Dissolved and particulate organic carbon in the North Inlet estuary, South Carolina: what controls their concentrations

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Estuaries; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1352190· OSTI ID:6832914

Wolaver, T G; Hutchinson, S; Marozas, M

Water samples have been taken daily at 1030 EST from three locations within North Inlet (South Carolina) since June of 1980 in order to evaluate the tidal, seasonal, and eventually annual variability in carbon concentrations within this system and generate hypotheses explaining the observed trends. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations within North Inlet (South Carolina) vary inversely with salinity (r/sup 2/ = 0.65), suggesting the main source of DOC in North Inlet is freshwater entering from the adjacent forested watershed. This assertion is supported by an observed decrease of tidal water salinity with the onset of streamflow. DOC variability is also associated with (1) groundwater advection and/or runoff and seepage from the marsh surface; (2) removal from tidal water via either physical sorption or biological uptake; (3) sampling location; and (4) origin of water mass. Particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations vary seasonally, higher values found during the summer. POC variability is controlled by a series of physical and biological factors. Evidence suggests that in the smaller tidal creeks, POC concentrations are associated with (1) rain events scouring the marsh surface, (2) phytoplankton concentrations varying as a function of tidal stage, and (3) removal of particulate material from the marsh surface on the ebb tide. In the larger tidal creeks tidal water velocity appears to be the main factor influencing POC values. 20 references, 5 figures, 2 table.

• Research Organization: Belle W. Baruch Marine field Lab., Georgetown, SC
• OSTI ID: 6832914
• Journal Information: Estuaries; (United States), Vol. 9:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBON
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ESTUARIES
CARBON CYCLE
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
DISSOLUTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICULATES
SALINITY
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOUTH CAROLINA
WATER POLLUTION
DATA
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION IV
INFORMATION
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)