Evaluation of nutrient sources to Onslow Bay, North Carolina
Hydrographic and current meter data from Onslow Bay, North Carolina, were examined to determine the relative importance of various nutrient sources. Upwelled Gulf Stream water is the major source of nutrients while rivers represent a minor, if not insignificant, source. In the summer during stratified conditions, the upwelled water penetrates across the shelf, but in the winter the upwelled water is restricted to the outer shelf. Nitrate flux across the 40 m isobath was calculated from continuous temperature and current records. Flux during the summer of 1976 was 2 ..mu..M m/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/ which is considerably less than flux estimations for the Georgia shelf or Scotia shelf. In the climatic scale a cooler climate causing denser shelf water would decrease the nutrient flux into the Bay, while a warmer climate causing less dense shelf water would increase the flux of nutrients into central shelf water.
- Research Organization:
- Skidway Inst. of Oceanography, Savannah, GA
- OSTI ID:
- 6268181
- Journal Information:
- J. Mar. Res.; (United States), Vol. 40:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Zooplankton distribution as related to summer hydrographic conditions in Onslow Bay, North Carolina
Zooplankton distribution as related to summer hydrographic conditions in Onslow Bay, North Carolina
Related Subjects
CLIMATES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
NITRATES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ESTUARIES
NORTH CAROLINA
NUTRIENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
MASS TRANSFER
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)