Physical sources of nutrient nitrogen for the Auke Bay, Alaska
estuarine ecosystem were investigated. These sources included
vertical dispersion, advection, and fresh water sources. Hydrographic
circulation patterns for the bay, and a nutrient budget for
the surface mixed layer were developed.
Measurements of temperature, salinity, currents, wind
velocity, rainfall and runoff from the major streams and river
influencing Auke Bay were made during the spring and summer of
1971. initial hydrographic and nutrient data (total available nitrogen
and nitrate) from early spring were taken during a cruise of R/V
Cayuse. Nutrient concentration of nitrate and ammonia in Auke Bay
and the fresh water sources entering Auke Bay were measured on a
weekly basis from July to September. Vertical mixing rates of
0.42 cubic meters per day were calculated for those times wind mixing did not occur. Mixing rates of 1.2 cubic meters/day were
calculated for wind mixed conditions. Vertical dispersion through
the pycnocline provided the major source of nutrients for summer
phytoplankton production. Fresh water sources provided negligible
amounts of nutrients.
Average vertical transport of nitrate and ammonia when wind
mixing did not occur were 0.5 mg-at/m²/day and 0.3 mg-at/m²/day
respectively. During wind mixing, 3.0 mg-at/m²/day for nitrate and
2.0 mg-at/m²/day for ammonia were supplied to the mixed layer.
Estimate productivity based on these calculations ranges from an
average 100 mgC/m²/day during non wind mixed conditions to
600 mgC/m²/day during wind mixed conditions. / Graduation date: 1973
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28331 |
| Date | 02 June 1972 |
| Creators | Kirk, Deborah Kathleen |
| Contributors | Curl, Herbert C. Jr |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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