scholarly journals Eutrophication and Hypoxia in Tropical Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsueh-Han Hsieh ◽  
Ming-Hsiu Chuang ◽  
Yung-Yen Shih ◽  
W. Sanjaya Weerakkody ◽  
Wei-Jen Huang ◽  
...  

Hypoxic events are becoming frequent in some estuaries and coastal waters due to over-enrichment of anthropogenic nutrients, organic matter, and/or due to restricted water circulation. The coastal lagoons and estuaries of Sri Lanka are facing high population pressure and lacking sufficient infrastructure. Coastal lagoons may receive high anthropogenic inputs of natural or untreated nitrogen and phosphorus wastes, and consequently result in hypoxic conditions while sluggish circulation occurred. In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal variability of eutrophication and hypoxia in the Negombo Lagoon, one of the most productive and sensitive coastal ecosystems in Sri Lanka. Based on seasonal measurements of dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC and DOC), we concluded that eutrophication and hypoxia occurred in both the dry and wet seasons. The main contributing factors were high seawater temperature and poor water circulation in the dry season and high nutrient loading combined with elevated POC and DOC inputs in the wet season.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 6721-6736 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Buzzelli ◽  
Y. Wan ◽  
P. H. Doering ◽  
J. N. Boyer

Abstract. Interactions among geomorphology, circulation, and biogeochemical cycling determine estuary responses to external nutrient loading. In order to better manage watershed nutrient inputs, the goal of this study was to develop seasonal dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) budgets for the two estuaries in south Florida, the Caloosahatchee River estuary (CRE) and the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE), from 2002 to 2008. The Land–Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) approach was used to generate water, salt, and DIN and DIP budgets. Results suggested that internal DIN production increases with increased DIN loading to the CRE in the wet season. There were hydrodynamic effects as water column concentrations and ecosystem nutrient processing stabilized in both estuaries as flushing time increased to >10 d. The CRE demonstrated heterotrophy (net ecosystem metabolism or NEM < 0.0) across all wet and dry season budgets. While the SLE was sensitive to DIN loading, system autotrophy (NEM > 0.0) increased significantly with external DIP loading. This included DIP consumption and a bloom of a cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa) following hurricane-induced discharge to the SLE in 2005. Additionally, while denitrification provided a microbially-mediated N loss pathway for the CRE, this potential was not evident for the SLE where N2 fixation was favored. Disparities between total and inorganic loading ratios suggested that the role of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) should be assessed for both estuaries. Nutrient budgets indicated that net internal production or consumption of DIN and DIP fluctuated with inter- and intra-annual variations in freshwater inflow, hydrodynamic flushing, and primary production. The results of this study should be included in watershed management plans in order to maintain favorable conditions of external loading relative to internal material cycling in both dry and wet seasons.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1064
Author(s):  
Shuiwang Duan ◽  
Kamaljit Banger ◽  
Gurpal S. Toor

Florida has a long history of phosphate-mining, but less is known about how mining affects nutrient exports to coastal waters. Here, we investigated the transport of inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) over 23 sampling events during a wet season (June–September) in primary tributaries and mainstem of Alafia River that drains into the Tampa Bay Estuary. Results showed that a tributary draining the largest phosphate-mining area (South Prong) had less flashy peaks, and nutrients were more evenly exported relative to an adjacent tributary (North Prong), highlighting the effectiveness of the mining reclamation on stream hydrology. Tributaries draining > 10% phosphate-mining area had significantly higher specific conductance (SC), pH, dissolved reactive P (DRP), and total P (TP) than tributaries without phosphate-mining. Further, mean SC, pH, and particulate reactive P were positively correlated with the percent phosphate-mining area. As phosphate-mining occurred in the upper part of the watershed, the SC, pH, DRP, and TP concentrations increased downstream along the mainstem. For example, the upper watershed contributed 91% of TP compared to 59% water discharge to the Alafia River. In contrast to P, the highest concentrations of total N (TN), especially nitrate + nitrite (NOx–N) occurred in agricultural tributaries, where the mean NOx–N was positively correlated with the percent agricultural land. Dissolved organic N was dominant in all streamwaters and showed minor variability across sites. As a result of N depletion and P enrichment, the phosphate-mining tributaries had significantly lower molar ratios of TN:TP and NOx–N:DRP than other tributaries. Bi-weekly monitoring data showed consistent increases in SC and DRP and a decrease in NOx–N at the South Prong tributary (highest phosphate-mining area) throughout the wet season, and different responses of dissolved inorganic nutrients (negative) and particulate nutrients (positive) to water discharge. We conclude that (1) watersheds with active and reclaimed phosphate-mining and agriculture lands are important sources of streamwater P and N, respectively, and (2) elevated P inputs from the phosphate-mining areas altered the N:P ratios in streamwaters of the Alafia River.


