Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS31 Integrated Approaches to Drainage Basin Nutrient Inputs and Inland/Coastal Eutrophication (Science and Society Connections)

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 4:30:00 PM

Location: Cimarron

Berelson, W, M, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, berelson@earth.usc.edu

Archer, R, , University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, archerb@earth.usc.edu

Colbert, S, , University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, scolbert@earth.usc.edu

Cummins, K, , University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, cumminsk@earth.usc.edu

Fraser, N, , University of Southern Californi, Los Angeles, USA, nmfraser@earth.usc.edu

VARIABILITY AND STRENGTH OF THE SEDIMENT SOURCE TO NUTRIENT INPUTS IN SANTA MONICA BAY: A COMPARISON OF SOURCES AND SINKS

The sediments within Santa Monica Bay are impacted by sewage effluent, seasonal runoff from a channelized, industrial river, seasonal runoff from a natural river and various non-point source inputs. Although SM Bay does not yet get eutrophic, these and other sources and sinks modify the chemical composition and impact primary productivity in the ocean adjacent to the metropolis, Los Angeles. We have begun a study of benthic fluxes of ammonia, nitrate, dissolved silicate, oxygen, CO2, phosphate and other species in order to characterize and quantify the source/sink strength of SM Bay sediments. Our field approach involves the use of a benthic flux chamber and analysis of pore water profiles. We will present flux measurements, averaged for the bay area, and compare sediment source/sinks to sewage effluent and other inputs. We will also compare the diagenetic signature from sewage impacted sediments in Santa Monica Bay to sewage impacted sediments off Palos Verdes, Ca.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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