Seaward Nutrient Transport in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary

1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1271-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sinclair ◽  
Mohammed El-Sabh ◽  
Jean-Rock Brindle
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Transport ◽  
Volume Transport ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Freshwater Input ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Total Dissolved Nitrogen ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

A transect across the lower St. Lawrence estuary was occupied to estimate volume transport and nutrient distributions (total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus, and silicate) during February and May through September. Seaward transport was restricted to the upper 50 m and varied from 17 × 103 m3/s (August) to 129 × 103 m3/s (May). Nutrient and volume transport data are combined to estimate seasonal variability in monthly surface nutrient transport towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The estimates vary as follows: 0.72–6.72 × 103 tons N/mo, 0.05–0.48 × 103 tons P/mo and 0.50–6.73 tons Si/mo. Ratios between monthly freshwater input into the estuary and the corresponding values for net seaward transport, which varied from 1.1 to 9.4, are combined with annual data (1960–73) on monthly freshwater input into the estuary to estimate potential annual variability in seaward transport for each of the above months. Observed nutrient data, with the above transport estimates, suggest the possible range in monthly seaward nutrient transport that would be associated with the annual variability in monthly freshwater input into the estuary. Seaward nitrogen transport from May through September, estimated at 2.3 × 104 tons, is considered in relation to published data on the primary production in the western part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The estuary supplied a smaller amount of nutrients to the Gulf than has previously been assumed.

Étude de la remontée relative des niveaux d'eau de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Anctil ◽  
Jean-Pierre Troude
Keyword(s):  
High Water ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Freshwater Input ◽  
Relative Variation ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
High Discharge ◽  
Mean Water Level ◽  
Stability Of Water ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary ◽  
St Lawrence River

Data available on water levels in the St. Lawrence Estuary were used to evaluate the relative variation of mean water levels in this area. Only measurements taken at Pointe-au-Père could be used to evaluate this parameter with the required precision; a relative stability of water levels (−0.3 ± 0.5 mm/year) was observed. Upstream stations, especially the ones in the estuary, are highly influenced by the freshwater input of the St. Lawrence River. The high discharge of the river has been identified as the main cause of high water levels observed between 1970 and 1988 and, consequently, of bank erosion at the limit of the St. Lawrence estuary. Key words: discharge, erosion, estuary, mean water level, relative variation.

scholarly journals Nutrient transport pathways during winter in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Bluteau ◽  
Peter Galbraith ◽  
Daniel Bourgault ◽  
Vincent Villeneuve ◽  
Jean-Éric Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Transport ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

scholarly journals Spatial variability of surface-water pCO<sub>2</sub> and gas exchange in the world's largest semi-enclosed estuarine system: St. Lawrence Estuary (Canada)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Dinauer ◽  
Alfonso Mucci
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Estuarine System ◽  
Lower Estuary ◽  
Subarctic Region ◽  
Environmental Diversity ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

Abstract. The incomplete spatial coverage of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2 ) measurements across estuary types represents a significant knowledge gap in current regional- and global-scale estimates of estuarine CO2 emissions. The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) at the lower limit of the subarctic region in eastern Canada is the largest estuarine system in the world, and is characterized by an exceptional richness in environmental diversity. It is among the world's most intensively studied estuaries, yet there are no published data on its surface-water pCO2 distribution. To fill this data gap, a comprehensive dataset was compiled from direct and indirect measurements of carbonate system parameters in the surface waters of the EGSL during the spring or summer of 2003–2016. The calculated pCO2 ranged from 435–765 μatm in the shallow, partially mixed Upper Estuary, 139–578 μatm in the deep, stratified Lower Estuary, and 207–478 μatm along the Laurentian Channel in the Gulf. Overall, at the time of sampling, the St. Lawrence Estuary served as a weak source of CO2 to the atmosphere, with an area-averaged CO2 degassing flux of 1.00 to 2.06 mmol C m−2 d−1 (0.37 to 0.75 mol C m−2 yr−1). A preliminary analysis of factors controlling the spatial variability of surface-water pCO2 reveals that respiration (Upper Estuary), photosynthesis (Lower Estuary), and temperature (Gulf) are dominant controls.

