Phosphorus distribution in the Chesapeake Bay

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Chesapeake Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1351048· OSTI ID:7353110

Taft, J L; Taylor, W R

The phosphorus distribution in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay is described. Maxima of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in deep water and total phosphorus in the euphotic zone occur in late summer. The maximum of SRP occurs concurrently with both the seasonal high in productivity in the surface waters and the seasonal depletion of dissolved oxygen in the deep water. It is suggested that, at this season, phosphate that is produced by remineralization of organic matter escapes precipitation as the ferric salt due to the anoxic conditions and is vertically transported into the euphotic zone where it is rapidly converted into particulate phosphorus by algae. Trophic condition with respect to phosphorus in the open Bay near Annapolis appears to have been unchanged during the period 1938 to 1973.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore
• OSTI ID: 7353110
• Journal Information: Chesapeake Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Chesapeake Sci.; (United States) Vol. 17:2; ISSN CPSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOMASS
CHESAPEAKE BAY
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEAS
SEASONS
SURFACE WATERS