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Dahdouh-Guebas ◽  
S. Hettiarachchi ◽  
D. Lo Seen ◽  
O. Batelaan ◽  
S. Sooriyarachchi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
U.G.Dilaj Maduranga ◽  
Mahesh Edirisinghe ◽  
L. Vimukthi Gamage

The variation of the lightning activities over Sri Lanka and surrounded costal belt (5.750N-10.000N and 79.50E-89.000E) is studied using lightning flash data of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) which was launched in November 1997 for NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The LIS data for the period of 1998 to 2014 are considered for this study. The spatial and temporal variation of lightning activities is investigated and respective results are presented. The diurnal variation over the studied area presents that maximum and minimum flash count recorded at 1530-1630 Local Time (10-11UTC) and 0530-0630LT (00-01UTC) respectively. Maximum lightning activities over the observed area have occurred after the 1330LT (08UTC) in every year during the considered time period. The seasonal variation of the lightning activities shows that the maximum lightning activities happened in First inter monsoon season (March to April) with 30.90% total lightning flashes and minimum lightning activities recorded in Northeast monsoon season (December to February) with 8.51% of total lightning flashes. Maximum flash density of 14.37fl km-2year-1 was observed at 6.980N/80.160E in First inter monsoon season. These seasonal lighting activities are agree with seasonal convective activities and temperature variation base on propagation of Intra-Tropical Convection Zone over the studied particular area. Mean monthly flash count presents a maximum in the month of April with 29.12% of lightning flashes. Variation pattern of number of lightning activities in month of April shows a tiny increment during the time period of 1998 to 2014. Maximum annual flash density of 28.09fl km-2yr-1 was observed at 6.980N/80.170E. The latitudinal variation of the lightning flash density is depicted that extreme lightning activities have happened at the southern part of the county and results show that there is a noticeable lack of lightning activities over the surrounded costal belt relatively landmass.


2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. T. M. van Puijenbroek ◽  
A. F. Bouwman ◽  
A. H. W. Beusen ◽  
P. L. Lucas

Households are an important source of nutrient loading to surface water. Sewage systems without or with only primary wastewater treatment are major polluters of surface water. Future emission levels will depend on population growth, urbanisation, increases in income and investments in sanitation, sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants. This study presents the results for two possible shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). SSP1 is a scenario that includes improvement of wastewater treatment and SSP3 does not include such improvement, with fewer investments and a higher population growth. The main drivers for the nutrient emission model are population growth, income growth and urbanisation. Under the SSP1 scenario, 5.7 billion people will be connected to a sewage system and for SSP3 this is 5 billion. Nitrogen and phosphorus emissions increase by about 70% under both SSP scenarios, with the largest increase in SSP1. South Asia and Africa have the largest emission increases, in the developed countries decrease the nutrient emissions. The higher emission level poses a risk to ecosystem services.


2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 2895-2899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju Hong Zhan ◽  
Sha Deng ◽  
Zhao Xin Li ◽  
Yu Luo ◽  
Ting Ting Zhao ◽  
...  

Sediment dredging is currently the most commonly selected option for getting rid of contaminated sediments. In this study, the effects of estuary dredging on removing nitrogen and phosphorus were investigated by comparing the different vertical nutrient content between the dredged and un-dredged areas in Dianchi Lake. The results showed that the contents of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the un-dredged areas were relatively higher than that in dredged areas. Besides, the contents of bio-available nitrogen and phosphorus represented the similar results, only a few dredged spots showed a higher potential releasing capacity. Therefore, with the reduction of internal nutrient loading, it indicated that sediment dredging might be an effective and reliable way to improve such eutrophic lakes.


