCP and a vertical chain of thermistors on a mooring. During an Autosub mission of 60 h, the vehicle, moving at a speed of ~ 1.2 m s^− 1, completed 10 useable frontal crossings between end points which were allowed to move with the mean flow. The results were combined with parallel measurements of the vertical profile of ε which were made using FLY for periods of up to 13 h at positions along the Autosub track. The two data sets, which show a satisfactory degree of consistency, were combined to elucidate the space–time variation of dissipation in the frontal zone. Using harmonic analysis, the spatial structure of dissipation was separated from the strong time dependent signal at the M₄ tidal frequency to yield a picture of the cross-frontal distribution of energy dissipation. A complementary picture of the frontal velocity field was obtained from a moored ADCP and estimates of the mean velocity derived from the thermal wind using the observed density distribution. which indicated the presence of a strong (0.2 m s^− 1) jet-like flow in the high gradient region of the front. Under neap tidal conditions, mean dissipation varied across the section by 3 orders of magnitude exceeding 10^− 2 W m^− 3 near the seabed in the mixed regime and decreasing to 10^− 5 W m^− 3. in the strongly stratified interior regime. The spatial pattern of dissipation is consistent in general form with the predictions of models of tidal mixing and does not reflect any strong influence by the frontal jet.     

Effect of mixing on microbial communities in the Rhone River plume

The biological processes involved during mixing of a river plume with the marine underlying water were studied off the Rhone River outlet. Samples of suspended and dissolved matter were collected while tracking a drifting buoy. Three trajectories were performed, at 2-day intervals, under different hydrological and meteorological situations. A biological uptake was evidenced from ammonium (NH₄) and phosphate (PO₄) shortage, indicating an early “NH₄-dependent” functioning occurring before the well-known “NO₃-based” cycle. The different ratios between NH₄, NO₃ and PO₄, as a function of salinity, were discussed to detail the preferential use in PO₄ and NH₄. Salinity zones with enhanced bacterial production, high chlorophyll a concentration, as well as DOC, NH₄ and PO₄ consumption were evidenced from 20 to 35 in salinity. It was shown that the successive abundance of bacteria and phytoplankton during transfer reflected the competition for PO₄ of both communities. On the Rhone River plume, the role played by temperature, light conditions and suspended matter upon biological activity seems relatively minor compared to salinity distribution and its related parameter: nutrient availability. It can be concluded that biological uptake in the Rhone River plume was closely related to the dilution mechanism, controlled itself by the dynamics of the plume. In windless conditions and close to the river mouth, the density gradient between marine and river water induced limited exchanges between the nutrient-rich freshwater and the potential consumers in the underlying marine water. Consequently, little biological activity is observed close to the river mouth. Offshore, mixing is enhanced and a balance is reached between salinity tolerance and nutrient availability to form a favourable zone for marine phytoplankton development. This can be quite far from the river mouth in case of a widely spread plume, corresponding to high river discharge. Under windy and wavy conditions, the plume freshwater is early and rapidly mixed, so that the extension of the “enhanced production zone” is drastically reduced and even bacteria could not benefit from the fast mixing regime induced.     

Environmental changes and the responses of the ecosystems of the Yellow Sea during 1976–2000

The changes in the environmental features of the Yellow Sea during the last 25 years of the 20th century were studied using a set of seasonally monitored data along a transect (at 36°N) maintained by the State Oceanic Administration of China. The data included the ocean temperature (T), salinity (S) and biogenic elements, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), phosphorus (PO₄-P), silicon (SiO₃-Si) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN).The seasonal (summer and winter) values and the annual mean of these elements showed significant changes during the monitored period. Time series of T, S, DIN and N:P ratios exhibited positive trends, while those of DO, P and Si exhibited negative trends. During this period, the annual mean of T and DIN in the Yellow Sea increased by 1.7 °C and 2.95 μmol L⁻¹, respectively, while those of DO, P and Si decreased by 59.1, 0.1 and 3.93 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. In the 1980s, particularly in between 1985 and 1989, concentrations of P and Si dropped to near the ecological threshold for growth of diatoms. The N:P ratio increased from 4 in 1984 to over 16 in 2000. The climate trend coefficients, R_xt, for these time series are all above 0.43 with significance levels of 95%, except for salinity. The increases in T were consistent with the recent climate warming in northern China and the adjacent seas, i.e. the Bohai Sea and the East China Sea. The reduction of DO was probably attributable to the increase in T and decrease in primary production in these regions. The positive trend of DIN was mainly attributable to precipitation and partly to Changjiang River discharge. The negative concentration trends of P and Si were due to the decreases in their concentrations in seawater that flowed to the Yellow Sea from the Bohai Sea. As a result, N:P ratios greatly increased in the seawater of the Yellow Sea.Moreover, some important responses of the Yellow Sea ecosystems to the changes in physical variables and chemical biogenic elements were obviously displayed. These responses include strengthening nutrient limitation, decreasing chlorophyll a, primary production and phytoplankton abundance, succession of dominant phytoplankton species from diatoms to non-diatoms, changes in fish community structure and species diversity.     

Fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon in three estuarine systems of the Cantabrian Sea (north of Spain)

The diffusive and in situ fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) have been measured and an estimation has been made of the water–atmosphere fluxes of CO₂ in three estuarine systems of the Cantabrian Sea during the spring of 1998. Each of these systems undergoes a different anthropogenic influence. The diffusive fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity obtained present values ranging between 0.54–2.65 and 0.0–2.4 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. These ranges are in agreement with those of other coastal systems. The in situ fluxes are high and extremely variable (35–284 mmol TA m⁻² day⁻¹, 43–554 mmol DIC m⁻² day⁻¹ and 22–261 mmol dissolved oxygen (DO) m⁻² day⁻¹), because the systems studied are very heterogeneous. The values of the ratio of the in situ fluxes of TA and DIC show on average that the rate of dissolution of CaCO₃ is 0.37 times that of organic carbon oxidation. Equally, the interval of variation of the relationship between the benthic fluxes of inorganic carbon and oxygen (F_DIC/F_DO) is very wide (0.3–13.9), which demonstrates the different contributions made by the processes of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of the organic matter, as well as by the dissolution–precipitation of CaCO₃. The water–atmosphere fluxes of CO₂ present a clear dependence on the salinity. The brackish water of these systems (salinity<20), where maximum fluxes of 989 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ have been estimated, act as a source of CO₂ to the atmosphere. The more saline zones of the estuary (salinity>30) act as a sink of CO₂, with fluxes between −5 and −10 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹.     

Bacterial production and microbial food web structure in a large arctic river and the coastal Arctic Ocean

Globally significant quantities of organic carbon are stored in northern permafrost soils, but little is known about how this carbon is processed by microbial communities once it enters rivers and is transported to the coastal Arctic Ocean. As part of the Arctic River-Delta Experiment (ARDEX), we measured environmental and microbiological variables along a 300 km transect in the Mackenzie River and coastal Beaufort Sea, in July–August 2004. Surface bacterial concentrations averaged 6.7 × 10⁵ cells mL^− 1 with no significant differences between sampling zones. Picocyanobacteria were abundant in the river, and mostly observed as cell colonies. Their concentrations in the surface waters decreased across the salinity gradient, dropping from 51,000 (river) to 30 (sea) cells mL^− 1. There were accompanying shifts in protist community structure, from diatoms, cryptophytes, heterotrophic protists and chrysophytes in the river, to dinoflagellates, prymnesiophytes, chrysophytes, prasinophytes, diatoms and heterotrophic protists in the Beaufort Sea.Size-fractionated bacterial production, as measured by ³H–leucine uptake, varied from 76 to 416 ng C L^− 1 h^− 1. The contribution of particle-attached bacteria (> 3 µm fraction) to total bacterial production decreased from > 90% at the Mackenzie River stations to < 20% at an offshore marine site, and the relative importance of this particle-based fraction was inversely correlated with salinity and positively correlated with particulate organic carbon concentrations. Glucose enrichment experiments indicated that bacterial metabolism was carbon limited in the Mackenzie River but not in the coastal ocean. Prior exposure of water samples to full sunlight increased the biolability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Mackenzie River but decreased it in the Beaufort Sea.Estimated depth-integrated bacterial respiration rates in the Mackenzie River were higher than depth-integrated primary production rates, while at the marine stations bacterial respiration rates were near or below the integrated primary production rates. Consistent with these results, P_CO2 measurements showed surface water supersaturation in the river (mean of 146% of air equilibrium values) and subsaturation or near-saturation in the coastal sea. These results show a well-developed microbial food web in the Mackenzie River system that will likely convert tundra carbon to atmospheric CO₂ at increasing rates as the arctic climate continues to warm.     

Time series for dissolved cadmium at a coastal station in the Western Baltic Sea

Concentrations of dissolved Cd, Cd(diss), were measured weekly from June 1991 to June 1994 at a coastal station in the western Baltic Sea. The mean concentration of 204 pmol/dm³ is about 50% higher than in open Baltic Sea surface waters. A distinct seasonal cycle was observed with elevated concentrations in winter and spring (272 pmol/dm³) and lower values in summer and autumn (131 pmol/dm³). Relating the seasonal changes in Cd(diss) to the nutrient cycle revealed ΔCd(diss)/ΔNO₃ and ΔCd(diss)/ΔPO₄ ratios which are consistent with other measurements and seem to confirm the concept of a nutrient-like biogeochemistry of Cd. However, a time shift of two to three months exists between the depletion of nutrients in spring and the depletion of Cd(diss). Possibly, this indicates a decoupling of Cd(diss) from nutrients during the spring plankton bloom. However, no final conclusions can be drawn yet.Cd(diss) concentrations decreased significantly during the three year measurement period, whereas nitrate concentrations increased. A possible linkage between eutrophication and the Cd budget of the Baltic Sea is discussed.