Oxygen depletion in the New York apex: causes and consequences

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Spec. Symp. - Am. Soc. Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5820425

Segar, D A; Berberian, G A

Dissolved oxygen concentrations in water of the New York Bight apex are near saturation except in summer when a stable thermocline exists and concentrations in the lower layer can drop to 10% of saturation. Mass balances of oxygen and carbon cycles in the apex were examined. Photosynthetically produced carbon accounts for most of the oxygen demand, particularly in summer. Oxygen demand due to sewage sludge and dredge spoils is small compared to that from organic carbon produced in situ. Oxygen demand of particulate and dissolved organics in the estuarine discharge may be as great as the sewage sludge and dredge spoils together. Midsummer primary productivity in the apex is high due to nutrient inputs, particularly nitrogen. Most nitrogen, supplied to the apex in forms suitable to support photosynthetic production, comes from the discharge of the Hudson-Raritan-Passaic systems. Most of this nitrogen comes from liquid effluents of sewage treatment plants discharged to the rivers. Ocean dumping in the bight apex does not cause the low oxygen concentrations found in summer These are caused primarily by nitrogen supply from rivers. Improvement in dissolved oxygen concentrations could be achieved by removing nitrogen from sewage treatment plant effluents. 32 references, 20 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Labs., Miami, FL
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5820425
• Journal Information: Spec. Symp. - Am. Soc. Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Spec. Symp. - Am. Soc. Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States); ISSN ASLOB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANOXIA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARBON CYCLE
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DREDGE SPOIL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT
NEW YORK BIGHT
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PRODUCTIVITY
SEAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHESIS
VARIATIONS
WASTES