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham P. Harris

This paper reviews the factors influencing the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exports from Australian catchments. Pristine, forested catchments export little N and P and the predominant form of N is dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). As catchments are cleared, exports increase and the predominant form of N changes from DON to dissolved inorganic N (DIN). Soluble reactive P (SRP) represents a roughly constant fraction of total P in these systems. As catchments are cleared, DIN:SRP export ratios increase sharply and DIN comes to represent a larger and larger fraction of the total N. The ratios of total N:P and DIN:SRP in rivers reflect land use and the residence times of the water. In Australian lakes and reservoirs, DON and total Kjeldahl N (TKN)are consumed and DIN is exported downstream. Australian freshwater systems with long residence times show stoichiometric evidence of N limitation, and the frequent occurrence of N-fixing cyanobacterial blooms. Despite TN:TP loading ratios equalling or exceeding Redfield stoichiometry, many Australian estuaries and coastal lagoons also show extensive evidence of rapid denitrification and N limitation. Coastal lagoons also have long water residence times (up to 1 year) and a high proportion of the N load is denitrified.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Trott ◽  
D. M. Alongi

Surface water concentrations of dissolved nutrients and phytoplankton biomass (as chlorophyll a) were examined monthly in relation to physicochemical characteristics and rainfall for 30 months in two tropical, tidally dominated mangrove creeks in north Queensland, Australia. Dissolved nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton biomass peaked during summer with no or little significant change throughout the rest of the year. Dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations correlated inversely with salinity changes, implying that fresh water and suspended material from the watershed were the main source of dissolved nutrients.The mean dissolved inorganic N : P ratio in each creek (Control Creek 58 : 1, Sandfly Creek 26 : 1) was greater than the Redfield ratio (16 : 1), suggesting excess nitrogen relative to phosphorus. Variability in phytoplankton biomass did not correlate significantly with dissolved nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations, but did relate to rainfall patterns and changes in dissolved oxygen concentrations.These results suggest that pelagic conditions in these mangrove creeks are constant all year round, except during the summer wet season.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 1467-1481
Author(s):  
Tao Gao ◽  
Fuqiang Cao ◽  
Li Dan ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Xiang Gong ◽  
...  

Abstract. The spatiotemporal variability of rainfall in the dry (October–March) and wet (April–September) seasons over eastern China is examined from 1901–2016 based on the gridded rainfall dataset from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit. Principal component analysis is employed to identify the dominant variability modes, wavelet coherence is utilized to investigate the spectral features of the leading modes of precipitation and their coherences with the large-scale modes of climate variability, and the Bayesian dynamical linear model is adopted to quantify the time-varying correlations between climate variability modes and rainfall in the dry and wet seasons. Results show that first and second principal components (PCs) account for 34.2 % (16.1 %) and 13.4 % (13.9 %) of the variance in the dry (wet) season, and their variations are roughly coincident with phase shifts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in both seasons. The anomalous moisture fluxes responsible for the occurrence of precipitation events in eastern China exhibit an asymmetry between high and light rainfall years in the dry (wet) season. The ENSO has a 4- to 8-year signal of the statistically positive (negative) association with rainfall during the dry (wet) season over eastern China. The statistically significant positive (negative) associations between the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and precipitation are found with a 9- to 15-year (4- to 7-year) signal. The impacts of the PDO on rainfall in eastern China exhibit multiple timescales as compared to the ENSO episodes, while the PDO triggers a stronger effect on precipitation in the wet season than the dry half year. The interannual and interdecadal variations in rainfall over eastern China are substantially modulated by drivers originated from the Pacific Ocean. During the wet season, the ENSO exerted a gradually weakening effect on eastern China rainfall from 1901 to 2016, while the effects of the PDO decreased before the 1980s, and then shifted into increases after the 2000s. The finding provides a metric for assessing the capability of climate models and guidance of seasonal prediction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document