scholarly journals Spatial variability in surface-water <i>p</i>CO<sub>2</sub> and gas exchange in the world's largest semi-enclosed estuarine system: St. Lawrence Estuary (Canada)

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3221-3237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Dinauer ◽  
Alfonso Mucci
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Dissociation Constants ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Estuarine System ◽  
Lower Estuary ◽  
Environmental Diversity ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

Abstract. The incomplete spatial coverage of CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) measurements across estuary types represents a significant knowledge gap in current regional- and global-scale estimates of estuarine CO2 emissions. Given the limited research on CO2 dynamics in large estuaries and bay systems, as well as the sources of error in the calculation of pCO2 (carbonic acid dissociation constants, organic alkalinity), estimates of air–sea CO2 fluxes in estuaries are subject to large uncertainties. The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) at the lower limit of the subarctic region in eastern Canada is the world's largest estuarine system, and is characterized by an exceptional richness in environmental diversity. It is among the world's most intensively studied estuaries, yet there are no published data on its surface-water pCO2 distribution. To fill this data gap, a comprehensive dataset was compiled from direct and indirect measurements of carbonate system parameters in the surface waters of the EGSL during the spring or summer of 2003–2016. The calculated surface-water pCO2 ranged from 435 to 765 µatm in the shallow partially mixed upper estuary, 139–578 µatm in the deep stratified lower estuary, and 207–478 µatm along the Laurentian Channel in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Overall, at the time of sampling, the St. Lawrence Estuary served as a very weak source of CO2 to the atmosphere, with an area-averaged CO2 degassing flux of 0.98 to 2.02 mmol C m−2 d−1 (0.36 to 0.74 mol C m−2 yr−1). A preliminary analysis revealed that respiration (upper estuary), photosynthesis (lower estuary), and temperature (Gulf of St. Lawrence) controlled the spatial variability in surface-water pCO2. Whereas we used the dissociation constants of Cai and Wang (1998) to calculate estuarine pCO2, formulations recommended for best practices in open ocean environments may underestimate pCO2 at low salinities, while those of Millero (2010) may result in overestimates.

scholarly journals Benthic fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen in the lower St. Lawrence estuary and implications for selective organic matter degradation

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 7609-7622 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Alkhatib ◽  
P. A. del Giorgio ◽  
Y. Gelinas ◽  
M. F. Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Bottom Water ◽  
Estuarine Sediments ◽  
Internal Source ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Element Partitioning ◽  
Sediment Porewaters ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

Abstract. The distribution of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and carbon (DOC) in sediment porewaters was determined at nine locations along the St. Lawrence estuary and in the gulf of St. Lawrence. In a previous manuscript (Alkhatib et al., 2012a), we have shown that this study area is characterized by gradients in the sedimentary particulate organic matter (POM) reactivity, bottom water oxygen concentrations, and benthic respiration rates. Based on the porewater profiles, we estimated the benthic diffusive fluxes of DON and DOC in the same area. Our results show that DON fluxed out of the sediments at significant rates (110 to 430 μmol m−2 d−1). DON fluxes were positively correlated with sedimentary POM reactivity and varied inversely with sediment oxygen exposure time (OET), suggesting direct links between POM quality, aerobic remineralization and the release of DON to the water column. DON fluxes were on the order of 30 to 64% of the total benthic inorganic fixed N loss due to denitrification, and often exceeded the diffusive nitrate fluxes into the sediments. Hence they represented a large fraction of the total benthic N exchange, a result that is particularly important in light of the fact that DON fluxes are usually not accounted for in estuarine and coastal zone nutrient budgets. In contrast to DON, DOC fluxes out of the sediments did not show any significant spatial variation along the Laurentian Channel (LC) between the estuary and the gulf (2100 ± 100 μmol m−2 d−1). The molar C / N ratio of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in porewater and the overlying bottom water varied significantly along the transect, with lowest C / N in the lower estuary (5–6) and highest C / N (> 10) in the gulf. Large differences between the C / N ratios of porewater DOM and POM are mainly attributed to a combination of selective POM hydrolysis and elemental fractionation during subsequent DOM mineralization, but selective adsorption of DOM to mineral phases could not be excluded as a potential C / N fractionating process. The extent of this C- versus N- element partitioning seems to be linked to POM reactivity and redox conditions in the sediment porewaters. Our results thus highlight the variable effects selective organic matter (OM) preservation can have on bulk sedimentary C / N ratios, decoupling the primary source C / N signatures from those in sedimentary paleoenvironmental archives. Our study further underscores that the role of estuarine sediments as efficient sinks of bioavailable nitrogen is strongly influenced by the release of DON during early diagenetic reactions, and that DON fluxes from continental margin sediments represent an important internal source of N to the ocean.

