Suspended Matter in Surface Waters of the Atlantic Continental Margin from Cape Cod to the Florida Keys

Manheim, Frank T.; Meade, Robert H.; Bond, Gérard C.

doi:10.1126/science.167.3917.371

Cited by 91 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Quantitative predictions of the material distributions are hampered by an imperfect understanding of the mechanics governing sediment transport and turbulence and a lack of comprehensive in situ observations in coastal waters. As a result, the extensive body of literature detailing concentrations of suspended solids in estuaries [Schubel, 1969;Meade, 1968;Anderson, 1970] and o.n the adjacent continental shelf [Manheim et al, 1970;Buss and Rodolfo, 1972;Eittreim et al, 1969] is largely site specific and finds limited application within other areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of suspended material concentrations in eastern Long Island Sound

Bohlen¹

1975

J. Geophys. Res.

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A 2‐year record of monthly observations of suspended material concentrations at a network of 11 stations in eastern Long Island Sound is used to detail the characteristics of the concentration field and the factors governing its variability. These suspended material distributions display a high degree of spatial and temporal variability, there being only weak correlation between concentrations and concurrent salinity. This behavior contrasts sharply with observations in other regions of the sound. To determine the relative importance of hydrodynamic, meteorological, and biological factors, an ensemble average of selected station data is introduced. This average displays a seasonal variability that can be represented by the combined effects of streamflow and wind stress. Streamflow serves to produce a persistent background concentration. The occurrence of higher frequency fluctuations due to aperiodic discharge events appears limited by the volume and mixing characteristics of the eastern sound. Wind events will dominate the concentration field if high stress levels are maintained for more than 48 hours. Duration requirements are most commonly satisfied during the winter months. Materials introduced by streamflows and wind stress are distributed by the high energy tidal stream. Biological factors exert minor influence on the variability of the concentration field. A review of this system suggests that the eastern sound is more properly viewed as a coastal embayment than as an estuary. Mixing in this area establishes the eastern boundary conditions for the remainder of the sound.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of suspended material concentrations in eastern Long Island Sound

Bohlen¹

1975

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…Primary production is much higher on the shelf than in the open ocean because of nutrient input from rivers, coastal upwelling, and deep winter mixing. Particulate matter (PM) concentrations measured in surface waters of the CMO area have been between 0.5 and 3.0 mg L 'z, with up to 65% being combustible organic matter [Manheim et al, 1970;Meade et al, 1975' Bothner et al, 1981. Combustible particulate organic matter is usually <30% in bottom waters.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optics, particles, stratification, and storms on the New England continental shelf

Gardner¹,

Blakey²,

Walsh³

et al. 2001

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. In situ beam attenuation and chlorophyll fluorescence were correlated with concentration and bulk composition of particles in shelf waters during summer and spring under different physical forcing conditions to determine if optical parameters could be used as an additional tracer in examining the process of mixing in shelf waters. Time series measurements were made for two 18 day periods during high stratification (late summer 1996, AIJ t = -3.0 kg m '3 surface to bottom) and low but rapidly developing stratification (spring 1997, AIJ t = 0.05 tO 0.5 kg m -3) in 70 m of water in a midshelf environment south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. When defined by hydrography and optical profiles, four layers were identified during the summer: the surface mixed layer, the particle/chlorophyll maximum, the midwater particle minimum, and the bottom nepheloid layer. Fast moving solitons perturbed the water column briefly, but no storms perturbed the system until large surface swells from Hurricane Edouard intensified and thickened the nepheloid layer. Bulk composition and optics of particles in and above the nepheloid layer were distinctly different after the passage of Hurricane Edouard. The hurricane passage demonstrated that intense atmospheric forcing greatly influences both hydrographic and optical properties in the entire water column, even when highly stratified (Ao t = -3.0 kg m -3, decreasing to 0.8 kg m -3 post hurricane), and causes massive resuspension, due initially to wave shear stress that was later dominated by current shear. Restratification progressed rapidly after the hurricane passed. During spring the water column started as a weakly stratified two-layer system hydrographically and optically but evolved into three layers as stratification developed. Strong spring storms aff•ted both surface and bottom layers but with decreasing impact as the water column stratified.

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“…(1939) as 0.03 part/lOg; recent data with more modern techniques indicated an average of 0.1 part/ lo8 (Hammond, 1971). The estuarine water samples here reported contain from 3-10 times the latter concentration; this may not be surprising since mercury is washed down from the land to the sea, and might be expected to be more concentrated near the shore (Manheim et al, 1970). On the other hand, water depth does not seem as critical as the amount of suspended material, since mercury binds readily to many organic and inorganic substances (Hammond, 1971).…”

Section: N Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Mercury concentrations in fish, plankton and water from three Western Atlantic estuaries

Cocoros¹,

Cahn²,

Siler³

1973

Journal of Fish Biology

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Total mercury concentrations were determined in the clupeid, Breworria tyvannus, from three estuaries of the Western Atlantic, and in the plankton on which they feed, as well as in the water sampled from the same localities. Although there was some indication that the food chain is a likely source of mercury contamination in these fish, as seen by the very much higher levels found in viscera compared with the rest of the fish, there was no evidence of strong food chain intensification. Fish mercury levels (0.3 to 0.5 part/106 dry wt) were about twice that for plankton ( 0 1 4 2 part/106 dry wt), with higher levels in phyto-than in zooplankton.

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Suspended Matter in Surface Waters of the Atlantic Continental Margin from Cape Cod to the Florida Keys

Cited by 91 publications

References 15 publications

An investigation of suspended material concentrations in eastern Long Island Sound

An investigation of suspended material concentrations in eastern Long Island Sound

Optics, particles, stratification, and storms on the New England continental shelf

Mercury concentrations in fish, plankton and water from three Western Atlantic estuaries

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