scholarly journals The Paths of the Suspended Particulate Inorganic and Organic Matter in a Small Urban Estuary: The Aarhus Harbour Estuary

1986 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. B. Kronvang ◽  
C. Christiansen

The nverine supply of suspended inorganic and organic sediment, its temporal and spatial distribution and its exchange with the bay, were estimated for an urban estuary (Aarhus Harbour Estuary, Denmark) during 1983-84. The river supplies high levels of particulate matter to the estuary. Export from the estuary averages one fifth of the river introduced particulate matter resulting in the accumulation of terrigenous material in the estuary. River discharge determines whether the high depletion of particulate matter in the upper estuary follows an exponential(flocculation) or a lineary curve (dilution). Preferential deposition of organic as opposed to inorganic matter in the upper estuary depletes the particulate matter of organic matter and associated pollutants. The estuary is divided into three depositional zones identified on the basis of sediment activity, grain-size and organic content. A sediment budget is precented for the estuary. Good agreement is shown between the actually dredged sediment quantity and the mass to sedimentation from the budget.

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
GA Weyhenmeyer ◽  
M Meili ◽  
DC Pierson

A strong relationship (r > 0.99) between settling particulate inorganic matter (SPIM) and total settling particulate matter (SPM) was observed in 315 samples from sedimentation traps in two Swedish lakes, Lake Erken and Lake Limmaren. This relationship can be used to distinguish between different sources of SPM in pelagic systems when the inflow of allochthonous particulate matter is negligible. It is possible to quantify the proportion of material from planktonic production as well as from sediment resuspension in the flux of settling or suspended particulate matter. Furthermore, fluxes of resuspended organic particles can be quantified and distinguished from fluxes of planktonic organic particles. Although Lake Erken and Lake Limmaren are quite different with respect to trophic level, lake surface area and water depth, the estimated proportion of resuspended particles in sedimentation traps was similar in both lakes. Resuspended particulate matter ranged from 35% of the total settling particulate matter up to 99%, with annual means of 83-94%. Moreover, for both lakes it was estimated that, even in epilimnetic traps, only 2046% (annual means) of the total organic settling particulate matter was from planktonic production, whereas 54-80% (annual means) was from sediment resuspension. This is likely to have important consequences for fluxes of nutrients and contaminants.


2013 ◽  
Vol 663 ◽  
pp. 1058-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li Liu ◽  
Shou Ye Yang ◽  
Wen Rui Huang ◽  
Lin Lu Li ◽  
Chen Zeng ◽  
...  

The suspended matter samples collected about 2 times every month in Datong of Yangtze River from May to November 2010 were used for determination of grain size and particulate organic carbon (POC) component. The results indicated that the size composition and organic carbon concentrations of Datong showed obvious seasonal characteristics. The median grain size of the suspended particulate matter ranged from 5.8 to 7.8Φ, decreased in summer (July to September) and increased in autumn (October to November). The POC% of the suspended particulate matter ranged from 0.87% to 1.18%, and was lower in summer, because high sediment discharge had dilution effect for organic carbon. The increase of the turbidity of water reduced the production capacity, and the organic matter correspondingly decreased. POC% decreased with the reduction of median grain size, which suggested that organic matter into the river in summer is mainly organic debris, but not mainly absorbed by the fine particles of clay. CaCO3 content ranged 3.7% to 7.6% and was higher in summer, which reflected the increased source contribution of the upper stream. It decreased in autumn, which reflected the increased source contribution of the middle and lower stream. Since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, POC% in Datong were significantly higher than before, which showed the rise of fine particulate matter component and its stronger adsorption of organic matter. The Three Gorges Dam had significant influence on the grain size and organic composition of suspended matter of theYangtze River into the sea. Its potential environmental impact of bio-geochemical effects deserves more research attention.


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