Pre-exposure to Cu2+ and CuO NPs leads to infection of caged blue mussels, Mytilus edulis L., by pathogenic microalga: Pilot study in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary (Québec, Canada)

2021 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 112180
Author(s):  
Michael Zuykov ◽  
Galina Kolyuchkina ◽  
Graeme Spiers ◽  
Michel Gosselin ◽  
Philippe Archambault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mytilus Edulis ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Blue Mussels ◽  
Cuo Nps ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

Movement of sturgeons ( Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus and A. fulvescens ) in the St. Lawrence Estuary: A 35‐year tagging study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Paradis ◽  
Marc Pépino ◽  
Simon Bernatchez ◽  
Denis Fournier ◽  
Léon L’Italien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Acipenser Oxyrinchus

A Current-Induced Ekman Spiral in the St. Lawrence Estuary

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1540-1543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford L. Trump
Keyword(s):  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary ◽  
A Current

Marine tube-dwelling diatoms of eastern Canada: descriptions, checklist, and illustrated key

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 778-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher S. Lobban
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
The Common ◽  
Living Material ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary ◽  
A New Species

From a study of living materials and specimens in several regional herbaria, a list has been drawn up of all the common and several of the rarer tube-dwelling diatoms of eastern Canada. Descriptions, illustrations of living material and acid-cleaned valves, and a key to the species are provided. Most specimens were from the Atlantic Provinces and the St. Lawrence estuary, but a few were from the Northwest Territories. By far the most common species is Berkeleya rutilans. Other species occurring commonly in the Quoddy Region of the Bay of Fundy, and sporadically in space and time elsewhere, arc Navicula delognei (two forms), Nav. pseudocomoides, Nav. smithii, Haslea crucigera, and a new species, Nav.rusticensis. Navicula ramosissima and Nav. mollis in eastern Canada are usually found as scattered cohabitants in tubes of other species. Nitzschia tubicola and Nz. fontifuga also occur sporadically as cohabitants.

A biophysical model of the interaction between vertical migration of crustacean zooplankton and circulation in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 2420-2432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno A Zakardjian ◽  
Jeffrey A Runge ◽  
Stephane Plourde ◽  
Yves Gratton
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Vertical Migration ◽  
Horizontal Distribution ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Crustacean Zooplankton ◽  
Simple Formulation ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Circulation Patterns ◽  
St Lawrence Estuary

As an essential step in modeling the influence of circulation on the population dynamics of marine planktonic copepods, we define a simple formulation of swimming behavior that can be used in both Eulerian and Lagrangian models. This formulation forces aggregation of the population toward a preferential depth and can be stage specific and time varying, thus allowing description of either diurnal or seasonal vertical migration. We use the formulation to examine the interaction between the circulation and vertical distribution in controlling horizontal distribution of the common planktonic copepod Calanus finmarchicus in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada. We first introduce diel migration into a simple one-dimensional model and then into a model of residual two-dimensional circulation patterns representative of conditions encountered in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary. Results from the latter indicate that interactions between circulation and stage-specific swimming behaviors are the main mechanisms for aggregation of planktonic crustaceans at the head of the Laurentian Channel and highlight the implications of flushing of the surface-dwelling young stages for the population dynamics of C. finmarchicus in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary.

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