Analysis of time dependent factors leading to anoxic conditions within the Middle Atlantic Bight during 1976

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7124696

Barvenik, F W; Dagg, M J; Judkins, D C; Scott, J T; Tingle, A G; Walsh, J J; Whitledge, T E; Wirick, C D

Steady state considerations of the annual organic loading from primary production, river runoff, and waste disposal to coastal waters of New York and New Jersey suggest that 10 times more carbon is introduced than can be oxidized. Anoxic bottom water should be a permanent feature of these coastal waters under such steady state assumptions. Concentration of near bottom dissolved oxygen decreases during the summer with onset of vertical stratification in the New York Bight but history indicates very few cases of anoxia. Presumably oxygen must be renewed at least 10 times faster than indicated by the steady state analyses. In fact, failure to consider the time dependent, spatially heterogeneous nature of the continental shelves will lead to both misunderstanding of their important rate processes and mismanagement of their living resources. Data are reviewed from studies of time dependent biological, chemical, and physical processes that provide insight into consequences of energy development on the northeast continental shelf. A unique data set of 50 variables measured over 25 cruises during 36 months allow us to make a preliminary holistic assessment of the events preceeding the 1976 fish kill.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0016
• OSTI ID: 7124696
• Report Number(s): BNL-21943; CONF-760908-4
• Resource Relation: Conference: Ocean 76 symposium, Washington, DC, USA, 13 Sep 1976
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
COASTAL WATERS
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
WATER QUALITY
ANOXIA
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DEPTH
FISHES
LIFE SPAN
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
OCEANOGRAPHY
OXIDATION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEAWATER
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIMENSIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WATER
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)